The 2021 NFL Draft is next Thursday, and depending on where the chips fall, the Las Vegas Raiders could still move Marcus Mariota in a trade.
With the 2021 NFL Draft eight days away, the Las Vegas Raiders are still looking to shore up issues on both sides of the ball. They need help in the secondary, upfront along the offensive line, and depth in other places, so you can expect a major haul with their eight selections.
As we inch closer to the first round kicking off on April 29, the team still has work to do in terms of their salary cap. There are still players on this roster that are not going to start for the team in 2021 but could help them out by trading them, freeing up more money to finish out the roster after the draft ends.
For a player like Marcus Mariota, who restructured his deal this offseason, he is a guy who still has trade value, and could be moved to not only free up space but give him a chance to actually start in 2021.
Raiders could find trade partners for Marcus Mariota
The New York Jets hold the No. 2 overall pick in 2021, and many feel that selection will be used on BYU quarterback Zach Wilson. The problem with that is, Wilson may not be ready to start on Day 1 in the NFL, leaving them with a gaping hole at the most important position in sports.
If the Jets want to give him a year to learn the NFL game, putting him in position for long-term success down the line, trading for Mariota makes sense. The deal would benefit both sides, as Mariota would get a chance to show he can still be a full-time starter in the league, and the Jets can be patient with Wilson, not ruining him like they did to Sam Darnold.
Other teams could use a guy like Mariota on the roster as well, including the Philadelphia Eagles, who still do not know what they have in Jalen Hurts, and Detroit Lions, who will roll with Jared Goff under center in 2021. The quarterback situations in Washington and Chicago are also shaky, so after the chips fall in the 2021 NFL Draft, Mariota should still have a lot of trade value.