Could the Las Vegas Raiders really trade Darren Waller?
By Jason Willis
Could the Las Vegas Raiders really trade Darren Waller?
Could it happen?
Considered by all to be one of the league’s best tight ends, why would the Raiders consider trading him? Firstly, his age. Turning 30 years old in December and dealing with injuries various times last season, it is fair to wonder if his best days are behind him at this point.
They also have a suitable replacement option in Foster Moreau. While he is not the same caliber of player that Waller is, he is still a starting-caliber player. He will also be cheaper than Waller who is looking for an increased contract. After making Adams the second-highest paid receiver in the NFL, Las Vegas will likely be looking to save money when they can.
Perhaps the biggest reason a trade could happen would be the trade capital it would give the Raiders. As mentioned, Vegas gave up a first and second-round pick in the trade for Adams. If they were to trade Waller, they would likely get that second-round selection back as well as a later-round pick near the fifth round.
With all of these factors at hand, it is certainly possible that the Raiders elect to make a move. However, it would be one of the riskier moves the Raiders could make. While draft capital is always a valuable resource, an elite weapon like Waller changes everything for Vegas.
As Aaron Nagler mentioned, the Raiders attempted to trade Waller once already this off-season as he was the rumored player that would be heading to Green Bay in the Adams deal. This alone makes a potential draft-day trade feel like a possibility. Currently, in a winning window, trading one of the league’s best players would be a massive gamble.