2023 NFL Draft: Should the Raiders trade for the No. 1 overall pick?
By Jason Willis
2023 NFL Draft: Should the Raiders trade for the No. 1 overall pick?
What may the Raiders do?
For the Raiders, this would mark two years in a row where the team emptied themselves of any and all draft capital. First, it was the trade for Davante Adams that cost them both a first and second-round pick and a trade of this magnitude would certainly do the same. Ziegler passing on this much draft capital in back-to-back seasons seems unlikely.
Alas, if the team falls in love with a quarterback they believe can elevate their franchise, they will give up whatever they need to to make sure he never plays for another team.
In a draft that has the potential to produce four first rouns quarterbacks, it is unlikely the Raiders would make a trade for the first overall pick. In fact, it is quite possible the team could grab a developmental passer such as Anthony Richardson at their current sixth overall selection, and let him sit for a year behind a veteran like Tom Brady or Jimmy Garoppollo.
With the draft capital they will have saved from not trading up, the Raiders will be able to bolster their terrible defense as well as an inexperienced and shoddy offensive line. While the idea of making a move to number one overall is an exciting one, it just isn’t a realistic one at this point in the team-building process.