The Las Vegas Raiders have lost three straight games since a 3-0 start, but all is not lost, as two of those three setbacks were competitive efforts against top-tier teams. But at some point, reality could slap everyone in the face, and the Fernando Mendoza era would be in line to start at that point.
Kirk Cousins being a potential trade asset is not a new idea. If he played well but a tough schedule led to enough losses to make playoff contention unlikely, the Raiders could certainly navigate the rest of this season with Aidan O'Connell behind Mendoza.
And if a contending team lost its starting quarterback at any point, general manager John Spytek would surely get calls about Cousins, given his contract situation going forward, and the Mendoza of it all. In that scenario, Spytek would have leverage to get a notable return in a trade.
As the Nov. 10 trade deadline fast approaches, here are three teams that could make a call to Las Vegas with a trade offer for Cousins, and if it is juicy enough (Stick to the Model has his value as a fourth-round pick), the Raiders would not be able to refuse.
3 teams who could make noteworthy trade offer for Raiders' Kirk Cousins
3. A to-be-determined contender that loses its starting quarterback
There are three weeks of games between now and the trade deadline. While the litany of injuries we saw to starting quarterbacks early in the season has subsided recently, all it takes is one bad or awkward hit to instantly change the equation for a team that has lofty aspirations this year.
So as not to jinx any team of that ilk, let's not name specific possibilities. But fans know who they are, in a broad sense. Whoever it may be would find themselves in a position to make a trade offer that Spytek shouldn't turn down, as they'd be willing to pay to stay alive in their Super Bowl window.
2. Cleveland Browns
The Browns are surprisingly atop the AFC North at 4-2, with the tiebreaker edge via head-to-head wins over the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. It's also fair to say the performance of the offense has left a lot to be desired, with less than 275 total yards in five of six games thus far.
All four of their wins have been by four points or less. Any idea of benching Deshaun Watson has been set aside due to the team's win-loss record, but the battle against any looming correction of fortunes has to start with the offense.
While Shedeur Sanders waits in the wings, the Browns made their feelings about him fairly clear when he was not named the Week 1 starter despite largely outperforming Watson during the preseason. It doesn't seem like he has much of a future there.
Cousins' contract structure with the Raiders reduced their commitment to him. It also makes him an appealing potential trade target, with just a $1.3 million base salary for this year. Cleveland would only have to pay about half of that, given the juncture of the season at which a deal would take place.
If the Browns are able to navigate three straight upcoming road games with at least two wins, and if the offense continues to be a drag, they have the draft capital to make an offer for Cousins that Spytek will have a hard time turning down. Cleveland doesn't get chances like this very often.
1. Philadelphia Eagles
A catalog of injuries seemed to put the Eagles into sell mode when they traded offensive lineman Cam Jurgens to the Baltimore Ravens. Then the whole troubling situation with quarterback Jalen Hurts happened, leaving them to start Tanner McKee until further notice.
The Eagles have lost four in a row after an already unimpressive 2-0 start, but they are absolutely not out of it in a wide-open NFC East. The 3-2-1 New York Giants currently sit in first place in the division right now, so it is anyone's ballgame.
A Week 7 Monday Night Football matchup against the also 2-4 Dallas Cowboys could be a tipping point to determine general manager Howie Roseman's trade deadline plans. If the Giants lose to the Houston Texans the day before, a win would leave Philadelphia a half-game back of the division lead.
If a run to a division title is at all in play, Roseman is unlikely to be content with McKee as the starter. Add in a history with offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, who spent at least part of four seasons (2019-2021, 2023) as a backup to Cousins with the Minnesota Vikings, and the match gets fortified.
And we know, if the situation aligns, Roseman will not pull punches when it comes to a trade offer.
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