"Every day, the calculus changes. We get new information about [our] team."
That's what Kllint Kubiak said after the Las Vegas Raiders' lopsided loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. And with the NFL trade deadline rapidly approaching on Tuesday afternoon, the Silver and Black have some big decisions to make. And yes, staying idle is a significant choice as well.
Following the Raiders' big comeback win over the New York Jets, which snapped a four-game losing streak, the vibes were high. It still remained unclear what exactly John Spytek and the front office would do, but the idea of being buyers and adding a piece or two felt like it was on the table again.
But a deflating loss to the 49ers has been a sobering reality check for Las Vegas, and it has completely changed the outlook ahead of the deadline. Now, the Raiders can justify selling again, and potentially selling big, even if there could be drawbacks to that.
Raiders' loss to 49ers puts them in "sell" territory once again
Now, Spytek doesn't need to have a fire sale, and he shouldn't just be giving players away. Chiefly, guys like Maxx Crosby, Kirk Cousins and Kolton Miller, and even players like Jeremy Chinn, Jackson Powers-Johnson and Aidan O'Connell, have prices, and teams should have to meet them to get them.
While every player in the NFL technically has a price, teams like the 49ers, Bills, Bears and Broncos are not looking to trade players unless an upgrade is involved. They're not looking at future draft picks as more valuable than a player who can help them win a championship right now.
The Raiders aren't any of those teams.
Las Vegas has yet to beat a good team this season, and they've been blown out in three of their five games against contenders. Is this team dramatically improved? Absolutely. It is night and day from last year. But that doesn't mean the Raiders aren't still rebuilding and can't play the long game.
Anyone arguing that the Silver and Black need all of these players to win is conveniently forgetting that this team has lost five of its last six. Might losing them hurt the product in the meantime? Yes. But if Las Vegas could get major assets for the future, that could be more valuable than a few 2026 wins.
Cousins' value will never be higher than it is right now, unless he goes on some Linsanity run to end the campaign and he has suitors next offseason. Crosby has strung together a few good games in a row, and there are plenty of teams who would still pony up for him.
If the Raiders don't think they are that close to competing, and they see themselves on diverging timelines with Cousins, Crosby, or any number of other veterans, then they should be open to selling if anyone is willing to pay the required price. Sunday's game proved that this team isn't winning now.
Why trading veterans may not make sense for Las Vegas
Culture still matters, so the front office and coaching staff need to make sure that they are sending the correct message if they ship off veterans. Winning games, even if they don't lead to a playoff berth, can help build belief in the building, and these players can help achieve that.
Hovering in the middle is not an option, and that's what a weak return for players like Crosby and Cousins would tell the players in the building.
Another tentacle of this is that the Raiders technically aren't eliminated yet, and some of the non-traded veterans who stick around might be annoyed that the team seems to be throwing in the towel on the year and not finding them a new home or a chance to compete for a title this season.
At the end of the day, Spytek needs to do what he feels is best for Las Vegas. After watching Sunday's game unfold, there is certainly an argument that he could sell big-time players because the team isn't ready. But if he stays put or even buys? Maybe he is seeing something we're not.
And maybe the Raiders are closer than we think.
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