Ask any Las Vegas Raiders fan if they would have been good with a 3-3 start to this season, and the majority would say yes. The path to getting there has been up and down, but if a few plays go the other way against the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills, we could be talking about a 5-1 team.
The schedule is not letting up for the Silver and Black, though, so where they'll be at the Nov. 10 trade deadline is uncertain. But being in the playoff contender conversation is not out of the question, so what will general manager John Spytek do?
Being a trade deadline buyer would mean potentially giving up some notable draft capital, which would not be ideal for the long-term plan. Being a seller doesn't feel appropriate either, though, especially if there's a chance to make a run at a playoff spot.
One team that has a clear path at the trade deadline is the Indianapolis Colts. This week's firing of general manager Chris Ballard has invited the idea that they're open for business, with any notable veteran potentially available and plenty of talent for other teams to be interested in.
The Raiders should kick the tires on multiple Colts, but one could stand a notch above the rest: DeForest Buckner.
DeForest Buckner would lift Las Vegas Raiders' DT situation in many ways
After the Colts' Week 6 loss to the Tennessee Titans, veteran defensive tackle DeForest Buckner summed up the situation in Indianapolis perfectly. In some way, before Ballard was fired, he more or less asked to be traded.
#Colts DT DeForest Buckner’s postgame presser.
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) October 18, 2026
“I’m sick and tired of the same song and dance every year.” pic.twitter.com/0lwXhKDpVS
Buckner also happens to be on a long list of Colts who are in a contract year. At 32 years old, he is just about guaranteed to not be part of a looming reset/rebuild. On the back side of his career, he surely wants no part of such a thing anyway.
The Raiders' defensive tackle group has left a lot to be desired so far this season, with a bad mix of not getting much done in the pass rush and being at the core of a struggling run defense. Buckner's prowess as a run defender appears to be in decline, based on raw tackle production and Pro Football Focus grades, but he remains a top-tier pass rusher from the interior.
In his 11th season, Buckner would also bring a big dose of experience to what is a young group of defensive tackles this side of Adam Butler.
An acquiring team would take on the remaining prorated portion of Buckner's $13 million base salary, which, as of the end of Week 6, would be a reasonable $8.67 million. A trade deadline day deal would push that total down to $6.5 million.
Why a DeForest Buckner trade might not work for the Raiders
Given his age and how he may only be a rental, it may only take a third or fourth-round pick to acquire Buckner. But teams in a more solidified position as contenders than the Raiders could push the envelope higher, and they'd be justified in doing so.
Another tentacle could include, if they are compelled to trade him or he asks for a trade, the Colts attempting to send Buckner to a team of his choosing and do right by him. With his eyes likely on a Super Bowl ring, would he choose the Raiders over multiple other potential suitors?
Spytek should have the Colts' roster on his radar for a potential trade, as multiple players would fit nicely in Las Vegas now or down the road. Buckner is absolutely prominent in that conversation, but the Raiders will likely have to beat out multiple prominent suitors to bring him to Sin City.
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