The trade deadline is upon us once again, and with a 4-5 record, it is anyone's guess as to what the Las Vegas Raiders will do. John Spytek could easily justify any combination of buying, selling or staying put, with the Silver and Black still fully in a rebuild but also a few steps ahead of schedule.
And while the pendulum has swung back and forth within the fanbase on what exactly they want the front office to do, these decisions will have to be made rather swiftly, and they will be permanent. It was at this time last year that Jakobi Meyers was dealt to the Jacksonville Jaguars; things happen.
So, before we delve fully into the chaos that always is the NFL trade deadline, let's talk about this time period. From when the deadline actually is to the latest rumors surrounding the Raiders, to what Klint Kubiak has said about his and Spytek's approach to realistic moves and more, we've got you covered.
- When is the 2026 NFL trade deadline?
- Latest Raiders trade rumors
- Klint Kubiak and John Spytek's approach
- Realistic moves
- Las Vegas' current draft capital
When is the 2026 NFL trade deadline?
The trade deadline is Tuesday, November 10 at 1:00 p.m. PT. After losing to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, the Raiders don't have a whole lot of time to turn around and make decisions. Luckily, the front office has been preparing for this moment; Sunday was just another chance to gather info.
News can trickle in at any point between now and then, and sometimes developments even occur after the deadline as teams announce their moves late or they simply differ from what insiders have reported. By Tuesday evening, however, everything will be pretty much set in stone.
For reference, the Raiders traded Jakobi Meyers mid-morning ahead of the Tuesday deadline last year. Be ready for anything, though.
Latest Raiders trade rumors
Because Las Vegas has been hovering in the middle of the standings this year, there haven't been a ton of rumors linking other players to the Raiders, nor have there been any linking of members of the Silver and Black to other teams.
But there have been some substantial reports that indicate where things are right now.
Maxx Crosby
According to The Ringer's Tom Pelissero (Oct 31):
“Maxx Crosby wants to be a Raider, he has no desire to leave, and he is definitely not forcing his way out. But GM John Spytek is sure to get calls over the next 10 days, leaving open the possibility of another blockbuster.”
ESPN's Adam Schefter (Nov 1):
"Unlike last year, when Maxx Crosby openly wondered about his future in Las Vegas, this year he doesn’t want to go anywhere and the Raiders currently have no plans of trading him, according to league sources."
Maxx Crosby after Week 9's loss to the 49ers (Nov 8):
"I don't pay attention to that at all. I play for the Raiders. I expect to play for the Raiders and that's all that matters to me. I love this team and plan on being here for a very long time."
By all accounts, Crosby is happy to be a Raider, and the Raiders are happy to have him. But Spytek traded him once before, and with Crosby's production surging again ahead of the deadline, anything is possible. A lot of teams could use a Crosby, and Las Vegas could use a first-round pick and more.
Kirk Cousins
Pelissero (Oct 31):
"The 6-1 Vikings, amid their offensive struggles, have not seriously discussed trading for a QB—including a potential reunion with Kirk Cousins. But all it takes is one more QB injury this weekend to create another urgent situation.
"If that happens, the most logical trade target remains Kirk Cousins…While the Raiders have no urgent need to trade Cousins, they also believe Mendoza is ready. So, even while in the playoff hunt, why wouldn’t they entertain an offer that brings them draft capital and takes Cousins’s $10 million guaranteed option bonus that’s due in March off their books?"
Schefter (Nov 8):
"As of this weekend, the Raiders had not received any trade inquiries regarding their starting quarterback Kirk Cousins, nor are they interested in dealing him, per league sources. They plan to keep sticking with him until they believe their No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza is ready."
Kirk Cousins after Sunday's loss to the 49ers (Nov 8):
“It feels a little bit out of my hands, and I’ll let the decision-makers make the decisions and react accordingly.”
After the performance he put on the field against San Francisco, Cousins may not have much trade value. But at this point, if the Raiders can get a pick for him, they should do it and just hand the reins to Mendoza. Maybe don't give him away, but take any kind of solid offer that is on the table.
Jackson Powers-Johnson
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler (Oct 28):
"Johnson-Powers was benched in Week 6 and would probably welcome a change at this point. Several teams are combing the guard market, and Powers-Johnson wouldn't cost as much as the marquee names. A Day 3 pick swap might get something done, allowing the Raiders to improve positioning on the back of the draft order.
"Predicted chance of getting traded: 35%"
Powers-Johnson has clearly fallen out of favor in Las Vegas, and while he could easily be kept around as depth or to compete for one of the guard spots, perhaps a change in scenery would benefit both sides, and the Raiders could recoup some value and get a late-round pick out of it.
Klint Kubiak and John Spytek's approach
Although fans will likely hear from Spytek after the trade deadline, Raider Nation has not heard him talk since before the season began. Based on what Kubiak has told the media, though, it seems like everyone is collaborating and not leaving any potential options off the table.
“They’re ongoing," Kubiak said of trade talks on Wednesday. "They’re constant at all hours of the day, whether it’s up against a trade deadline or not. So, we’re always talking.”
Following Sunday's brutal loss to the 49ers, the vibe definitely shifted within the fanbase. After wanting to potentially buy and see this thing through following a win over the Jets, it feels futile to do so again now after getting whooped by one of the league's powers. Does Kubiak feel the same way?
"We're always talking about that with [Spytek] and looking at everything," Kubiak said after the game. "Every day the calculus changes. We get new information about [our] team."
The information that Kubiak got on Sunday was that the team is not ready to compete and hang with the big boys in the NFL quite yet. So, it will be interesting to see what, if any, moves are made at the deadline, and if they are, how Week 9's game potentially affected those decisions.
Realistic moves
At this point, it feels like the Raiders aren't going to spend a whole lot on the open market, nor will they probably sell any major pieces. But here are some realistic targets that I could still see them going after, and some trade chips on the roster I could see them dealing.
Trade away Jackson Powers-Johnson for a mid-Day 3 pick
Trade away Isaiah Pola-Mao for a late-Day 3 pick swap
Trade for Bucs DT A'Shawn Robinson, give up a mid-Day 3 pick
Surely, there are other players available for trade, but in terms of realistic deals that would immediately move the needle, these are the only three that stand out. Powers-Johnson and Pola-Mao clearly aren't part of the immediate or future plans, but they still have at least some value.
Robinson wouldn't cost much and could at least help plug up the middle of the defense and give the Raiders a better chance to evaluate the pieces around a crumbling interior. I wouldn't count on any external additions, though, as Spytek loves his picks and knows what this Las Vegas team is.
Las Vegas' current draft capital
The Raiders haven't been too aggressive with acquiring or selling off their future draft capital. Here are the picks that they have in each of the next three drafts:
2027:
1st round
2nd round
3rd round
4th round
5th round
6th round
6th round (via Chiefs)
2028:
1st round
2nd round
3rd round
4th round
5th round
6th round
7th round
2029:
1st round
2nd round
3rd round
4th round
5th round
6th round
Plenty of picks to sell off, if that is what Kubiak and Spytek decide they want to do. But Spytek has also drafted 21 players in the last two years, so it stands to reason that the young GM will be looking to acquire capital instead of giving it away.
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