At 4-4, the Las Vegas Raiders are in a weird spot as next week's trade deadline approaches. They really aren't in a position to be a full-blown seller, nor does it make sense to mortgage the future in any kind of serious buying mode. Of course, it is possible to be somewhere in the middle.
This could look like John Spytek adding pieces for the future, while also offloading players who could be trade assets but don't have a clear future in Las Vegas. ESPN has a trade deadline agenda for all 32 NFL teams, with a player who could be on the move and a potential acquisition target for each.
Which Raider does ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler think could be on the move? Jackson Powers-Johnson, who has not played an offensive snap since Week 5. And it may be worth calling the Jacksonville Jaguars if they'll strike a deal that includes wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.
Why the Raiders and Jaguars look like a very nice trade deadline match
Fowler noted the following about JPJ:
"Powers-Johnson fell out of the Raiders' offensive line rotation, and though the Raiders are not actively seeking to trade him, the expectation is they would listen to offers. Teams always need offensive line help."
And, for what it's worth, Klint Kubiak still speaks incredibly highly of Powers-Johnson.
“He can play both sides. He can play center. He has a ton of value to us, and probably the greatest value is him as a teammate. The energy that he brings, the genuine love that he has for his teammates and the game, really elevates the whole offense.”
Powers-Johnson has failed to impress a second coaching staff in as many seasons, though. So, maybe we owe Pete and Brennan Carroll an apology... No, we don't, but the former second-round pick surely has a level of trade value if he has no place on the Raiders' offensive line.
As for the player the Raiders should target at the trade deadline, which is not new, analyst Aaron Schatz named Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.
"The Raiders have thrown only 41% of passes to wide receivers. That's the lowest figure in the NFL. The Jaguars have pretty much given up on Thomas, but he would become the clear No. 1 option in Las Vegas, and perhaps he could find the form that helped him catch 87 passes for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie in 2024."
Shifting to the Jaguars, Fowler obviously named Thomas as their player who could be on the move before the deadline. As for the player Jacksonville should target, Schatz went with Raiders left guard Spencer Burford.
"Pass blocking is one of the Jaguars' few weaknesses this season, and right guard Ezra Cleveland's 78.7% pass block win rate ranks 63rd out of 66 qualifying guards. Burford is on a one-year contract in Las Vegas, and his pass block win rate is 90.5%, which ranks 10th."
Of course, Schatz's brief analysis forgets two things. One is Burford's shoddy run blocking this season, in deference to Ezra Cleveland's struggles in pass protection for the Jaguars, and the other is how he has played exactly one snap at right guard over the last two-plus seasons.
A position switch for a new team in the middle of the season doesn't feel ideal.
On the other hand, Powers-Johnson has played nothing but right guard over the last two seasons. He is also a younger player who may just need a change of scenery to reach the potential everyone thought he had going into the 2024 draft. He is also under contract through 2027.
Burford is not under contract for 2027, and he is currently a starter. The Raiders would probably be more inclined to move JPJ.
Powers-Johnson and Thomas Jr. have clearly fallen out of favor with their teams, possibly to a point of no return in both cases. A 1-for-1 swap would allow the Raiders and Jaguars to part with them while getting a player who can be an answer to a problem now and down the road in return.
It would probably take a late-round pick from Las Vegas to sweeten the deal, but that's what we call a mutually beneficial move. Thomas Jr. helps solve the Raiders' wide receiver issues, and Powers-Johnson gets a change of scenery and bolsters the Jacksonville front.
Both teams could be better for it. And they made a deal last deadline.
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