Raiders could unload $33 million playmaker at trade deadline, ESPN insider says

Mike Moraitis

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Raiders could unload $33 million playmaker at trade deadline, ESPN insider says image

The Las Vegas Raiders had some contract drama with wide receiver Jakobi Meyers during the offseason.

Meyers was seeking a contract extension from the team as he enters the final year of his $33 million deal, but the Raiders did not give him one, which led to the veteran wideout requesting a trade.

Ultimately, that never came to fruition and Meyers has been a good soldier through it all, as he never sat out practice and took the field when the regular season began.

After the contract drama, it would seem the chances of Meyers returning to Las Vegas in 2026 are slim. Knowing that, ESPN's Dan Graziano believes Meyers is someone who could be dealt ahead of the trade deadline.

Wide receiver Jakobi Meyers is off to a great start -- he has 165 receiving yards, ninth in the league -- but he did request a trade this offseason because he wasn't able to get the contract extension he wanted from the Raiders. He's a free agent at the end of the season, and as long as he remains without an extension, it's fair to wonder whether he's in the team's plans for 2026 and beyond.

If he hits the trade block, Meyers would draw plenty of interest, as he's a very good No. 2 wide receiver in any offense and has some of the best hands in the NFL.

While it would make sense to trade Meyers considering his contract status and the fact that the Raiders aren't a contender, Las Vegas' desire to do so will depend on several factors.

For starters, head coach Pete Carroll made it quite clear this isn't a rebuilding year and the Raiders plan on trying to contend. Trading Meyers would fly in the face of that statement because he's the team's best wide receiver.

Also, Las Vegas will need to see more out of rookie Jack Bech, who sits behind the veteran on the depth chart. So far, the early returns haven't been good, with Bech totaling just one catch and nine snaps (7%) on offense.

If the Raiders don't plan on bringing Meyers back in 2026, they should absolutely trade him in order to avoid him walking for nothing.

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Mike Moraitis

Mike Moraitis is a freelance writer who covers the NFL for the Sporting News. Over his nearly two decades covering sports, Mike has also worked for Bleacher Report, USA TODAY and FanSided. He hates writing in the third person.