Raiders Players Who Should Be on the Trade Block After Week 3
The shine of the Dave Ziegler-Josh McDaniels era has quickly worn off after an 0-3 start, but they are still in the process of building the team in their own image.
Plenty of moves were made this offseason. The additions of Chandler Jones and Davante Adams were bold pickups that have shaped the roster, but the truth is that team-building is a years-long process.
Rosters remain fairly static during the season, but we are starting to approach the time of year for in-season trades.
With the Raiders still seeking their first win, here are some players they might want to shop around to either address other needs or start collecting draft capital.
Edge Clelin Ferrell
Clelin Ferrell has been a speculative trade candidate for multiple seasons, but the logic still stands. The former Clemon defensive end entered the league as a high draft pick but hasn't lived up to his potential in Las Vegas.
Draft capital still matters to front offices. Former first-round picks tend to get more chances to rejuvenate their career, and it isn't like Ferrell has looked useless in his stint with the Raiders.
His box-score stats have never been eye-popping, but he did enough dirty work to earn a 76.1 grade from PFF in 2020.
That's just enough potential to convince some team that he's worth acquiring.
It hasn't been enough to convince the new coaching staff to play him more, though. Ferrell has played just 32 percent of the defensive snaps, per Pro Football Reference. If a team is looking for an end who can play on run downs and might just need a change of scenery, he's an intriguing addition.
TE Foster Moreau
It isn't quite time to start a complete fire sale, but the Raiders might want to look at who becomes expendable if this losing streak persists.
In a competitive AFC West, it won't be long before the team needs to start thinking about 2023. Foster Moreau is a nice luxury to have as a second tight end with receiving ability, but the team just handed Darren Waller a three-year, $51 million extension.
Moreau's contract expires at the end of the season, raising the question of what they plan on doing with him moving forward.
McDaniels' offenses in New England did feature two tight ends at times, but with Davante Adams, Hunter Renfrow and Mack Hollins forming a strong receiving trio, Moreau's future is murky.
Moreau was effective while Waller was out last season and finished the 2021 campaign with 373 yards and three touchdowns on 44 targets.
That's a player who deserves to be the No. 1 tight end somewhere. The Raiders might want to take a draft pick for him now rather than wait on the compensatory formula to award them one ahead of next season.
S Johnathan Abram
Regardless of coaching staff, Johnathan Abram has been a liability for the Raiders ever since he became a consistent starter in the second year of his career.
The safety has never allowed a passer rating lower than 111.4 in a full season. Last season, he was responsible for five touchdowns while only picking off one pass and giving up a completion percentage of 79.2 percent.
Abram's strengths come as a box safety, but even in that position, he has to be called upon to cover running backs and tight ends.
The franchise already gave a glimpse into how they feel about him by declining his fifth-year option before this season. The odds they are planning on giving him another contract are exceedingly low.
If the Raiders can find any takers, they would be wise to take just about anything for him to get him off the roster. Duron Harmon and Roderic Teamer might not be the answers, but taking the chance they might be is better than continuing to watch Abram get burned.