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The Las Vegas Raiders could be a buyer at the trade deadline, as the Silver and Black sit at 3-1 heading into Week 5. Moreover, the Raiders showed in the Week 4 loss that they can keep up with any team, which they will need to do in the next stretch of games.
Las Vegas will face the New England Patriots and look for a bounce-back win. If the Raiders can move to 4-1, that will only add further fuel that they will be buyers near the Nov. trade deadline. 10.
So, which player might suit up in Las Vegas? PFF’s Bradley Locker believes the Raiders, along with the Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, and Patriots, could be a trade destination for Washington Commanders veteran defensive lineman Daron Payne.
“Payne is another player whose tenure in Washington may last longer than expected,” Locker wrote in an article on October 7.
“His lucrative contract extension hasn’t aged well, with Payne sitting below a 63.0 overall PFF grade for four straight years. Despite an ineffective pass rush, Payne shined in the run game this year with a 77th-percentile PFF run-defense grade (62.1).”
The 29-year-old spent all nine seasons of his NFL career with the Commanders, recording 240 solo tackles, 200 assisted tackles, 37 sacks, six fumble recoveries, and one interception while earning a Pro Bowl selection, for StatMuse.
However, this season, Payne had five solo tackles and three assisted tackles in four games, for StatMuse. However, he could be a big impact for a team looking to improve their defensive line midseason.
Commanders Need to Consider Selling Veterans on Expiring Deals
Moreover, with the Commanders sitting at 1-3 and potentially looking at 1-4, Washington needs to start considering trading, or at least being open to moving, some veteran players like Payne.
“With the Commanders now 1-3 and owning only 11% playoff odds, pending free agent Payne could wear another uniform,” Locker added in his article.
“The 49ers’ defensive linemen were dead last in run-defense grade through Week 4, while the Patriots and Bears were also in the bottom five — making Payne a good fit for each.”
Raiders Urged to Improve Wideout Room at Trade Deadline
While it would be nice to strengthen the defensive line, others would like to see the Raiders improve their wide group. As a result, FanSided’s Wynston Wilcox sees the Silver and Black as a potential landing spot for Jacksonville JaguarsBrian Thomas Jr.
In his trade pitch, Wilcox sent the Raiders a 2027 fifth-round pick and a 2028 sixth-round pick to the Jaguars for Thomas and a 2027 fifth-round pick.
“Las Vegas doesn’t have nearly any Day 3 draft capital to work with in 2027 and isn’t really in a position to use up all of its Day 3 picks,” Wilcox wrote in a September 29 article. “They traded picks to Jacksonville to keep the fifth-round pick in 2027 while also giving up the sixth-round pick in 2028.
“The Raiders have been linked to Thomas throughout the offseason and preseason if the Jags will move him. They need help in their receiver room, and Thomas is a great asset to start with.”
Eduardo Razo Eduardo Razo is a sports writer for Heavy.com, covering the NFL, MLB, and college football. He previously covered the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB for NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Bay Area & California, and freelanced for PSG Talk, covering Paris Saint-Germain. He also worked as an editor at Athlon Sports, focusing on MLB and the NFL. More about Eduardo Razo