Las Vegas Raiders

Oakland Raiders: 5 Targets at NFL Trade Deadline

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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May 13, 2016; Alameda, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders coach Jack Del Rio (left) and general manager Reggie McKenzie during rookie minicamp at the Raiders practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Despite an impressive first half of the season, the Oakland Raiders could still add some assets before the trade deadline to strengthen the roster.

As the Nov. 1 NFL Trade Deadline approaches, teams will look to dump expiring contracts, expensive assets or acquire talent to aid in a playoff push. The Oakland Raiders start the season with an impressive 6-2 record, but the team hits the midway point with some glaring needs in three particular areas.

Over the past few the games, the tight end position hasn’t provided much in the passing attack or inline blocking. Mychal Rivera emerged from the shadows on Sunday with his first touchdown of the season. Through eight weeks, Clive Walford’s receiving skills have yet to peak as a viable downfield threat. The Raiders should consider acquiring a tight end with solid hands as a consistent third option between the 20-yard lines.

Since arriving in Oakland, Malcolm Smith flashed as an athletic talent who can chase down quarterbacks and running backs, but he lacks coverage ability at linebacker. With linebacker Neiron Ball out for the season, the Raiders need to fill a void in coverage at the heart of their defense, especially in nickel packages.

Despite a good showing in run defense against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 8, Oakland should acquire a potential starter in case Mario Edwards experiences a slow recovery from a hip injury. According to Pro Football Focus, Stacy McGee grades as the best interior defensive lineman on the roster. Unfortunately, he could miss another game or two with an ankle injury.

Who should the Raiders target at the trade deadline to fill these voids? These five players would be quality options.

Vincent Rey, LB — Cincinnati Bengals

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What’s so special about Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vincent Rey? Why would his current team part ways with him after he just signed a three-year deal (per spotrac.com)?

Over the past two campaigns, Rey led the Bengals in tackles. Pro Football Focus ranks the seventh-year veteran as a top-five linebacker in coverage for the current season. The Raiders could plug him into the weak-side linebacker spot or inside with added ability to cover tight ends and running backs catching out of the backfield.

As Rey picks up the defensive scheme, the coaching staff could slowly roll back Smith’s snaps and remove a liability in coverage off the field. The Bengals veteran linebacker would certainly upgrade the position with his intermediate pass coverage skills.

Cincinnati inked Rey to a three-year $10.5 million deal, but his snaps have fluctuated over the past five weeks. Despite starting in five out of seven contests, he played fewer than 30 snaps between Weeks 4-7.

The Bengals also drafted inside linebacker Nick Vigil in the third round of the 2016 draft. He’ll see the field on an extensive snap count in the near future, which potentially makes Rey the odd man out at the right price.

Kawann Short, DT — Carolina Panthers

Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Kawann Shorts lists as the most difficult target to land due to his breakout 11-sack season in 2015. However, he’s a four-year pro with six total sacks split among three other seasons. He’s not a premier pass-rusher up the middle, but he provides enough pressure to warrant interest.

In the previous draft, the Panthers selected Vernon Butler in the first round, which suggests changes within their front four. Defensive tackle Star Lotulelei or Short will be on the way out.

According to Associated Press writer Steve Reed, the Panthers planned to revisit extension talks with Short after the season. However, the organization doesn’t seem pressed to re-sign the fourth-year defensive tackle.

It’s the perfect time for the Raiders to swoop in with a solid offer to quickly bolster their defensive line while Edwards remains restricted to work on the sidelines with trainers. Hip injuries can cause lingering issues, especially for Edwards who plays with freakish athleticism.

If the Raiders defensive lineman returns without ill effects, Oakland could start Short over Justin Ellis or Dan Williams in the middle. Both Raiders defensive tackles have either been average or subpar this year as run defenders. Neither have pass-rushing capabilities.

Stephen Paea, DT — Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Stephen Paea contributes to a front-line rotation on a 0-8 team that’s building from the ground up. The 28-year-old veteran signed with the Browns after the team lost defensive lineman Desmond Bryant due to a season-ending pectoral injury.

Through eight weeks, Paea hasn’t played more than 28 snaps in a single game. He’s not a building block within the Browns defense, which makes him a realistic acquisition at the trade deadline.

In six career seasons, Paea has logged 13.5 sacks and 71 tackles as a nose tackle and defensive end. His versatility would immediately push him into the Raiders’ front-line rotation, which needs a dual-threat in the A- or B-gaps.

Paea signed a one-year deal with the Browns, per spotrac.com. The Raiders could wait until he hits the free-agent market or they can acquire him via trade, evaluate his play through the final eight games and decide whether to re-sign him or not.

The decision to pry the veteran from the Browns suggests he could help the team push for a top seed in the AFC. The transaction would also indicate possible doubt in Edwards returning to the field and reverting to his 2015 form. Overall, Paea would be a quality low-cost pickup.

Zach Miller, TE — Chicago Bears

The Raiders expected Walford to hit the ground running in his second season. However, his improvement has been gradual as opposed to significant through eight weeks. He’s logged only one game with more than 30 receiving yards with one touchdown. Rivera flashed his receiving skills on Sunday against the Buccaneers, but he doesn’t show consistency week to week.

General manager Reggie McKenzie should call Chicago Bears roster architect Ryan Pace about selling on tight end Zach Miller. At 1-6, the Bears may fold their tent and auction assets for draft picks to rebuild the offense. After missing the 2012-14 seasons and at 32 years old, Miller may not be too delighted about going through wholesale changes in Chicago.

The Raiders can absorb Miller’s two-year, $5.5 million contract and utilize the veteran tight end in tandem with Walford for the remainder of the season. With Lee Smith on the books for another year, the passing offense simply needs a consistent receiving threat to push the offense to a surreal level with ascending quarterback Derek Carr at the helm.

Miller could step into the Raiders offense and immediately become a viable X-factor down the seam and in the short passing game against teams focusing on wide receivers Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree.

Niles Paul, TE — Washington Redskins

Let’s flash back to the 2014 season. Washington Redskins tight end Niles Paul racked up 39 catches for 507 yards and a touchdown alongside Jordan Reed as part of a solid tight end tandem. Paul caught approximately 75 percent of his targets.

In the Redskins 2015 preseason opener, Paul fractured and dislocated his ankle, and the team placed him on injured reserve. Dr. James Andrews called his injury the worst of its kind via the tight end’s Twitter handle.

After a year on the shelf and Reed’s continued success, Paul became the forgotten man. He’s No. 3 on the depth chart behind Reed and veteran Vernon Davis.

With only two catches for 27 yards, the Raiders could place a call for Paul, and the Redskins would likely offer him for a late-round pick in 2017. As he gains confidence in putting pressure on his ankle, the Raiders could unveil him as the newest secret weapon within the offense.

Paul played wide receiver for four seasons on the collegiate level at Nebraska. Between his college film and his productive 2014 season, he leaves no questions about his reliable hands as a receiver. If healthy, the Redskins tight end adds another dimension to the Raiders budding offense.

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