ALAMEDA – The NFL trading deadline came and went Tuesday afternoon. The Raiders didn’t make another deal.
They made two exchanges before this week, and they were massive. Khalil Mack got shipped to Chicago on Sept. 1 for a compensation package that included two first-round picks. Amari Cooper was traded to Dallas for a first-rounder, straight up.
The Silver and Black were willing to move several players as the deadline approached, sources said. Some young players and more established veterans were available.
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The Raiders set an asking price and didn’t get something they were willing to accept just to trade someone.
Safety Karl Joseph, cornerback Gareon Conley were often discussed in trade reports, and edge rusher Bruce Irvin was brought up frequently around the deadline.
The Raiders’ asking price for Conley, though ultimately uncertain, was high. A proper market didn’t develop for Joseph despite his name being floated in trade talks for weeks.
Irvin proved tough to move, a source said, with him in the middle of a subpar season and over half his $8 million base salary left on the books.
NFL
The Raiders were willing to move other veterans on short-term deals, but the NFL Insider Adam Caplan reports teams weren’t clamoring for what’s left on the Raiders roster. This year’s rookie class, which features several intriguing prospects, weren’t made available so early in their professional careers.
Cooper and Mack were the most attractive pieces available and drew a high return.
Head coach Jon Gruden was happy to see the NFL trade deadline pass. It should decrease the rumors swirling around players in the locker room, who were uncertain if they would be dealt.
Roster changes could still come, however. The Raiders could always cut unproductive veterans to create room and opportunities for younger players, as they did with linebacker Derrick Johnson a few weeks back
Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie retired after yo-yoing snaps counts, creating further opportunities at the position down on the depth chart.
Standing pat around the trade deadline itself creates less upheaval on the roster and in the locker room after dealing with so much controversy following the Cooper trade. If nothing else, the Raiders locker room should benefit from that being in the past.