An intriguing trade proposal has the Las Vegas Raiders adding an All-Pro cornerback to bolster an already prolific defense.
Last season, the Las Vegas Raiders finished with the No. 9 scoring defense, having allowed just 19.5 points per game. This marked the first time where the Raiders had a top-10 scoring defense since the 2002 squad that went to Super Bowl 37.
If there’s one area on defense that the Raiders need to address, it’s the cornerback position. Nate Hobbs and Trevon Moehrig have been quality pieces in Antonio Pierce’s defense, but they’re not quite Pro Bowl-caliber.
Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine proposed a blockbuster trade idea that has the Raiders acquiring superstar CB Patrick Surtain II from the archrival Denver Broncos in exchange for the No. 13 and No. 44 picks:
“The Raiders still need an outside corner. Jack Jones was a revelation at the end of last season and should be penciled in as a starter, but the team lost Amik Robertson in free agency which opens up a starting spot on the outside…
A deal that would give them (the Broncos) a first and second could be just what they need to have the ammunition to move up and take a quarterback.
Meanwhile, the Raiders would have a blue-chip player that would elevate an already-high ceiling for the defense.”
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The Broncos drafted Surtain with the No. 9 selection back in 2021. He earned First-team All-Pro nods in 2022 and has earned back-to-back Pro Bowl nods, having racked up seven interceptions and 36 pass defenses for his career thus far.
And according to Pro Football Reference, Surtain has allowed a passer rating of less than 90 in each of his first three NFL seasons. This includes a ridiculous 61.3 passer rating allowed in his rookie 2021 season.
Patrick Surtain Is Exactly What The Las Vegas Raiders Need
Ballentine’s trade proposal here definitely makes sense for both sides, though it’s unclear if Denver GM George Paton would be willing to trade within the division.
Surtain would give the Raiders their first elite shutdown cornerback since Nnamdi Asomugha, who last played for the franchise in 2010. He would be a valuable asset in defending against Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert in the division.
The trade would be greatly beneficial for the Broncos, too. They need more draft capital and appear to be rebuilding after bidding farewell to quarterback Russell Wilson, All-Pro Safety Justin Simmons and top wideout Jerry Jeudy.
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