A blockbuster trade proposal has the Las Vegas Raiders trading for a recent former first-round pick to help their defense.
The Raiders have struggled on the defensive side of the ball for years, and it’s clear that more speed and athleticism is needed if they’re to compete with the top clubs in the AFC.
Bleacher Report’s Maurice Moton offered eight bold predictions for NFL training camp. One of his predictions has the Raiders trading for 2020 first-round pick and Baltimore Ravens’ linebacker Patrick Queen:
“Last October, the Ravens acquired linebacker Roquan Smith from the Chicago Bears and signed him to a five-year, $100 million extension. In the third round of this year’s draft, Baltimore selected linebacker Trenton Simpson. Subsequently, the team declined to pick up Queen’s fifth-year option…
Aside from Divine Deablo, who wore the green dot during spring practices, Vegas needs another three-down linebacker on the roster.
Queen would fill arguably the Raiders’ biggest roster need. In return, he would have a better chance to stand out and earn a big contract in Las Vegas alongside Deablo as opposed to lining up next to Smith, an All-Pro linebacker, with an early-round rookie pushing for snaps.”
Despite ranking 26th in scoring defense last year (24.6 points allowed per game), the Raiders made few moves to address that side of the ball. Their biggest move on defense this offseason was using the No. 7 pick on Texas Tech defensive tackle Tyree Wilson, but GM Dave Ziegler opted to instead mostly focus on offense this offseason.
Ziegler cut starting quarterback Derek Carr and replaced him with Jimmy Garoppolo, who was signed to a three-year deal. Star tight end Darren Waller was traded to the New York Giants, and Ziegler signed ex-New England Patriots’ wideout Jakobi Meyers in free agency.
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The Ravens selected the LSU linebacker 28th overall in 2020. Through is first three seasons, Queen has compiled 10 sacks, 321 combined tackles, nine pass defenses, four forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.
Last season, Queen set career-highs in sacks (five), interceptions (two) and pass defenses (six).
