The Las Vegas Raiders fell to 2-3 after a demoralizing 34-18 defeat at the hands of the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High in Week 5. Denver dominated the final three quarters of Sunday's contest after falling behind 10-0 in the first quarter and exposed some of Las Vegas' biggest flaws in the process.
The biggest storyline from the Raiders' abysmal Week 5 loss is the quarterback dilemma. Gardner Minshew was benched in the third quarter after a two-interception outing, with one being a momentum-shifting 100-yard pick-six in the second quarter. Aidan O'Connell replaced Minshew but didn't look much better, tossing an interception and leading a garbage-time touchdown drive.
Patrick Graham's unit, which was supposed to be this team's strength, wasn't good, either, and gave up some explosive plays to Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix.
With the optimism surrounding the Raiders at an all-time low due to a 2-3 start and a Davante Adams trade on the horizon, the team is on the fast track to being a seller this year. Las Vegas is not capable of competing for a playoff spot in a loaded AFC, and even if the Raiders were to somehow make the playoffs, they won't get far.
It only makes sense to begin preparations for the 2025 offseason by unloading some veteran talent during the trade deadline. Jack Jones, Jakobi Meyers, Robert Spillane, and Tre'von Moehrig are just a handful of names that could be involved in trades for Las Vegas. All four are veteran players who could help contenders with glaring needs, and each of them would net a solid return.
The quarterbacks, Minshew and O'Connell, could garner some interest from teams that need depth at quarterback, also.
Outside of Maxx Crosby, 2024 rookies, and some other young players with upside, like Jakorian Bennett, the Raiders should field all trade calls from opposing teams over the next month leading up to the Nov. 5 deadline.
