Raiders should use Jakobi Meyers to pry young star from crumbling AFC team
With a 2-5 record, plenty of holes on the roster and no quarterback of the future currently in the building, all signs should be pointing toward the Las Vegas Raiders being sellers at the November 4 trade deadline, which is suddenly just around the corner.
But a 74-year-old head coach in Pete Carroll changes that equation a bit. The Raiders just signed aging wide receiver Tyler Lockett as well, and the staff refuses to cut their losses and start a youth movement, so they're still competing in 2025, and perhaps anything is possible in the coming days.
Most have assumed that Las Vegas will trade veteran wide receiver Jakobi Meyers to gain extra draft capital as they start keeping an eye on the future. But with the Miami Dolphins currently crumbling, the Raiders should offer them a package for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle that includes Meyers.
Raiders should kick the tires on a Jakobi Meyers-Jaylen Waddle trade
It may sound a bit crazy, but the Dolphins fired general manager Chris Grier on Friday, plunging them into a bit of chaos before the trade deadline. Miami was already receiving calls about Waddle, but they turned them down, as sources said he was not going anywhere as long as Grier had a say.
Well, with Grier now gone, and Champ Kelly serving as the interim general manager in Miami, John Spytek should call his old colleague from the Denver Broncos' Super Bowl-winning scouting department and see if they can make a deal.
Not only is Waddle over two years younger than Meyers, but he's a lot faster and more dynamic, making him a more prototypical No. 1 wide receiver. Plus, he's recorded over 1,000 receiving yards in three of his first four NFL seasons, and he's on pace for over 1,100 in 2025.
Considering Meyers still wants out of Las Vegas, the Raiders need a true No. 1 wideout, the Dolphins are seemingly hitting the reset button and there is a connection between the two front offices, a deal here may not be as far-fetched as originally thought.
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Of course, Waddle is a good bit more expensive. Over the next three seasons, he would carry a cap hit of $11.6 million, $33.8 million and $37.2 million. However, there is an out in his contract after the 2027 season where Las Vegas would just owe him $9.7 million in 2028 if the experiment fails.
While that is still a lot more than Meyers would likely cost the franchise, the Raiders are equipped to handle it. They have $103.2 million available in 2026 ($132.98 if the team wins its grievance against Christian Wilkins), $173.8 million available in 2027, and $250.98 million available in 2028.
This means that Waddle's contract would take up roughly 11.2%, 19.4% and 14.8% of Las Vegas' salary cap space over the next three years, and that is the worst-case scenario. There are way worse things to spend good money on in the NFL than an established lethal weapon at receiver.
Miami is in a tough spot with its cap space, which spurred this wonky Tua Tagovailoa to Las Vegas trade idea. But this move would be a lot better, because the Raiders would get an actual difference maker at still a portion of the price, and it would still force Las Vegas to draft a college quarterback.
Possible trade packages for Waddle could include Meyers and a 6th-round pick, or Meyers and a 4th-round pick for Waddle and a 6th-rounder. It may be a bit outside the box, but desperation makes NFL teams do crazy things, and the Raiders should be first in line if Waddle is being shopped.
Browns QB Deshaun Watson Gets Bad News on Return
Deshaun Watson is determined to return to the field this season but the outlook is grim for the Cleveland Browns‘ $230 million quarterback.
Watson is recovering from a twice-ruptured Achilles. He initially suffered the injury in October of last year and suffered a setback in January, requiring a second surgery.
Watson opened the season on the PUP list and has been working hard to get back on the field this season. The expectation was that he would be evaluated in the bye week and the team was going to make a decision whether or not to open up his practice window.
However, Browns beat reporter Zac Jackson of The Athletic does not believe Watson will see the field this season, even if he is cleared for a return.
“It’s probably more than a couple of weeks. And even when they decide he can open his practice window, it’s still 21 days. And even if they decide he’s fully cleared and ready to go, putting him on the 53 doesn’t mean he has to play,” Jackson said on 92.3 The Fan. “I’m very strongly in the camp that he won’t play. I understand the window is open, the door is open, all of those things. We’re talking about availability windows not Super Bowl windows. It is far, far, far from a guarantee or even a probability that Deshaun Watson will play. It’s lingering but I don’t think it’s going to happen.”
Browns Don’t View Deshaun Watson as Part of Future
The Browns have admitted the blockbuster 2022 trade and $230 million fully guaranteed contract for Watson was a “swing and miss.” And owner Jimmy Haslam continues to point at the move as a significant reason the team has not been able to turn into a contender.
“Kevin’s done a really good job with us, and we’ve had some tough breaks,” Haslam told The Athletic, referring to the Watson trade. “A big trade we made didn’t work out, and you know, we’re all suffering from that. Kevin, I thought, really did a great job of rallying the troops last week at a really critical time. You find out about leaders when things are bad, not when they’re good, and he did a good job last week.”
The Achilles injury is not the first setback for Watson in Cleveland. And when available, he’s struggled to regain his Pro Bowl form from his Houston days, posting a 9-10 record as the starter while throwing for 3,365 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
Browns QB Position Remains Unstable
Cleveland had an interesting strategy at the quarterback position this offseason, signing Joe Flacco and trading for Kenny Pickett. The Browns then drafted Dillon Gabriel in the third round and added Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round.
Pickett and Flacco have both been traded away and the Browns are expected to rely on their rookies the rest of the way. Gabriel has started the last four games, going 1-3 in those contests but failing to spark the anemic Browns’ offense.
If the Browns decide to make a chance, Sanders would likely be next in line. The polarizing former Colorado star has yet to take reps with the first-team offense but has said he’s remaining ready if his number is called.
The Browns will face the New York Jets out of the bye week with an opportunity to turn things around.
