With a new regime in place, the Raiders could be looking to move on from a pair of 2019 first-round picks. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Raiders have talked with teams about trading defensive lineman Clelin Ferrell and safety Johnathan Abram.
Since Dave Ziegler and Josh McDaniels were brought on board, the Raiders have been busy reworking their roster. As one NFC executive told Fowler, the organization is valuing players “who fit their personality,” and it’s not overly surprising that they’d be looking to move from a pair of players who were drafted by the former front office.
Abram’s name has been “circulating a lot,” per Fowler. The safety missed the majority of his rookie campaign with a torn rotator cuff and labrum, but he’s otherwise been a reliable defender for the Raiders. He finished with 116 tackles in 2021, with Pro Football Focus grading him as an above-average linebacker (especially when it came to pass rush). However, the Ziegler/McDaniels combo had little time to evaluate Abram before having to decide on his fifth-year option, which they ultimately declined. The 25-year-old is still seeing a significant role in 2022; he’s started all five games while collecting 32 tackles. However, after appearing in almost all of the team’s defensive snaps through the first four games, he was limited to only 75 percent of the Raiders defensive snaps in Week 5.
Similar to Abram, Ferrell also didn’t have his fifth-year option picked up by the new front office. The fourth-overall pick in 2019, the defensive lineman has disappointed during his time with the organization. He started all 26 of his appearances through his first two seasons in the NFL, compiling 6.5 sacks. He didn’t start any games in 2021, and while he’s seen time in all five games in 2022, he’s still appearing in less than half of his team’s defensive snaps.
Meanwhile, Fowler notes that the Raiders could be a match in a trade with New England if the Patriots decide to move on from wide receivers. Ziegler has already pulled off a handful of trades with his former organization, and he played a role in the Patriots adding their current crop of wideouts. Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor are among the names that have been mentioned as traded candidates, per Fowler.
This new ‘regime’ is ruining the team. WE NEED DEFENSE. If you’re not going to upgrade the defense via trade, don’t trade.
Generally speaking “we need defense” is accurate. However, just grabbing anyone who’s position is defense and plugging them in isn’t the answer. This regime and defensive staff need time. The previous defensive staff was there for about 5 minutes then all hell broke loose with Gruden’s fiasco. Now it’s the 3rd defensive staff in 3 years (Paul Guenther, Gus Bradley, and now Patrick Graham). Another thing to consider, if the raiders are shopping these players who’s to say what they receive in return is going to be better. Would you give up high level defensive talent to acquire what the raiders are selling? Depends on whether you think these players fit what you’re trying to do. Let’s refrain from making changes for the sake of changes. Let’s not mortgage the future to win now. Seriously lucky in the one score game department and that luck has reversed itself this year. That’s the nfl.
Trading Abram would be a mistake, I think. I just don’t see them getting enough back to justify shipping out a steady defender.
Ferrell is a different story. If you can get a late round pick for him just take it and run.
Both valid points. The best thing the Raiders are offering is youth, which doesn’t jive with ‘building a team’. More like giving up on the entire roster sans Carr.
Abram is a safety, not a linebacker. And he doesn’t rush the passer. Where did that come from?
Not exactly the draft coming up to have a fire sale? originaldavo is correct. Having the capital but chosing poorly has been several franchise histories. Now you’ll see if McDaniels has learned from his Tebow days if he can draft or not?
None of it matters as long as McDaniels is HC.