5 players the Raiders may trade before the NFL deadline

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 10: Head coach Jon Gruden of the Oakland Raiders looks on while his team warms up during pregame warm ups prior to the start of the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 10, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

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MIAMI GARDENS, FL – SEPTEMBER 23: Oakland Raiders Tight End Jared Cook (87) smiles and gestures after a play during the NFL football game between the Oakland Raiders and the Miami Dolphins on September 23, 2018, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL. (Photo by Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

3. Jared Cook

It’s been a pretty ugly season for the Raiders, but Jared Cook has emerged as a valuable tight end for the franchise. Unfortunately, he’s 31-years-old and he’ll be a free agent this offseason. As such, Oakland would be smart to get what they can for Cook this week.

Of course, the market for aging tight ends isn’t exactly white-hot at the moment. No team looking for a pass catcher like Cook is going to pay a lot for his services. In all likelihood, the Raiders would be looking at a fifth round pick or less in exchange for his services.

The heft of the return shouldn’t really matter here. There’s zero reason for Oakland to hang on to Cook if they receive any sort of guaranteed asset for him in a trade. Even if all they can get is a seventh rounder, Gruden and company should pull the trigger.

At that price, a contender looking to add a bit of spice to their pass game could be interested. Someone like New England could make a lot of sense if they want to lighten the load on Rob Gronkowski down the stretch. Cook isn’t a star, but he’s a solid TE2 for the right team. Oakland should be shopping him.

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