3 trades the Raiders should make to reach the playoffs
By John Buhler
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Stephon Gilmore. player. 47. CB. New England Patriots. 1
Remember how awesome it was to get Mike Haynes back in the day?
In the first part of his Pro Football Hall of Fame career, cornerback Mike Haynes starred for the New England Patriots. They were okay when he played for them, but Haynes formed an elite cornerback tandem with Lester Hayes that went onto win championships for the Silver and Black. It might be costly, but the Raiders need to see if they can bring in Stephon Gilmore by Tuesday.
Things have gone in totally different directions since the Raiders played the Patriots in Foxborough several weeks ago. While Las Vegas feels more and more like a playoff team in the AFC West at 4-3, the Patriots have nosedived to a pitiful 2-5 record. This will be the worst team Bill Belichick has coached in New England since going 5-11 in his first year on the job way back in 2000.
The sooner the Patriots accept they are not making the playoffs this January, the better. The best thing they can do is get ready for its most important draft in franchise history. Cam Newton is not the answer for them at quarterback and they will need to draft his successor in the first round. With a high pick coming their way from the Raiders, they will have the ammunition to move up.
light. Related Story. Twitter destroys Cam Newton and Patriots for sad loss to the Bills
For Las Vegas, having a shutdown corner playing for a team on the rise could be huge for the Raiders this January, as well as next season. Gilmore will be in his age-30 season next fall and won’t be hitting free agency until March 2022. There are a lot of good things going on in Las Vegas these days and maybe Mayock and Jon Gruden want a player like Gilmore to be part of it?
The Raiders may stand pat at the deadline, but these three moves help them be playoff viable.