When the Cleveland Browns traded a third-round pick to the New England Patriots for Jamie Collins, the fans of the Oakland Raiders were enraged. “Why didn’t we do that?!” they asked. The Raiders certainly need as much defensive help as they can get, and Collins has been a pretty good linebacker over the last few years. So, with the trade deadline looming, should the Raiders make a similar trade?
An Oakland Raiders Blockbuster Trade Is Not the Answer
Reality
The reality is that the trade for Collins was a bad move for Cleveland. They’ve lost eight games in eight weeks, and are obviously not going to make the playoffs. Collins’ contract expires at the end of the season, so why give up a third round pick when it won’t actually help your team? The young linebacker allegedly wants “Von Miller money“, and he’s not worth it.
Collins allegedly turned down $11 million dollars to stay with the team, hoping for the $15 million dollar franchise tag, or even more. If New England had let Collins walk, they would’ve gotten a third-round compensatory pick in 2018. Now Bill Belichick‘s team gets Cleveland’s third round pick in 2017. Considering that the Browns are the worst team in football, that’s basically a second round pick.
While Collins was Pro Football Focus’ ninth best linebacker in the league, not everyone is a fan. Apparently he’s been inconsistent, and like Chandler Jones before him, just too expensive for Bill Belichick.
Collins on the second play of the game does whatever he wants and Bills gain 28 yards. Been happening all year. It was not going to continue
— michael lombardi (@mlombardifoxtv) October 31, 2016
So the Browns did something incredibly stupid and the Patriots basically picked up a free third-round pick. Honestly, would it surprise anyone if the Patriots just signed Collins next year anyway?
Reggie McKenzie
First of all, Reggie McKenzie isn’t a blockbuster guy. He doesn’t like to trade up, he doesn’t like big contracts, and he prefers to build through the draft. His biggest free agent purchases have been Kelechi Osemele and Bruce Irvin, and even they were brought in as complementary pieces. McKenzie’s free agents are usually guys who were discarded by other teams, only to find a second wind in Oakland. Players like Michael Crabtree, Donald Penn, and David Amerson have all been cheap additions who have made a huge impact. In a way, it’s like McKenzie just took Al Davis‘ playbook and brought it into the 21st century.
Secondly, it doesn’t make any sense to cost Reggie McKenzie a draft pick? Derek Carr, Latavius Murray, Gabe Jackson, Amari Cooper, Justin Ellis, Mario Edwards Jr., Khalil Mack, Karl Joseph, and D.J. Hayden, who has finally found his rhythm, are all draft picks by McKenzie. The man is a drafting machine, and the Raiders shouldn’t go out and give away a pick for a player that might not pan out.
History
Aaron Curry
Believe it or not, this isn’t the first time the Oakland Raiders have been in playoff contention in recent history. Back in 2011 the Raiders defense was dreadful, and they had just lost Jason Campbell for the season with an injury. They were struggling but they were a piece or two away from making the playoffs, so they made a couple of mid-season trades.
Their defense was struggling, so they traded what would ultimately be a seventh and a fifth-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks for Aaron Curry. Curry didn’t help at all. In fact, the Raiders gave up more points per game with Curry on the team, and lost six of the the eleven games he played with the team. Curry was an absolute bust, and the Seahawks got J.R. Sweezy, a starting offensive lineman on their Super Bowl team, and Tharold Simon, a corner that saw significant playing time in Seattle’s Super Bowl loss to the Patriots.
But that wasn’t the only trade the Raiders made. See, fans also see that Cleveland’s Joe Haden and Kawann Short of the Carolina Panthers are on the trade block, and they want McKenzie to trade. The defense has been a problem, and if either Haden or Short are half as good in reality as they are on paper, they’d help Oakland immediately. But there is no guarantee a deal for Haden or Short would turn out differently than the move for Curry back in 2011.
Carson Palmer
Because of the injury to Campbell the Raiders traded the farm for Carson Palmer. While Palmer has enjoyed a career resurgence with the Arizona Cardinals, he was a dud for the Raiders. His numbers looked good on paper, but most of his yards came in garbage time.
The Raiders ultimately gave up a 2012 first-round pick and a 2013 second-round pick to get Palmer away from the Cincinnati Bengals. By mortgaging the next two years, the Raiders managed to come in second place in the AFC West to the Tim Tebow led Denver Broncos. The Bengals drafted corner Dre Kirkpatrick, who has had a decent career, and running back Giovani Bernard, who has been a crucial part of their offense. Since that trade, the Raiders have started the likes of Terrelle Pryor, Matt McGloin, and Matt Flynn before finally being gifted Derek Carr.
In Summation
It’s very exciting to think about the Raiders making a big move that would put them over the top. Two years ago Darrelle Revis helped the Patriots win a Super Bowl. Last year, the huge signing of Peyton Manning finally resulted in the Denver Broncos winning a Super Bowl. Big deals have resulted in championships in the past.
But let’s be honest. If these players were really as great as the Raider Nation thinks they are, why are teams so desperate to get rid of them? One man’s trash can be another man’s treasure, but sometimes, trash is trash. McKenzie and Jack Del Rio aren’t playing Madden; they’re in charge of a very real, very talented football team. Penalties are a problem. Defensive schemes have been a problem. Injuries to Sean Smith and Mario Edwards have been an issue. But now is not the time for a blockbuster trade.
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