NFL analyst has interesting take on Raiders trading Darren Waller
The Las Vegas Raiders made some moves in free agency that should elevate this team to a level that is better than last season. This last year they underperformed. They had aspirations from media and fans that they could be a playoff team, and they were far from it. Now, they have made some moves […]
The Las Vegas Raiders made some moves in free agency that should elevate this team to a level that is better than last season. This last year they underperformed. They had aspirations from media and fans that they could be a playoff team, and they were far from it.
Now, they have made some moves to where they feel like they can get better from what they were last year. They signed a quarterback who knows the system and the scheme, whereas Derek Carr really didn't know it.
But one move they made raised a lot of eyebrows. They traded their superstar tight end for what felt like a one-sided trade. A lot of fans didn't like the move. But, one NFL analyst had an interesting take on exactly why the Raiders did what they did.
Interesting trade, basically, that the Raiders worked out. They sent tight end Darren Waller to the Giants, signed wide receiver Jakobi Meyers in free agency, and got a third-round pick in return from New York. On the surface, you think it’s a hard move to justify, trading an offensive tight end and a great complement to Davante Adams when you’re trying to build around new quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. But Waller’s entering his age-31 season and has missed 14 games due to injury over the past two years. Meyers, an egoless guy, is four years younger and had 150 receptions over the past two seasons, playing 31 of 34 games.
Re: The third-round pick, 100th overall, the Raiders have four picks in the top 100 now, with a tight end need whether Foster Moreau leaves in free agency or not, and this is a draft heavy on tight ends.
Peter King, NBC Sports
I think it would be safe to say that the Raiders felt they needed to make that trade. Back last offseason, there was a disconnect between both sides. Waller wanted a new deal and was somewhat holding out of camp. He wasn't going to practice and even skipped a preseason game to go watch his fiancé play for the Las Vegas Aces in town.
Everything that Peter King, who is a great football mind, broke down is true. Essentially, the Raiders just traded Waller for Kadarius Toney, which is where the third-round pick comes from.
The Raiders need to make sure that whatever they end up doing with the third-round pick they got, it hits. The trade may not have been one that fans wanted, but it was bound to happen.
