The Las Vegas Raiders are 3-0 and haven’t even handed the offense to Fernando Mendoza yet. Their unexpected start could create an interesting decision before the NFL trade deadline.
Raiders could become surprise buyers at NFL trade deadline
Nobody expected the Raiders to be sitting at 3-0 heading into Week 4.
If they keep winning, ESPN’s Dan Graziano believes Las Vegas could become a buyer before the Nov. 10 trade deadline, with wide receiver standing out as a position to watch.
The interesting part isn’t simply adding another weapon for the current offense.
It could be about Mendoza.
“If the Raiders spring another upset or two over the next month and get to the deadline over .500, it’s not at all out of the question that they’d look to beef up their wide receiver corps for rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza whenever the time comes to make him the starter,” Graziano wrote.
Mendoza was the No. 1 overall pick in April and has spent the beginning of his rookie season behind veteran Kirk Cousins.
Las Vegas doesn’t need to rush that transition while it’s winning. It can, however, start preparing for it.
Raiders have a reason to look at wide receivers
The Raiders’ 3-0 record can hide some of the questions surrounding their receiving corps.
Las Vegas wide receivers combined for only six catches and 63 yards in Sunday’s 35-27 win over the New Orleans Saints. Tre Tucker accounted for four of those receptions and 43 yards.
There is also an injury to consider.
Second-round pick Jack Bech suffered a fractured forearm against New Orleans and is expected to miss time. That leaves an already thin position with another question heading into October.
Brock Bowers gives the Raiders an elite receiving option at tight end, but surrounding Mendoza with another legitimate wide receiver would make plenty of sense whenever Las Vegas decides he’s ready.
A 3-0 start could change the Raiders’ trade deadline
This wasn’t supposed to be the conversation surrounding Las Vegas.
The Raiders entered the season with a rookie quarterback waiting behind Cousins and plenty of reason to think beyond 2026. Instead, three straight wins have given them another option.
They don’t necessarily have to choose between developing for the future and trying to win now.
A receiver could accomplish both.
The next month should determine how aggressive Las Vegas is willing to become. If the Raiders are still above .500 as the deadline approaches, their start may have done more than change expectations for this season.
It could accelerate the plan around Mendoza, too.