It’s a new era for the Las Vegas Raiders.
They fired head coach Pete Carroll after one season. They’re releasing Geno Smith, who was supposed to be their franchise quarterback for the foreseeable future. And now, on Friday night, they’ve traded away the face of the franchise in Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens for two first-round picks.
The Raiders now have the Ravens’ 14th pick in the upcoming April NFL Draft, and they have their first-rounder next year.
For Baltimore, it’s an all-in move to build a strong defense that can elevate a team that missed the playoffs last year to become contenders again in the prime window of superstar QB Lamar Jackson.
On the other side of the coin, for the Raiders, the move is easy to read: they’re ready to rebuild, and that all starts with their first two picks of April’s Draft.
The first big is almost guaranteed to be Fernando Mendoza, the reigning Heisman winner and national champion from the Indiana Hoosiers.
More news: Cowboys Suffer Major Blow in Maxx Crosby Trade Race: Report
More news: Chicago Bears Make Major Trade with Patriots After Sudden Retirement
But now, with another premium pick in the first, it opens so many doors for the Raiders. With their tight end and running back of the future in Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty in place, picking 14th puts them in a prime position to possibly find the wide receiver that Fernando can grow with throughout his career.
The Raiders could also find an offensive lineman to serve as Mendoza’s personal bodyguard, as the Los Angeles Chargers did with Joe Alt and Justin Herbert.
Jordyn Tyson and Makai Lemon both could be sitting at No. 14 when the Raiders are up with their second pick of the NFL Draft.
Could you imagine a young core offense of Mendoza, Jeanty, Tyson/Lemon with Bowers as the tight end? If they can find linemen in the second and later rounds, along with free agency, it could be the start of one of the most dynamic offenses in football.
The trade on Friday is the official sayonara to the old Raiders era.
Crosby was the face of the franchise for the past few years. But now, even before his name is called, it’s Fernando Mendoza’s time.
And what the Raiders do with the 14th pick will be what they think is best for developing Mendoza into the franchise QB they believe he can be.
Read the full article here
