Suddenly, wide receiver has become a more widely-discussed need for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Some outlets have the Raiders moving up to the second overall pick to select Colorado two-way sensation Travis Hunter in order to solve the problem. While it is certainly one solution, the Raiders could value their draft picks too highly to make such a bold move. In that case, general manager John Spytek will search further down the rankings in order to find players who can emerge as gems with proper coaching and development.
However, a proven deep threat potentially being on the open market could change that thinking considerably.
The Raiders should consider giving one of their AFC rivals a call to propose a trade.
One of the more unique cases on the trade market is Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce, who finds himself possibly on the outs despite a strong 2024.
“Alec Pierce is entering a contract year and while he’s a strong player, is he a good fit in a crowded receiver room for a team that isn’t sure what the future holds under center?” wrote Pro Football Network’s Kyle Soppe.
“The soon-to-be 25-year-old receiver won’t bring back a monster package, but there are a number of playoff teams that could use some receiver depth, and the Colts are very much in the business of getting some help on the defensive side of the ball (30th in non-blitzed pressure rate last season at 24.9%, league average: 31.5%).”
Sharing targets with Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, and 2024 second-round pick Adonai Mitchell, it will be difficult for the Colts to maximize their receiving depth with the limitations of quarterbacks Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones.
In fairness, the Colts should not have an incentive to let Pierce go so easily. In 2024, despite only hauling in 37 receptions, Pierce lead the Colts with 824 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, leading the NFL with 22.3 yards per catch. However, he is also in a contract year, which could lead to a potentially dicey cap situation.
If the Colts do decide Pierce is not in their long-term plans, the Raiders have some intriguing pieces to get a deal done.
While the chances of a defensive piece are lowered after waiving cornerback Jack Jones, tight end Michael Mayer could be an interesting centerpiece of a trade. The Colts are widely expected to use their 14th overall pick on a tight end, but Penn State’s Tyler Warren could be off the board by then and Michigan’s Colston Loveland might not provide optimal value at that point. Swapping Pierce for Mayer, as well as a potential draft pick swap, gives both players the opportunity for more targets, while also meaning their teams are not stuck having to use a draft pick to solve an issue.
Pierce comes off as a perfect fit for the new-look Raiders offense, giving them the electric home-run threat they lacked last season.
