ESPN NEWS: Wild Trade Proposal See Raiders land their No. 1 Pick Without Giving up Maxx Crosby

The Las Vegas Raiders are enthused about new head coach Antonio Pierce, but without a solid quarterback, the team will struggle to advance in a hard division. The Raiders don’t choose until 13th in the first round, which presumably puts them out of the running to land a top talent.

However, the Chicago Bears own the No. 1 pick and may be persuaded to trade it for the proper package. Bleacher Report proposed a trade in which the Raiders would send their 2024 first-round selection (13th overall), 2024 second-round pick, 2025 first-round pick, 2026 second-round pick, wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, and tight end Michael Mayer.
“It’s always fun to see chaos in the draft, and this hypothetical deal would create plenty,” the BR NFL Scouting Department said in a January 29 piece. “Chicago would keep Fields and get a package comparable to what it got from Carolina last season. The Bears would move a little lower down the board, but with the ninth and thirteenth picks, they could still address two critical needs.

“Instead of landing a No. 1 receiver like Moore in this deal, Chicago would land a quality No. 2 in Jakobi Meyers plus promising tight end and 2023 second-round pick Michael Mayer.”

This would be a high price to pay for the No. 1 choice, but the Raiders would be able to select the top quarterback prospect in the draft without giving away one of their key players.

Keeping Maxx Crosby out of trade for the No. 1 pick
It’s still difficult to imagine the Bears trading the No. 1 selection for the second season in a row. Justin Fields has shown flashes, but he hasn’t been good enough to justify passing over USC’s Caleb Williams and UNC’s Drake Maye.

Nonetheless, the Raiders would benefit greatly from this transaction. The Bears acquired D.J. Moore from the Carolina Panthers in exchange for the No. 1 pick last year, but in this scenario, the Raiders do not have to give up either of their two finest players: defensive end Maxx Crosby or wide receiver Davante Adams.

Losing Jakobi Meyers and Michael Mayer would be a setback, but finding a quarterback is far more difficult than acquiring a tight end or a No. 2 wide out.

Who Would the Las Vegas Raiders Draft with the Number One Pick?
If the Raiders get the first pick in the draft, Caleb Williams is the most likely quarterback they will select. The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner is regarded as one of the top quarterback prospects in years, and he would be ready to play on Day 1.

LSU’s Jayden Daniels has been connected to Las Vegas owing to his relationship with head coach Antonio Pierce, although he is a riskier prospect than Williams. Passing on Williams for Daniels could be a massive mistake, but no one can blame the team for going with the former if he turns out to be better than the latter.