San Francisco 49ers: Possible trade partners in Round 1 of the 2019 NFL Draft
By Peter Panacy
No. 4: Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a bit harder to break down, as they already have a franchise-caliber quarterback in Derek Carr. Then again, they had a franchise-changing pass-rusher in Khalil Mack, too, and he was jettisoned as part of head coach Jon Gruden’s massive overhaul efforts.
Carr was signed to a then-record five-year, $125.025 million deal back in 2017. But that was under a previous regime. And there’s no certainty Gruden and newly minted general manager Mike Mayock will want to take Carr with them to Las Vegas in 2020.
Sportsnaut’s Vincent Frank broke it down:
"Given just how valuable quarterbacks are in today’s NFL, the Raiders could conceivably add to their stockpile of draft picks by moving Carr in a blockbuster trade. There are numerous teams that would view him as a long-term upgrade over what they currently have. From Gruden’s perspective, trading Carr would be the final move to tell Raiders fans that he’s in complete control of the ship. …As noted above, Oakland boasts three first-round picks. Its first selection is No. 4 overall, meaning that recently-declared former Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskinscould be an option. Adding Haskins to the mix would give Oakland a new identity as it prepares for that new multi-billion dollar stadium in the desert. Out with the old and in with the new, so to speak."
Oakland is selecting at No. 4 overall in this year’s NFL Draft. None of the teams drafting earlier — the Cardinals, 49ers and New York Jets — will be taking a quarterback, meaning the Raiders could stay put and wait for Haskins to come to them.
Barring a Niners trade with someone else, of course, which could be enough to convince Oakland to use one of its stockpiled picks to move up to No. 2.