ALAMEDA – The NFL trading deadline is coming fast. Teams aren't allowed to exchange or acquire players from other squads after Tuesday at 1 p.m. PT, leaving precious little time to get deals done.
It could be a busy trading day across the NFL, and the Raiders are expected to be in the middle of the action.
They could make several trades, one, or none depending on the offers that come in.
Raiders coach Jon Gruden says he doesn't expect to trade anyone else, but plans change when offers some in. The closer we get to the deadline, the more enticing the offers get.
General manager Reggie McKenzie handles the interaction with other front offices, though Gruden's stamp is required to execute a deal.
Several Raiders have been mentioned as trade prospects. That group includes 2016 first-round safety Karl Joseph and 2017 first-round cornerback Gareon Conley. Both guys played extensive snaps in a 42-28 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
Edge rusher Bruce Irvin and cornerback Rashaan Melvin are among the veterans on short-term deals that could be traded by Tuesday afternoon.
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The Raiders may also go silent, but they'll certainly be listening to offers for players available now that the team is 1-6 and the season is virtually lost.
"I'm not on the phone calling around for trades," Gruden said. "You never know who is going to call. You never know who is going to call or what the call will entail, but the deadline is looming and can't get here soon enough."
Gruden can't wait for national reports on trades to stop circling his team. They have for weeks now, and there was fire to pair with that smoke. He traded Amari Cooper last week to Dallas for a first-round pick, and it's possible he isn't done.
There was some talk about trading quarterback Derek Carr, which proved a distraction leading up to the Colts game.
All the trade talk has made the locker room uneasy, clouded by uncertainty that virtually anyone can get dealt. That won't be true on Tuesday at 1:01 p.m., but the league will keep a close eye on the Raiders and how they proceed heading into the trade deadline.
