The Las Vegas Raiders are not planning to trade away key players ahead of the NFL’s November 10 trade deadline, according to ESPN insider Adam Schefter.
Schefter, speaking Monday morning on “The Pat McAfee Show,” said the team believes it is building something worth keeping together after climbing to .500 for the first time in November since 2021.
“They’re not looking to trade their players. They feel like they’re building something. They’re winning,” Schefter said. “They like this; they’re not looking to get rid of these guys.”
The Raiders’ outlook shifted after Sunday’s 38-33 win over the New York Jets. Before that game, both quarterback Kirk Cousins and star edge rusher Maxx Crosby had been floated as possible trade pieces following a four-game losing streak that included a 30-27 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4 and a 33-30 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 6.
On Sunday morning, before the win over the Jets, The Post’s Andrew Crane reported that an anonymous source said Crosby does not want to be traded away from Las Vegas.
Cousins answered any questions about his job security with a four-touchdown performance against the Jets, moving him into second place in the league for passing touchdowns this season, behind only Joe Burrow’s 20. Three of Cousins’ touchdowns went through the air, including two to tight end Brock Bowers, and he also scored his first rushing touchdown of the year.
That performance eased pressure on head coach Klint Kubiak, who had faced questions about whether to turn the starting job over to rookie No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. Schefter said the Raiders instead plan to keep Cousins in place to mentor Mendoza for now.
“Kirk Cousins is leading the NFL in touchdown passes. You’re not going to trade that guy,” Schefter said. “He’s a great example for Fernando Mendoza. They want to keep riding him, until they fall out of playoff contention. They wanna try to make the playoffs.”
Schefter added flatly: “No. Kirk Cousins, I don’t see as an option.”
The Raiders have one more game before the trade deadline hits on November 10.
