The Las Vegas Raiders may pursue a significant midseason trade with the Los Angeles Rams if their season starts poorly, according to Nate Atkins from The Athletic. This potential deal could reshape both teams' futures.
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Raiders trade rumor could lead to monster midseason deal with Rams originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Las Vegas Raiders have a clear reason to be excited about the 2026-27 season.
Even if Fernando Mendoza doesn’t start at quarterback for the AFC West, the former Indiana star QB will likely see the field at some point during the year, allowing fans to get a glimpse of what their franchise signal-caller brings to the table.
That said, The Athletic’s Nate Atkins believes a colossal trade could be in the organization’s future if they get off to a poor start, citing that the Los Angeles Rams would be the likely beneficiary of a monster midseason deal.
“I’d also keep an eye on Maxx Crosby,” Atkins wrote Thursday. “He seems to have mended things with the Las Vegas Raiders after the trade to the Baltimore Ravens was reversed, but the organization’s approach could change if the Raiders hit another tough start to a season.”
The Raiders are rumored to consider a major midseason trade with the Rams if they experience a poor start to the season.
Fernando Mendoza is a former Indiana star quarterback who may see playing time for the Raiders during the 2026-27 season, even if he doesn't start.
A poor start to the season for the Raiders could prompt them to pursue a significant trade with the Rams, as suggested by Nate Atkins.
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“The Rams want to be one of the rare teams willing to trade from an expectedly loaded 2027 draft class, with the idea that they’ll be picking at the very end of the first round. But those conversations are more likely in October than they are right now.”
Being open to sending a future first-round pick to the Raiders for Crosby would certainly give the Rams a leg up on the rest of the competition.
Crosby is a future Hall of Fame edge rusher who’s recorded more than five sacks in each of his first seven seasons, earned five Pro Bowl nods, received two second-team All-Pro selections, and ranked in the top-20 in pass rush win rate in 2025-26, which explains why he wouldn't come cheap in a trade.
The Rams finished this past season with 47 sacks and a 38.0% pressure rate, but could look to make an even bigger splash on the pass-rushing front by adding Crosby to the roster at some point during the 2026-27 campaign.
Although it’s all speculation for now, it could become a legitimate possibility in the next few months.
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