Post-free agency full NFL two-round mock: Redskins trade down

If Herbert falls past the Chargers, he won’t go far. Despite Herbert’s question marks, he’s still a supremely talented signal caller, and although the teams with glaring needs at quarterback barely register, teams in quarterback purgatory might take a chance on Love, to try and expedite the situation. Teams desperate for a change.

Teams like the Raiders.

Yes, the Raiders just signed quarterback Marcus Mariota in free agency, and they have Derek Carr. Jon Gruden likely saw what happened with Ryan Tannehill last season and wanted to emulate that situation. But one could argue that Tannehill’s ups and downs were more situational than anything else, while Carr and Mariota are clearly “not it” at this stage. Ideally, one of them emerges as the unquestioned starter through competition. But if Herbert drops far enough, neither of them are good enough to keep the Raiders from making a move for a potential upgrade.

This deal might seem unrealistic, but the Raiders are moving to Las Vegas, and the pressure is on Gruden to produce results, as he heads into the third season of his second stint with no winning records. Patience isn’t a commodity Gruden can afford to have, and it’s one that’s being strained among his onlookers. That kind of situation breeds desperation, which breeds deals like these.

If the Raiders were to trade up for Herbert, to prevent other teams from claiming him, then they could potentially trade Carr or Mariota for cheap, or they could have a larger competition for the starting job, theoretically pushing all three signal callers to improve. It’s bold, but that’s what you have to be in Las Vegas.