Will the Raiders make a deadline trade? ‘Every day the calculus changes’

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — With less than 48 hours between his news conference Sunday and the NFL’s trade deadline, Las Vegas Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said exacting transactions is up for discussion.

“We’re always talking about that with (general manager) John Spytek,” he said after a beatdown loss at Levi’s Stadium to the San Francisco 49ers.

Did it change the calculus? Potentially.

“Every day the calculus changes,” Kubiak said. “You get new information about your football team and that goes into the decision moving forward.”

At 4-5 with matchups looming against the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and AFC West-leading Denver Broncos, the Raiders don’t have a clear-cut course to chart with the trade deadline. They’re in the mix for a wild-card berth in the AFC playoffs, unlikely as it is, but don’t yet have the depth of talent for a worthwhile flier on a high-priced vet.

That doesn’t mean an offer won’t come in the 11th hour that’s worth considering for quarterback Kirk Cousins or defensive end Maxx Crosby. Cousins is essentially on a one-year contract at 38 as a bridge and mentor for Fernando Mendoza while Crosby was traded earlier this year to the Baltimore Ravens, only for them to renege.

ESPN reported Sunday that opposing teams haven’t inquired about Cousins, whom the Raiders reportedly have no interest in trading. The Minnesota Vikings are a suitor in theory with a 6-1 record and Monday night matchup with the Buffalo Bills, against whom they’re starting backup Carson Wentz with starter Kyler Murray sidelined.

Cousins played six seasons for the Vikings, including two under coach Kevin O’Connell, and said “it feels a little bit out of my hands” when asked about a prospective trade.

“I’ll just let decision makers make decisions and react accordingly,” Cousins said at the postgame podium. “Love it here. Love the guys here and feel good about what we have here. … I think we just go about our business.”

Under contract through 2029, Crosby, 29, affirmed that he plays for the Raiders and plans to do so for a “very long time.” The trade market for an impact defender was set last month by the Chicago Bears, who shipped the Tennessee Titans two first-round draft picks for defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons.

Reserve offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson could draw interest from opposing teams as a second-round pick with starting experience. A starter at center for Las Vegas as rookie, Powers-Johnson converted to guard last year and started four games at right guard this year.

He has since been replaced by Trey Zuhn III and Caleb Rogers. Zuhn left Sunday’s matchup with a concussion. Rogers replaced him with Powers-Johnson benched.

The trade deadline is 1 p.m. Tuesday.

“(The trade deadline) was not going to be on the forefront of our minds (today),” Cousins added.

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