Given the longstanding rivalry that's existed between the Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders franchises, which has existed since the two clubs joined the ranks of professional football together back in 1960 as charter members of the AFL, Bolts fans naturally don't mind chuckling when misfortune falls upon the Silver & Black.
Yes, the Raiders own the ultimate trump card with their three Super Bowl victories to the Chargers' zero. But that last Lombardi Trophy was won more than 40 years ago. And the Bolts can at least say they've won a playoff game in the last 22 years, which Raiders fans can't. But I digress.
In recent years, Chargers fans have been able to have a few laughs at the Raiders' inability to keep some of their most high-profile players happy. In 2018, it was none other than current Bolts superstar edge rusher Khalil Mack. Much more recently, running back Josh Jacobs and wideout Davante Adams left Las Vegas on bad terms. The Christian Wilkins debacle didn't do Vegas any favors, either.
Raiders' Jakobi Meyers requests trade before 2025 season
And now, the Raiders are in danger of losing wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, who has reportedly requested a trade after being unable to secure a contract extension.
After spending the first four years of his NFL career with the New England Patriots, who signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2019, Meyers signed a three-year, $33 million deal with the Raiders in 2023 and has performed nicely over the last two years, tallying 158 receptions for 1,834 yards with a dozen touchdowns.
The NC State alum is currently set to earn $10.5 million in base salary in 2025, but with no contract beyond the upcoming campaign, he naturally wanted to get something done before the start of the regular season. The two sides have apparently been attempting to negotiate a new deal, obviously to no avail.
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Of course, just because a player requests a trade doesn't mean the organization is required to oblige. And given the overall state of the Raiders' receiving room, one would assume that the Las Vegas front office and new head coach Pete Carroll want no part in dealing away one of their top offensive weapons, especially after they went out and spent $75 million to bring in quarterback Geno Smith.
Yes, if Meyers is dealt, Smith would still have All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers. But when the top two receivers behind Meyers seem to be third-year pro Tre Tucker, who has 66 career receptions, and rookie Dont'e Thornton, that doesn't inspire much confidence.
The team did add Amari Cooper back into the fold after Meyers' trade request, but this feels like a poor man's version of Keenan Allen returning to Los Angeles, as Cooper severely lacked production last season.
Chargers fans, of course, would have no problem watching the Raiders lose yet another high-profile player. But the likelihood of that happening at this point seems fairly low. That said, though, Las Vegas may want to at least try to get something for Meyers instead of just letting him waltz into free agency next spring.
We'll just have to wait and see how this latest Raiders drama plays out.