During the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft on Thursday night, the Oakland Raiders made the surprise trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers for veteran wide receiver Martavis Bryant in exchange for a third-round selection. This has brought aboard another proven asset to the passing game this offseason.
However, it has also displaced veteran wideout Seth Roberts seemingly from his role in the offensive game plan. According to Vic Tafur of The Athletic, the Raiders have begun to look to move on from Roberts in wake of the move to acquire Bryant.
Probably tomorrow, but the #Raiders would definitely like to move WR Seth Roberts for a draft pick. Per sources.
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) April 27, 2018
The 27-year-old has spent each of his first three seasons in the league with the Raiders totaling 113 receptions for 1,332 receiving yards and 11 touchdown receptions. He is coming off a productive 2017 campaign where he recorded a career-high 43 catches for 455 receiving yards and a touchdown in 15 games played.
Roberts has developed into a dependable option in the passing game in a secondary role for the Raiders that has made him expendable. It also doesn't help that the team has brought aboard a couple of proven wide receivers in Bryant and Jordy Nelson this offseason that has diminished his chances to play a bigger part in the offense.
He is currently in the second year of his three-year, $12 million deal that has a roughly $4.4 million cap hit for the 2018 campaign. Oakland will likely look acquire a mid-round draft pick in exchange for him in order to help make up for the third-round that they traded away to land Bryant.
The Raiders have already been quite active in the draft that also included making the first trade with the Arizona Cardinals by moving down from the 10th overall pick in exchange for the 15th overall pick along with a third and fifth-round selection. Oakland wound up using the pick on former UCLA offensive tackle Kolton Miller to help strengthen their offensive line next season.
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