The Oakland Raiders have likely made their biggest moves on cut-down day by trading former starting linebacker Sio Moore to Indianapolis for a sixth-round pick and planning to cut quarterback Christian Ponder. Here are some thoughts on the moves.
On Moore
Value lost: Moore was a third-round pick two years ago and he was a starter in his first two seasons in the NFL. Getting a sixth-round pick for him is terrible value. Oakland basically gave him away. When Khalil Mack was at defensive end, Moore was the most talented linebacker on the roster. Yes, he is coming off hip surgery and yes, he had a bit of an attitude. But the value lost hurts Oakland. It certainly did not get better with this trade. Moore is the fourth player of the 10-player 2013 draft class off the roster. The top two picks -- cornerback DJ Hayden and tackle Menelik Watson -- have yet to develop, either.
On Ponder
The right call: The Raiders are going with Matt McGloin as the backup to Derek Carr and are keeping just two quarterbacks on the roster. Expect undrafted rookie Cody Fajardo to be signed to the practice squad. Going with McGloin over Ponder is prudent. McGloin was better this preseason even though Ponder was working with the second string. Yes, it hurts that Oakland got nothing from its $1.5 million signing bonus it gave Ponder, and its free-agent class is not looking so hot. Ponder joins running back Trent Richardson and cornerback James Dockery who were signed this offseason and cut. Ponder was brought in because he played for new Oakland offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave in Minnesota and he knew the system. Give Musgrave and the staff credit for recognizing that keeping McGloin, a scrappy former undrafted free agent who refuses to quit, as the backup was the right move.
