Las Vegas acquired linebacker Raekwon McMillan and a 2021…
Las Vegas acquired linebacker Raekwon McMillan and a 2021 fifth-round pick from Miami for a 2021 fourth-round selection. McMillan played one season for the Raiders, appearing in all 16 games but starting only four before leaving in free agency. Miami improved its draft position by roughly a round while moving a player nearing the end of his rookie deal, giving the Dolphins the better direct return.
Las Vegas Raiders Received
- player Raekwon McMillan
- pick 2021 5th round pick (162nd overall subsequently traded, Noah Gray )
Miami Dolphins Received
- pick 2021 4th round pick (121st overall subsequently traded, Jordan Smith )
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Las Vegas received linebacker Raekwon McMillan and Miami's 2021 fifth-round pick, No. 162, while sending the Dolphins a 2021 fourth-round selection, No. 121. McMillan had started extensively earlier in his Miami tenure, but the Dolphins moved him as his role changed and his rookie contract neared its final season. The Raiders added experienced depth to the middle of their defense.
Why the Value Separated
McMillan played all 16 games for Las Vegas in 2020 but started only four, functioning more as a rotational linebacker and special-teams contributor than a centerpiece. He left after that season, so the Raiders did not receive long-term control or a sustained starting role. Miami, by contrast, upgraded its future draft position from the fifth round into the fourth, gaining a more flexible asset while moving a player it no longer viewed as essential.
How the Deal Aged
Neither pick stayed attached to a simple one-player outcome because both selections later moved through additional transactions, so the cleanest comparison is the direct value exchanged. Miami turned an expiring player plus a fifth into a fourth. Las Vegas received one season of useful but limited linebacker depth. That is a reasonable short-term return for the Raiders, yet it does not overcome the superior draft position Miami acquired.
Final Verdict
Miami wins, B- to Las Vegas' C. The margin is not dramatic because McMillan did contribute and the Raiders paid no premium selection outright. Still, the Dolphins improved their draft capital and avoided losing the player later for nothing, while Las Vegas received only a one-year role player. The combination of asset quality and contract timing favors Miami.