Inside: Las Vegas Raiders-Miami Dolphins Lynn Bowden Trade

The Las Vegas Raiders have traded versatile player Lynn Bowden Jr. to the Miami Dolphins for a fourth-round draft pick.

The traded away their third-round selection of this year's draft, Bowden, and a sixth-round pick to Miami for a fourth-round pick next year.

That's the same fourth-round pick the Raiders sent to Miami for linebacker Raekwon McMillan last week.

The move comes right before the roster cut deadline. While trading Bowden for what they got is a clear admittance that he didn't pan out, getting something in return is significant.

At least he wasn't cut with no remuneration. That would have made a disappointing pick, a disaster.

Readers of Raider Maven were well aware of Bowden's struggles with pass blocking. His inability to make the two-deep at running back or wide receiver made him expendable.

Please understand, Bowden's not making the roster was not just because of pass blocking. It was because that, added to his being beaten out at other positions made him expendable.

While it seems to be a shocking move, General Manager Mike Mayock and the Raiders staff did the right thing. Many organizations keep highly drafted players around, even past the time they know they will not contribute. The Raiders are about the right now and cut him immediately. Admit a mistake and move on.

Bowden was a jack-of-all-trades, as versatile as any player can be. He can line up at quarterback, wide receiver, running back, and as a kick returner, but he was not a master of any. The change will be good for Bowden, who didn't mix with the Raider chemistry.

Raiders' offensive coordinator Greg Olson saw him as a quarterback option player. "You see the game-changing from year to year, the use of the RPOs (run-pass option) and use of the Taysom Hills, those types...that played the RPO-style offense in college they become valuable," Olson said.

The Dolphins will have to decide whether to keep Bowden and plan to utilize his versatility.

Bowden will enter a talented running back group in Miami, which includes Jordan Howard and Matt Breida.

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