Raiders trade cornerback Trayvon Mullen to Cardinals, per reports

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The Arizona Cardinals acquired cornerback Trayvon Mullen from the Las Vegas Raiders in return for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2023 on Tuesday, according to multiple reports.

The conditional pick can become a sixth-rounder depending on Mullen’s playing time. According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, if Mullen had not been traded, the Raiders planned to release him.

Mullen’s four-year, $7.2 million rookie contract is coming to an end. By the end of this year, the cornerback is expected to earn $2.54 million. He joined the Cardinals following the release of cornerbacks Josh Jackson and Jace Whittaker.

Las Vegas selected the 24-year-old in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Prior to being injured last fall, he started 31 games for the Raiders in three years and was on pace to set a career-high in that category.

Mullen, a first-round talent out of Clemson in 2019, appeared in all 16 games of his first season with ten starts. By the end of the second season, he had started 26 of 32 games.

He was initially expected to reclaim the starting spot this year. However, Mullen only played five games in 2021 due to a toe injury. In the five appearances, Mullen had 20 tackles, four pass deflections, and an interception.

During the team’s training camp, he was an observer rather than a participant because he was on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list with an unspecified ailment following foot surgery in May.

Throughout training camp, Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury said only Byron Murphy Jr., with an 87.6 QB rating allowed in 2021, had secured the starting corner position. That said, the Cardinals have 2021 fourth-round pick Marco Wilson, who may snatch the other starting spot.

Meanwhile, Las Vegas signed free agent veteran Anthony Averett and traded for Rock Ya-Sin to lead the team’s cornerbacks in March.

In addition to Mullen, Alex Leatherwood, the Raiders’ 2021 first-round draft pick, was also waived on Tuesday.