Category: Raiders buzz

Raiders will rely heavily on high-pick defensive backs to ‘take it up a notch or two’

Raiders will rely heavily on high-pick defensive backs to ‘take it up a notch or two’

It’s a precarious position the Raiders find themselves in. Their defense was as porous as it gets, with no position safe from criticism. The secondary has received a great deal of criticism, but the problem is the team has spent a great deal of draft capital on defensive backs in the past couple of years, which means they have no choice but to give them a chance to develop.

In total, the Raiders have used three picks in the first 40 picks the past two years on DBs as well as a couple of fourth-round picks. They haven’t seen a whole lot of improvement in the play of the secondary despite these picks, and, as GM Mike Mayock explained, that has to change right now if the Raiders are to have any chance.

“We’ve got a first-round safety in John Abram; we got a second-round corner who we think is going to be a very good football player. We’ve got a fourth-round corner in Amik Robertson, another first-round corner in Damon Arnette and we mentioned Trayvon Mullen in the second who we think is going to be a heck of a player,” said Mayock over video conference call Wednesday.

“So, really, what we need more than anything is for all those players to take it up a notch or two. I’m talking about commitment to the game, work ethic, perseverance, being in the locker room working with your brothers. All those things are critical. We’ve expended some draft capital on what we think are some very talented players, and now all of them need to take a collective step forward.”

Add 2019 fourth-round pick Isaiah Johnson to that list and you have a lot of DBs, only one of which (Mullen) has shown he is a worthy starter.

With as many needs the Raiders have this offseason, using another high pick on a defensive back would be a tough pill to swallow. Mayock and head coach Jon Gruden would much rather see the high-picked DBs they already have start living up to their potential so they can put their attention elsewhere.

There is reason to believe some of them still have room to grow. Abram and Johnson had lost rookie seasons due to injury while Arnette and Robertson had to try and catch up to the NFL with no offseason. With all of them having a full season under their belts and what figures to be an actual full offseason practice schedule ahead, they will have their best chance to find those notches Mayock is looking for.

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PODCAST: Previewing the 2021 offseason for the Las Vegas Raiders

PODCAST: Previewing the 2021 offseason for the Las Vegas Raiders

In this episode of the Raiders Wire Podcast, Marcus Mosher and Ryan O’Leary preview the offseason for the Las Vegas Raiders. Did Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden overpay for Marcus Mariota last offseason and will they be able to trade him this year?

They also debate the biggest needs on defense and what Gus Bradley is looking for at defensive end and free safety. All that and so much more on this episode of the Raiders Wire Podcast!

Enjoy the show with the player at the top of the page and make sure to subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform. You can also follow Marcus on Twitter @Marcus_Mosher and Ryan O’Leary, host of the Raiders Wire Podcast at @RyanOLearySMG.

If you would like to listen to older episodes of the Raiders Wire Podcast, feel free to use the playlist below to find your favorite show from the past!

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Raiders GM Mike Mayock on Derek Carr: ‘I think he’s one of the top QBs in the NFL’

Raiders GM Mike Mayock on QB Derek Carr: ‘I think he’s one of the top QBs in the NFL’

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Early on during the Jon Gruden era, it was a common belief that the Raiders could and potentially would move on from Derek Carr if a better option became available. But after back-to-back strong seasons under Gruden, Carr has firmly entrenched himself as the starter in Las Vegas.

During the 2020 season, Carr had arguably the best year of his career. Not only did he score 30 touchdowns and throw only nine interceptions, but he also had the most passing yards of his career as well as his best-ever passer rating (101.4). He tied his career-high average in yards per attempt (7.9) and finished the year with 8.2 adjusted yards per attempt, which factors in passing touchdowns, interceptions and sack yards.

Because of his strong year, it sounds like other teams have expressed interest in potentially trading for Carr. But in a recent media session, general manager Mike Mayock made it sound like the Raiders aren’t interested in trading away Carr as he believes he is an elite quarterback:

“I think he’s one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL and we couldn’t be happier with him, and I tell you every year, we evaluate every position, every year. I have no idea who might call me or who might not call me, so you have to do the evaluations both on your own players and every other player in the league and you got to stack your boards and understand what league value is all around the league, and we do that. But if you’re asking me about Derek, I mean I think Jon and I would both stand shoulder to shoulder and pound the table for Derek Carr.”

While it may feel bold for Mayock to call Carr a top quarterback in the NFL, the numbers do support him here. In fact, since the start of the 2019 season, only eight quarterbacks have had a higher passer rating than Carr (101.1). The leader is Drew Brees (111.2), who is expected to retire at some point this offseason.

Is Carr a top-10 quarterback in the NFL? Probably. And with some more help around him, he is certainly capable enough to lead this team to the playoffs. Don’t expect the Raiders to move him this offseason and instead, look for Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden to continue to improve the talent around him.

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Raiders GM Mike Mayock on Derek Carr: ‘I think he’s one of the top QBs in the NFL’

Raiders GM Mike Mayock on QB Derek Carr: ‘I think he’s one of the top QBs in the NFL’

[jwplayer hcMd3hMU-ThvAeFxT]

Early on during the Jon Gruden era, it was a common belief that the Raiders could and potentially would move on from Derek Carr if a better option became available. But after back-to-back strong seasons under Gruden, Carr has firmly entrenched himself as the starter in Las Vegas.

During the 2020 season, Carr had arguably the best year of his career. Not only did he score 30 touchdowns and throw only nine interceptions, but he also had the most passing yards of his career as well as his best-ever passer rating (101.4). He tied his career-high average in yards per attempt (7.9) and finished the year with 8.2 adjusted yards per attempt, which factors in passing touchdowns, interceptions and sack yards.

Because of his strong year, it sounds like other teams have expressed interest in potentially trading for Carr. But in a recent media session, general manager Mike Mayock made it sound like the Raiders aren’t interested in trading away Carr as he believes he is an elite quarterback:

“I think he’s one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL and we couldn’t be happier with him, and I tell you every year, we evaluate every position, every year. I have no idea who might call me or who might not call me, so you have to do the evaluations both on your own players and every other player in the league and you got to stack your boards and understand what league value is all around the league, and we do that. But if you’re asking me about Derek, I mean I think Jon and I would both stand shoulder to shoulder and pound the table for Derek Carr.”

While it may feel bold for Mayock to call Carr a top quarterback in the NFL, the numbers do support him here. In fact, since the start of the 2019 season, only eight quarterbacks have had a higher passer rating than Carr (101.1). The leader is Drew Brees (111.2), who is expected to retire at some point this offseason.

Is Carr a top-10 quarterback in the NFL? Probably. And with some more help around him, he is certainly capable enough to lead this team to the playoffs. Don’t expect the Raiders to move him this offseason and instead, look for Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden to continue to improve the talent around him.

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Raiders GM Mike Mayock on WR Nelson Agholor: ‘We’d love to have him back’

Raiders GM Mike Mayock on WR Nelson Agholor: ‘We’d love to have him back’

One of the most surprising developments from the 2020 season for the Las Vegas Raiders was the play of wide receiver Nelson Agholor. After signing a near veteran minimum contract, he quickly became the team’s No. 1 receiver and a legitimate deep threat.

Despite just 82 targets, Agholor averaged a whopping 18.7 yards per reception and totaled 896 yards on 48 receptions. He scored eight receiving touchdowns, the second-most on the team behind Darren Waller (nine). However, he is scheduled to become a free agent in the upcoming days.

In a recent media session, general manager Mike Mayock expressed how much the team would love to bring back Agholor this offseason:

“First with Nellie, Nellie is one of my favorite people in the whole world. When I lived in Philadelphia, I did the Eagles preseason games and Nellie was an Eagle. I was familiar with his work ethic and appreciated him back then. What he brought to the Raiders last year was off the charts. He brought a work ethic, a toughness. He brought the young players along with him and he brought productivity and trust with our quarterback. All of those things he brought, we don’t want to lose. We’d love to have Nellie back. That’s a guy that I can’t tell you how much appreciation I have for.”

Agholor’s market should be much better in 2021 after a career year with the Raiders. But given how well he fits into Jon Gruden’s scheme, it does feel unlikely that he would leave as long as he’s not blown away by another other.

Look for the Raiders to do everything possible to bring back Agholor as he’s just 27-years old and a perfect complement to Waller, Henry Ruggs and Hunter Renfrow. Agholor should be among the top priorities for the Raiders this offseason.

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Bengals CB William Jackson III named ‘perfect’ free-agent fit for Raiders

Bengals CB William Jackson III named ‘perfect’ free-agent fit for Raiders

With the recent releases of Tyrell Williams and Gabe Jackson, it’s pretty clear the Raiders are going to try to be aggressive in free agency once again. And it appears they are willing to let go of some high-priced offensive stars in order to help out their defense.

But what player or position will the team target in free agency? One likely spot is at cornerback as they search for another viable outside cornerback to compete with Trayvon Mullen and more specifically, Damon Arnette. The team will want an experienced corner who would fit Gus Bradley’s Cover-3 heavy defense.

One possible fit would be William Jackson III of the Cincinnati Bengals. And in a recent piece by ESPN, Jackson was named the “perfect” fit for the Raiders in free agency. Here is what the site said about the potential pairing:

“The Raiders need all the cornerback help they can get, and while Jackson might never turn out to be the dominant man-to-man cover corner we all thought he could be early in his career, he would still be an upgrade over whatever the Raiders trotted out there last season. Las Vegas earned the second-lowest cumulative coverage grade against players lined up out wide last season. Jackson’s 71.4 PFF grade ranked 26th among the 136 qualifying players at the position.”

Jackson has everything that Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden would want in an outside cornerback as he would be the ideal fit with Mullen. Signing Jackson would also give Arnette time to develop and not force him onto the field.

If the Raiders are searching for a No. 1 type of cornerback that can change their defense, Jackson is the player they should consider. It’s going to cost a pretty penny for the team to acquire him, but the front office has shown they have no problem giving out big contracts in free agency. Keep an eye on Jackson as a possible free-agent target for the Raiders.

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Raiders shopping OT Trent Brown in trade as ‘jury is still out’ on return says Mike Mayock

Raiders shopping OT Trent Brown in trade as ‘jury is still out’ on return says Mike Mayock

With a cap hit of $14 million this season, and after missing 16 games in his two seasons with the Raiders, Brown was among those who were considered prime candidates for a cut or a trade. Whether he will be cut remains to be seen, but before that happens, the Raiders are going to try and get something in trade.

Shortly after this report, I hopped on a video conference call with Raider GM Mike Mayock who had this to say about his right tackle.

“Trents whole thing is when he’s healthy, in shape, and ready to go, he’s as dominant as any tackle in football. And he proved that early in the 2019 season. Since then it’s been kind of a roller coaster. So, really what he needs to do more than anything is get himself in the best shape of his life and come out ready to prove that he is a dominant tackle in the National Football League. And really that’s all it takes. If Trent gets in shape and stays committed, there’s not a better talent out there.”

It’s telling how much Mayock talks about Brown getting in shape. That’s an area you know Gruden has little patience. As for Mayock, he was non-committal on Brown returning next year, which would seem to confirm that they are doing their due diligence, including being open to trade offers.

“The jury is still out here,” Mayock said of Brown’s status for next season. “He’s under contract. And again, we believe in the talent of that player. There’d be nothing finer than to have Trent Brown at right tackle protecting Derek Carr next year, week one, but the jury’s out. We still have to make some decisions on our roster in general.”

With reports the Raiders have informed Gabe Jackson he will be released — saving the team $9.6 million against the cap, it shows they are willing to let go of high-priced players, even if they’re talented. They had reportedly attempted to trade Jackson last offseason, but his contract was clearly one that other teams were unwilling to take on.

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Former Raiders WR Tyrell Williams lands in Detroit with Lions

Former Raiders WR Tyrell Williams lands in Detroit with Lions

Despite missing all of last season, and being hobbled by an injury the entire 2019 season, Tyrell Williams was scooped up quickly following the Raiders’ release of the veteran wide receiver last week. The 29-year-old has signed with the Detroit Lions on a two-year deal, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Williams had signed a 4-year, $44 million deal with the Raiders and was set to make $11.6 million this coming season had he been retained. Obviously, he got significantly less in his deal with the Lions, including just one year, presumably because he is at the point where he must prove he can stay healthy.

The 6-4, 205-pound receiver caught 42 passes for 651 yards and six touchdowns in 2019 as the team’s number one receiver. Well, technically speaking tight end Darren Waller was the team’s number one receiver, but Williams was supposed to carry that designation.

A plantar fascia injury hobbled him all season, keeping him from living up to the big contract he signed. And with the Raiders in some cap trouble this offseason, he was the most logical cut.

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Report: Raiders expected to release RG Gabe Jackson

Report: Raiders expected to release RG Gabe Jackson

In a surprising move, the Raiders are expected to release seven-year veteran guard Gabe Jackson. This according to ESPN’s Josina Anderson.

Jackson was set to make $9.6 million this coming season with no dead money if released.

This move is surprising because, despite his salary, he is coming off one of his best seasons. The 29-year-old figures to instantly become a hot commodity on the free-agent market.

Originally a third-round pick by the Raiders in the 2014 draft, Jackson has been a starter since day one. He started at left guard his first two seasons and moved to right guard when the team signed Keleche Osemele. Jackson has remained at right guard ever since.

It was left guard Richie Incognito that seemed more likely to not come back, considering he’ll be 38 this summer and missed most of last season with an ankle injury.

Though Jackson’s release doesn’t guarantee Incognito’s return, recent reports have him preparing as if he expects to be back. The other guard option is Denzelle Good, who they would need to re-sign as he is a pending free agent.

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Long snapper Trent Sieg signs three-year extension with Raiders

Long snapper Trent Sieg signs three-year extension with Raiders

Among the decisions the Raiders have to make this free agency is how to handle their several restricted free agents. Should they look to keep them, there are three options, typically. That’s an original round tender, a second-round tender, or a long-term deal. With long snapper Trent Sieg, the team has opted for the third option.

Having logged three years as the Raiders full-time long snapper, Sieg today inked a new three-year deal to remain with the team according to his agent.

The Colorado State alum played linebacker and long snapper for the Rams. He took over that season for long-time long snapper Jon Condo, who had held down the job for 11 seasons.

Sieg has proven a steady hand at long snapper. The Raiders added Liam McCullough this offseason, but Sieg’s new deal would seem to render McCullough a contingency plan rather than legitimate competition for the job.

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