Category: Raiders free agency

I have tried to put together my thoughts on the moves the Raiders made this free agency and I keep finding myself back in the same place. I just can’t help but view every move through the lens of the ones they failed to make. The players they didn’t add, despite considerable need at several key positions.

There were a couple of head-scratchers among the players they did add. First and foremost, giving running back Kenyan Drake $11 million despite sharing a backfield with Pro Bowl first-round pick Josh Jacobs. And then there was the logic in going seven deep at three-tech defensive tackle.

Again, these moves seemed strange mostly because of the expectations they would be focusing on some other positions. And, yes, there is still the draft, but free agency, at the very least, should provide insurance to keep the team from reaching for need in the draft or in case the players you want aren’t on the board when they pick. But that’s where they are now.

With that in mind, these are my five worst ‘moves’ by the Raiders.

1. Not adding a cornerback

Cutting Lamarcus Joyner was expected. He was the highest-paid defense by a wide margin and was never what they hoped he’d be as their starting nickel corner. His release left a gaping hole at a crucial position. In addition, they needed competition and depth on the outside.

The Raiders’ only move at the position this offseason was to re-sign Nevin Lawson. The veteran cornerback without an interception over his entire NFL career was not exactly in demand. And currently, the slot corner job falls to him or 2020 fourth-round pick Amik Robertson who played a total of 35 snaps on defense last season as they attempt to transition him to the position.

Meanwhile, a deep group of free-agent cornerbacks found homes elsewhere including some very good options like Desmond King, Troy Hill, Mike Hilton, and Quinton Dunbar.

2. Not adding a safety

Safety was nearly as deep as cornerback in terms of very good players on the market. Including the likes of Anthony Harris, Marcus Williams, John Johnson, and Xavier Woods. There are still a couple of decent options out there in Malik Hooker and Tre Boston, but if the Raiders were really interested in signing one of them, they’d probably have done it by now.

As it stands, they have three safeties on the roster. Johnathan Abram will start at strong safety and with the current personnel Jeff Heath would be the starting free safety. After that there’s just special teamer Dallin Leavitt.

Could Heath step up and be the starter? Sure. He started in Dallas. Primarily at strong safety. Signing a starter or at the very least, competition to start at free safety would have been smart. So, now they must hope to find an NFL-ready talent in the draft.

3. Not adding a right tackle

Trent Brown’s considerable salary and lack of work ethic got him sent back to New England for swaps of 2022 draft picks. And the Raiders didn’t immediately add anyone to replace him. Again, yes, the draft could potentially be a place to get a tackle, but even if they do draft one high, a swing tackle is needed. Then the rookie could compete with the veteran with the winner starting and the other as valuable depth.

As of right now, the best option to start at right tackle is Denzelle Good, backed up by Brandon Parker. The problem is Good is also the best option to start at guard. That is the position he plays best. Adding an actual tackle gives them the best situation in terms of talent in the starting five and depth.

4. Not adding an X receiver

The first move the Raiders made this offseason was to release Tyrell Williams. He was signed two years ago to be the Raiders’ X receiver with the trade for Antonio Brown as the Z.

When Brown didn’t work out, and neither did any of the others they signed that season, they made Henry Ruggs III their top pick to be the Z. Then Williams was lost to injury and they inserted rookie third-round pick, Bryan Edwards, as the starter. That lasted three games and as he barely saw the field the rest of the season, catching just 11 passes for 193 yards and one touchdown.

Edwards might break out. He might not. But right now, the 6-3 receiver is their only real option at X. There’s the 6-4 Marcell Ateman, but he’s never shown he can be a viable option.

The Raiders added two receivers in free agency, signing John Brown and Willie Snead. Both stand at 5-11, like Ruggs. Brown is another Z and Snead is a slot receiver. Brown will help push Ruggs while Hunter Renfrow is a proven starting slot receiver.

5. Not adding a nose tackle

As we’ve covered, the Raiders went kinda nuts at defensive tackle. But all of their additions play three-tech. They re-signed Johnathan Hankins, making him their lone nose tackle with any proven abilities. reserve/future signing Niles Scott is the only other nose tackle on the team.

Hankins is a solid starter. But even as an every-game starter, nose tackles tend to work in rotations. And right now they have no one with whom to rotate Hankins.

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[lawrence-newsletter]

It’s certainly been an interesting free agency period for the Raiders. The team traded away not one, not two, but three starting offensive linemen from the 2020 season. On top of that, they lost their top receiver in Nelson Agholor but were able to replace him with veteran John Brown.

So how well have the Raiders fared two weeks into free agency? Well, it probably depends on who you ask.

In a recent article by Alex Kay of Bleacher Report, he gave the Raiders a grade of “D+” for their offseason transactions. The biggest knocks came on the offensive line, but the Kenyan Drake signing didn’t help either. Here is a snippet of his thoughts on their offseason so far:

“The Raiders seemed to have ended up exactly where they started the offseason: with a roster full of holes—just different ones than before. Las Vegas isn’t ready to be a contender yet and—barring a series of home runs in the draft—will likely fall short again.”

Luckily for the Raiders, the season doesn’t start anytime soon and there are still moves out there left to be made. If they can add a veteran cornerback and a starting-caliber free safety, they might be able to salvage this offseason.

They also have eight draft picks in April, four of which are inside the top-85 selections. If they can hit on a few picks, including at No. 17, this roster could actually be much improved. Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden certainly have a tall task in front of them to fix this roster, but it is doable.

[lawrence-newsletter]

The Las Vegas Raiders have certainly had a busy start to free agency. The team moved on from three starting offensive linemen, signed a pass-rushing star and gave a big contract to a backup running back. While not all of the moves have made sense, the one that has the highest approval rating is the signing of wide receiver John Brown.

After the Patriots spent big money on Nelson Agholor, the Raiders were in the market for a speedy receiver to pair with Henry Ruggs and Bryan Edwards. Brown is in the latter stages of his career, but he is still one of the best deep threats in the entire NFL.

In a recent article by Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus, he wrote about every team’s best signing so far in free agency. For the Raiders, that was none other than Brown. Here is what he had to say about the move:

“Signing Brown to replace Nelson Agholor has the potential to be excellent business, however. Only Tyreek Hill scored more deep touchdowns than the six Agholor scored in 2020. While Henry Ruggs III is supposed to provide that threat within the offense, he didn’t as a rookie. Brown has been a consistently excellent deep receiver in his career and should provide a smart insurance plan for that role.”

The Raiders are expected to give Ruggs and Edwards bigger roles in 2021, so they won’t have as big of a need for a veteran receiver like they did last season. Still, Brown is a quality receiver who Derek Carr will be able to trust down the field and to get open. Considering the contract and the need, this was a fantastic signing by Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden to round out their wide receiver corps.

[lawrence-newsletter]

With Maurice Hurst as the team’s only defensive tackle with starting experience for sure returning, the Raiders needed to make several moves at the position. It was the reason I had the position as the Raiders’ top need this offseason. It’s also the reason they went hard after the position early in free agency adding Solomon Thomas, and Quinton Jefferson, and re-signing Johnathan Hankins.

Earlier this offseason they brought back Kendall Vickers on an Exclusive Rights Free Agent tender and re-signed David Irving. Those moves seemed like they would be plenty to stock up at the position.

Then Monday came back around. And along with it came first the addition of Matt Dickerson and now Darius Philon.

The 6-1, 286-pounder played four seasons with the Chargers, the final two under defensive coordinator Gus Bradley who now holds the same position with the Raiders. He had 8.5 sacks over those two seasons, which is pretty good for an interior defensive lineman, but he hasn’t appeared in an NFL game since 2018.

Philon had signed a two-year, $10 million deal with the Cardinals, but prior to the season was arrested on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in an incident at a strip club earlier that year and was cut. And hasn’t seen an NFL field since. The 27-year-old is trying to find his way back in with his old coach.

[lawrence-newsletter]

Over the last week, the Raiders have dramatically improved their defensive line by adding several new bodies to the unit. On Monday, they continued to add depth at defensive tackle, signing veteran Matt Dickerson.

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the team has agreed to a deal with Dickerson that is worth up to $1.25 million in 2021. Essentially, it’s a veteran minimum deal for the former Titans’ defensive lineman.

The #Raiders are expected to sign former #Titans DL Matt Dickerson to a 1-year, $1.25M contract, source said. Some added depth.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 22, 2021

Since entering the NFL in 2018, Dickerson has appeared in 18 games, totaling 15 tackles and two quarterback hits. He does have some experience playing as a 3-4 defensive end as well as inside as a defensive tackle in 4-3 looks.

However, he is a fairly inexperienced, playing just 279 snaps during his NFL career. He did see a significant uptick in snaps in 2020, playing 197 for the Titans last year.

Dickerson certainly isn’t a lock to make the roster, but he does provide more veteran depth at a spot that desperately needed it. Keep an eye on Dickerson, along with the likes of Solomon Thomas and Kendal Vickers as they compete for roster spots during training camp.

[lawrence-newsletter]

Today marks the one-week anniversary of the start of free agency. That’s because these days free agency starts when the negotiating period does and that opened up last Monday at 9 AM Pacific.

Many positions have been addressed by the Raiders, whether it was adding outside free agents such as DE Yannick Ngakoue, DT Quinton Jefferson, or WR John Brown, or re-signing players such as LB Nicholas Morrow, guards Richie Incognito and Denzelle Good, or DT Johnathan Hankins.

The one area that has largely gone unaddressed is the secondary. There have been a lot of talented corners and safeties get swiped up so far. But there is also a good amount of outstanding talent still to be had.

So, I have compiled the top ten DBs still on the market for the Raiders’ needs.

1. CB Richard Sherman

Not only is he the top defensive back on the market, but he would also be just what the Raiders’ secondary needs in terms of leadership for their otherwise young secondary. And he also happens to know Gus Bradley’s defense being that Bradley was his defensive coordinator in Seattle when the Seahawks used a fifth-round pick on him.

The 33-year-old saw his 2020 season cut short by injury, but in 2019 he was named to his fifth Pro Bowl. Sherman now boasts of 36 career interceptions while being named to five Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams in his distinguished career.

2. CB Adoree Jackson

No question Jackson would be a great get for the Raiders. The question is if they would be able or willing to outbid other teams wanting to sign him. He was a cap casualty cut by the Titans, and thus carries a greater draw than a simple free agent because adding him wouldn’t factor into the compensatory pick formula.

Mayock’s fifth-ranked cornerback in the 2017 draft, Jackson was selected at 18 overall. He’s best suited as an outside cornerback, which is part of why the Raiders would spend big on him being that they have their own first-round pick Damon Arnette heading into his second year.

3. S Malik Hooker

What Gus Bradley needs is a true single-high safety. And that’s what Hooker is. Last season he was lost to a torn Achilles in the second week of the season, which in some ways is good news because it means he will have had more time to heal up and therefore have a good chance of not missing any offseason practice time.

As it happens, he was selected at No. 15 overall, which was three spots ahead of Adoree Jackson in that 2017 draft. He was Mayock’s second-ranked safety in that draft behind Jamal Adams, and that’s just where he was taken.

4. S Tre Boston

The first time in Boston’s career in which he started every game was in 2017 under Gus Bradley as the Chargers’ new defensive coordinator. And he’s remained a full-time starter ever since. The past two seasons the North Carolina alum started every single game at free safety in Carolina, back where his NFL career began.

This time last year, he was given a three-year deal by the Panthers only to get released last month, just one year into his deal. And as he was cut, once again, there’s the benefit of his addition not counting in the comp pick formula.

5. CB Brian Poole

At 5-9, his stature makes him an ideal slot corner, so it’s a good thing he’s played that position well. He has allowed just one touchdown and a passer rating of under 70.0 when targeted over the past two seasons in the slot according to Pro Football Focus. That kind of production along with his three interceptions over that time should make him a more than worthy replacement for Lamarcus Joyner who struggled in that role including failing to record a single interception in the past two seasons for the Raiders.

6. CB Malcolm Butler

Another free agent who entered the market as a cap casualty, Butler would fit the mold of instant competition with Damon Arnette to start. And he was cut, so, again, there’s the benefit of not counting in the comp pick formula. The 31-year-old is probably best known for the game-sealing interception of Russell Wilson at the goal line in the Super Bowl in 2015. That wasn’t a fluke for Butler.

The former undrafted free agent out of West Alabama started every game that season and has been a full-time starter every season since for the Patriots and Titans. Just last season he tied a career-high with four interceptions along with 14 pass breakups.

7. CB Quinton Dunbar

Like Richard Sherman, Dunbar is coming off an injury-shortened season. Also like Sherman, Dunbar had a great season the year before, starting a career-high 11 games. Unlike Sherman, Dunbar is still in his 20s. He’ll turn 29 in July. Dunbar played wide receiver in college, so he went through a learning curve his first few years switching positions in the pros. Despite that, he’s put up 10 interceptions in his six-year career and has never been held without an interception in a season.

8. S Xavier Woods

Woods has been the Cowboys’ starting free safety the past three seasons. He fell through the cracks in the draft because he was a jack of all trades coming out of Louisiana Tech. But he found his home at FS and put up five interceptions in four seasons in Dallas. Though his numbers came down last season with no interceptions and just one pass breakup. Already with the Raiders is Woods’s former safety teammate Jeff Heath along with his former DC Rod Marinelli, no the defensive line coach in Las Vegas.

9. CB MacKensie Alexander

Alexander left Clemson after the 2015 season after having a huge interception in the National Championship game. He became the 54th overall pick in the second round in 2016. Meanwhile, who should take over as a starting corner at Clemson but Trayvon Mullen who was the Raiders pick at 40th overall in the 2019 draft. Alexander is a slot cornerback by trade, which means he could step into that role alongside Mullen in the Raiders’ secondary.

10. CB Casey Hayward

At 31, Hayward is a veteran, but not in the twilight of his career. The two-time Pro Bowler spent the past four seasons starting every game in which he appeared under Gus Bradley in LA. The first of those seasons (2017) he was named to his second Pro Bowl. Hayward was a key piece in the Chargers having a top ten pass defense in each of Bradley’s four seasons as DC.

With the entire Chargers’ coaching staff ousted, and the Chargers rebuilding, Hayward was cut as well. Seems no place better to finish his career but to follow his former DC to the other swanky new NFL stadium a few miles northeast.

Others notable free agent DBs:

S Jaquiski Tartt
CB Nickell Roby-Coleman
CB Bashaud Breeland
CB K’Waun Williams
CB AJ Bouye
S Tashaun Gipson
S Duron Harmon
CB Rasul Douglas

[lawrence-newsletter]

One of the bigger mistakes the Raiders made during the 2020 offseason was signing defensive end Carl Nassib to a large contract. The Raiders signed him to a three-year deal worth $25.5 with $16.7 million guaranteed. They did so despite Nassib never having more than 6.5 sacks in a season.

Not surprisingly, Nassib struggled in his first season with the Raiders. He recorded just 2.5 sacks and five tackles for a loss. In fact, his play (and practice performance) was so bad at times that the Raiders made him a healthy scratch for two games.

But despite the rough first season in Las Vegas, the Raiders won’t be releasing Nassib. Instead, they are restructuring his contract, potentially saving close to $5 million in cap space. The news was first reported by Vic Tafur of The Athletic via Twitter:

The #Raiders' choices were:
A) Pay DE Carl Nassib his $5.75 million guaranteed bonus today and release him, saving $3.5 million in salary.
B) Keep him. Just pay him.
C) Restructure and just push all of that money back.
They're going with Option C.

— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) March 19, 2021

This move will now give Nassib a cap number of $12.3 million in 2022 and it makes it even harder to release him next offseason if needed. The Raiders are hopeful that Gus Bradley (and Rod Marinelli) can turn his career around. But he turns 28 next month and we know what type of player he is.

Look for Nassib to be a reserve/role player in 2021, playing behind the likes of Yannick Ngakoue, Maxx Crosby and Clelin Ferrell.

[lawrence-newsletter]