Tag: Raiders team needs

What condition the position is in: Assessing Raiders level of need at safety ahead of free agency

Assessing Raiders level of need at safety as free agency approaches

We take a look at the safety position for the Raiders ahead of free agency to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.

Returning starters: Tre’von Moehrig

Depth: Roderic Teamer, Isaiah Pola-Mao, Jalen Elliott
Free agents: Duron Harmon, Matthias Farley

Moehrig had a rough season at free safety, but he is the starter and will get a shot to rebound. 

Harmon played well at free safety as a veteran who knows the system. But was he just a bridge player? 

Teamer is a versatile player who lined up at safety and nickel corner while also being a standout special…Teamer. He is valuable depth in the secondary.

Pola-Mao showed some flashes for an undrafted rookie, especially on blitzes. He’s an intriguing young player who could compete for more playing time.

Condition: Unstable

Why: It wouldn’t be tough to get Harmon back, but the team could – and probably should – look for an upgrade.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqby7y715wxzbczy player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

What condition the position is in: Assessing Raiders level of need at IOL ahead of free agency

We take a look at the Raiders level of need along the interior offensive line ahead of free agency

We take a look at the interior offensive line for the Raiders ahead of free agency to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.

Returning starters: Dylan Parham, Andre James

Depth: Netane Muti, Hroniss Grasu, Vitaly Gurman, Jordan Meredith
Free agents: Alex Bars

Parham had a decent rookie season and settled in over the latter half of the season once he was not being moved around to three different positions.

James was his usual underwhelming presence at center and Bars was downright awful. And if the depth was any good, the starters wouldn’t be lacking.

Condition: Critical

Why: The Raiders are desperate for at least one new starter. Should Parham remain at left guard, right guard would be the glaring void. If Parham moves to center, it leaves a need at both guard spots. They could use an upgrade at center at very least,  but could probably get by with James. That is unless they opt for the $5 million in cap savings should they cut him.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqby7y715wxzbczy player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

What condition the position is in: Assessing Raiders level of need at tackle ahead of free agency

We take a look at the Raiders level of need at tackle as free agency approaches

We take a look at the offensive tackle position for the Raiders ahead of free agency to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.

Returning starters: Kolton Miller

Depth: Thayer Munford, Jackson Barton, Sebastian Gutierrez
Free agents: Jermaine Eluemunor, Brandon Parker

Miller is one of the more solid left tackles in the NFL. He has missed three games in five NFL seasons and signed a long term extension last offseason to keep him in Silver & Black for the foreseeable future.

Eluemunor was not pegged as the starter in the offseason, but that’s where he ended up starting the season. After a rough start, he finished out the season with some passable play

Munford was the team’s pick in the seventh round of the 2022 draft. He was part of the competition in the offseason at right tackle, but ultimately played mostly as a tackle eligible in jumbo packages.

Condition: Unstable

The Raiders could go about trying to upgrade the right tackle spot. The previous regime swung and missed on Alex Leatherwood, leaving the new regime back in the position of trying to find a long term answer.

Eluemunor may have earned a shot to return, and compete at tackle or to move inside to guard. Or he may have just been a stopgap and move on in free agency.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqby7y715wxzbczy player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

What condition the position is in: Assessing Raiders level of need at RB ahead of free agency

Assessing Raiders level of need at RB as free agency approaches

We take a look at the running back position for the Raiders ahead of free agency to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.

Returning starter: None

Depth: Zamir White, Brittain Brown, Brandon Bolden, Austin Walter, Sincere McCormick
Free agents: Josh Jacobs, Jakob Johnson, Ameer Abdullah

Jacobs had an elite season in his last year of his rookie contract. And Jakob Johnson did some fine blocking work for him. After that, the Raiders got very little. Even with two running backs from the 2022 draft on the team in White and Brown.

Condition: Unstable

Why: Unless the Raiders re-sign Jacobs and/or Johnson, they are gone. Another option the Raiders need to consider is slapping the franchise tag on Jacobs. Either to keep him or trade him. Rather than just letting him leave in free agency.

White and Brown were drafted to be potential replacements for Jacobs if/when he left. But neither showed enough to say they are ready to take over the job. So, if they lose Jacobs, they’ll be back in the market for a running back.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqby7y715wxzbczy player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

Best available free agents for Raiders needs as free agency set to open

With (official) free agency set to open, here’s the best free agents still available for Raiders needs

We’ve had a couple of days for teams to scramble to keep their own free agents and agree to terms with outside free agency. And Wednesday, all those deals can be made official.

Most of the top free agents are off the board. But there is still some solid talent still yet to reportedly agree to terms or officially signed. Here is the best available for the positions the Raiders figure to be looking to upgrade this offseason.

Master list in order:

WR Allen Robinson CHI
CB Stephon Gilmore CAR
DT Akiem Hicks CHI
CB Darious Williams LAR
C JC Tretter CLE
C Bradley Bozeman BAL
LB Anthony Barr MIN
WR Will Fuller MIA
DT DJ Jones SF
WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling GB
LB Kyzir White LAC
DT Sheldon Richardson MIN
T Riley Reiff CIN
T Billy Turner
DT Eddie Goldman CHI
DT Austin Johnson NYG
FB Jakob Johnson NE
LB Kyle Van Noy NE
T Brandon Shell SEA
DT Daquan Jones CAR
T Bobby Massie DEN
T Cornelius Lucas WAS
T David Quessenberry TEN
CB Kevin King GB
T Mike Remmers KC

Best by position:

WR Allen Robinson CHI
WR Will Fuller MIA
WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling GB

T Morgan Moses NYJ
T Brandon Shell SEA
T Riley Reiff CIN
T Bobby Massie DEN
T Cornelius Lucas WAS
T Mike Remmers KC
T David Quessenberry TEN

CB Stephon Gilmore CAR
CB Darious Williams LAR
CB Kevin King GB

DT Akiem Hicks CHI
DT DJ Jones SF
DT Eddie Goldman CHI
DT Sheldon Richardson MIN

FB Jakob Johnson NE

LB Anthony Barr MIN
LB Kyzir White LAC
LB Kyle Van Noy NE

G Austin Corbett CAR

C JC Tretter CLE
C Ben Jones TEN
C Brian Allen LAR
C Bradley Bozeman BAL

Top 5 Free Agent fits for Raiders need at defensive tackle

Free agency is flush with defensive tackle talent. Here are the top 5 (and then some) for the Raiders needs.

With the way the Raiders defensive tackle rotation played last season, you’d think they’d be set at the position. But when every single one of the defensive tackles in that rotation are headed for free agency, that puts them in the position of great need.

Johnathan Hankins, Quinton Jefferson, Darius Philon, and Solomon Thomas were the team’s rotation last season.

Keep in mind, the Raiders could have some numbers in mind for bringing back one or more of their own free agent DT’s and are simply allowing them to test the market.

Even if they wish to bring any of them back, the market is deep on DT talent, so they can wait it out to ensure they get the best value, whether it be re-signings or outside free agents.

Here are the top five DT free agents out there with a few more tossed in.

2020 NFL Draft: Las Vegas Raiders team preview

Draft Wire’s Gavino Borquez delivers everything Oakland Raiders fans need to know heading into the 2020 NFL Draft.

Everything Oakland Raiders fans need to know heading into the 2020 NFL Draft.

VITALS

Head Coach: Jon Gruden

General Manager: Mike Mayock

2019 record: 7-9

2020 DRAFT PICKS

1 (12)

1 (19)

3 (80)

3 (81)

3 (91)

4 (121)

5 (159)

TEAM NEEDS

Wide receiver

The Raiders added Nelson Agholor to the mix via free agency, and they have Tyrell Williams and Hunter Renfrow as solid complementary options, but they need a dynamic centerpiece at the position.

Cornerback

After finishing No. 25 in passing yards allowed last season, the Raiders were aggressive in trying to lure in Byron Jones and Chris Harris Jr. to help fix their woes, but they fell short. Eli Apple was signed, but it’s unlikely that he fills the No. 2 role.

Safety

The marriage between Karl Joseph and the Raiders came to an end despite his high level of play. Oakland needs to add a player that will start opposite of Johnathan Abram.

TOP TARGETS

Jerry Jeudy | WR | Alabama

CeeDee Lamb | WR | Oklahoma

Trevon Diggs | CB | Alabama

Jaylon Johnson | CB | Utah

Xavier McKinney | S | Alabama

Ashtyn Davis | S | California

[vertical-gallery id=616154]