Free agency is slowing down, but the Raiders still have holes and the draft is right around the corner. Teams might barricade in closets to make their picks, but the draft will go on.
Let’s take a look at what might be coming down the pike next for Jon Gruden and his merry men…
5 – Remember the hot topic of Utah State’s Jordan Love coming to Vegas?
The Athletic’s Vic Tafur was one of the ones saying it could happen. Now he’s one of the ones saying it won’t.
Could the Raiders still draft a quarterback? Sure, but we can probably rule out a quarterback in the first two days of the draft. If they had a 43 year-old quarterback taking snaps, maybe there would be a little more urgency to take a quarterback in the draft. But not as the roster is now.
4 – The Raiders secondary was bad last year and they haven’t done very much to make it better. Eli Apple and Jeff Heath are in and now Karl Joseph is out.
Joseph is getting $2.5 million from Cleveland while Lamarcus Joyner is squatting on $9.2 million of the Raiders salary cap. Joyner would have accounted for $11.75 million in dead money if the Raiders cut him, so he essentially got a free ticket onto the roster this year.
For all the efforts Gruden has made to bring in a top cornerback over the last two years, he just hasn’t quite been able to make it happen. Fortunately, Trayvon Mullen looked like the real deal in his rookie year.
3 – Could the Raiders still make a free agent splash at wide receiver?
Robby Anderson is having trouble getting the blockbuster deal he wanted (in part because of the depth at WR in the draft) and the Raiders might be inching back into the mix. If all things are equal, Las Vegas can offer the bright lights and low tax rates, so maybe don’t put Anderson to rest just yet.
2 – Speaking of receivers… is there a chance the Raiders will draft two in the first round?
They might pass on linebackers in the draft now that they have Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkowski, but it would be foolish to ignore the secondary as it looks right now. Johnathan Abram will be back, but it’s no secret that the Raiders have been looking hard for another safety. Cornerback is still a work in progress, too. So it’ll be tough to justify grabbing two wide receivers in round one without addressing the secondary first. But knowing Gruden, he might just find a way.
1 – Going forward, what free agents could still be in the Raiders future?
Safety Tony Jefferson makes a lot of sense if his medicals are even a little encouraging.
A receiver or two is coming. It’s just a matter of who and when.
Linebacker Nick Vigil would be a nice add, especially if the Raiders decide they don’t want a linebacker in the first round of the draft.
Logan Ryan is a nickel cornerback and the Raiders seem to be planning on putting Joyner back at nickel cornerback in 2020. But if last year was any indication, Ryan would be a huge upgrade at the position.
Could the Raiders just throw in the towel at cornerback (roll the dice on their young guys) and try to sign another pass rusher to make life easier on the secondary? If so, maybe Everson Griffen or… Jadeveon Clowney?
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After a good start to free agency I’m disappointed with what has transpired lately. No WR or high quality DB, letting Karl Joseph go for $2.5MM. Who’s next to go, Daryl Worley? And now Emmanuel Sanders is going to the Saints.
Maybe they’ve reached a salary cap issue, but I don’t think so considering what they were willing to pay for Bryon Jones and Chris Harris. Hopefully, they will make at least one more solid move before draft time. There are still some quality FA’s out there.
Try to trade back with both 1st round picks and pick up extra picks maybe 2 second round picks. Pick corner and defensive line who can get after quarter back in first round of draft. Use 2 second round picks to draft deep wide receiver group. Use 3rd round picks for linebacker, offensive line, defensive line, other depth positions.
Keeping Joyner at slot corner would be a big mistake and it would only show that they haven’t learned anything from last year’s experience. It will surely cost Guenther his job. They could put Lawson at the slot and then draft Lavert Hill from Michigan in the 3rd or 4th round to be the Dime Back. Eventually Hill would become the no. 1 slot corner.
I don’t think we should be in any hurry to sign a rookie QB this year … With Carr and Mariota I would go with those two … There is going to be abled bodied QB’s to fill in … a pinch … What are the under classmen coming up ? … Every year there is the next best thing … Remember Jamarcus … Blue chip ., Can’t Miss … one in a decade … Burned one twice shy . I think we would be best seeking WR ‘s Linebacker’s, edge rushers and maybe a bruising full back with hands … then more linemen for depth and competition … If we can keep the ball in front of our safeties we might be alright with our corners … maybe plus one …Go Raiders
Nelson Agholor, Eli Apple, Jason Witten, Carl Nassib, Nick O’Leary, Quentin Poling and Nathan Peterman are just a few of the Raiders free agent signings this off season. Of all the talent available, these are some of what Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock thought and obviously believe will make the Las Vegas Raiders more competitive in the 2020 season than they were in the 2019 season. Now, Corey Littleton, Marcus Mariotta, Nick Vigil, Rod Smith, Maliek Collins, William Stanback and Nick Kwiatkoski, in my opinion, could possibly make substantial contributions to this team, this year. So, essentially the Raiders have literally seven reasonable prospects and seven suspect prospects. I say why not give Dontari Poe, Logan Ryan and Terell Suggs a shot as well?
The absolute best thing to happen to the Raiders during this free agent signing period is that, with the exception of Jason Witten, the Raiders got younger and will continue to do so in the upcoming draft.