The Raiders were reportedly sniffing around two premier defensive linemen prior to the season, but both Yannick Ngakoue and Jadeveon Clowney ended up finding new teams outside of Las Vegas.
We know the Raiders have lacked for pass rushers through three games, but would Ngakoue or Clowney have solved the problem?
Let’s look at the output of both players through three games.
Clowney signed with the Tennessee Titans just before the start of the season, but in 164 snaps he is still looking for his first sack. His current Pro Football Focus grade in Tennessee would qualify as the fourth-best on the Raider defense.
Still probably not worth the $12.7 million that the Titans gave him for one season.
Ngakoue, though, is a little different story.
Now a member of the Minnesota Vikings, Ngakoue already has two sacks and a top-five Pro Football Focus pass rushing grade for the entire league.
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No question, Ngakoue would have been a huge bonus if the Raiders had been able to trade for him, but would a second-round pick and a conditional fifth-round pick have been too much of a cost?
You be the judge.
twitter: @raidersbeat
On July 29, 2020 KRISTOPHER KNOX of the Bleacher Report offered this assessment of 1 Trade Each NFL Team Should Offer Before the 2020 Season Starts. He said that the Las Vegas Raiders should;
Offer: WR Tyrell Williams, 2021 5th-Round Pick for Jaguars Edge Yannick Ngakoue
The Las Vegas Raiders are another team that should make a run at Jaguars pass-rusher Yannick Ngakoue. The Las Vegas Raiders has a need after finishing with just 32 sacks in 2019.
Instead of offering a high draft pick for the former Maryland star, though, the Las Vegas Raiders could offer a Day 3 pick and deep-threat receiver Tyrell Williams in a package deal. Tyrell Williams could immediately help add a new element to Jacksonville Jaguars, and he may be sliding down the depth chart of the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Las Vegas Raiders drafted Henry Ruggs III and Bryan Edwards this past April. Between those two, second-year man Hunter Renfrow and free-agent addition Nelson Agholor, they could view TyrellWilliams as expendable.
If the Las Vegas Raiders could leverage Tyrell Williams to acquire a pass-rusher like Yannick Ngakoue, that would be one huge win. Parting with his $11.5 million-per-year salary would be another.
Just like Kristopher Knox, I have advocated this move for some time now. Further, Khaled Abdallah of Just Blog Baby said in his article, 10 Las Vegas Raiders who have something to prove in 2020, that;
The Raiders defense has been a sore spot for nearly 20 years, and the team hasn’t finished in the top-15 in points allowed since 2002. So it may be unfair for the blame of the team’s struggles since 2018 solely on defensive coordinator Paul Guenther’s shoulders, but there always has to be a fall guy in case things go wrong.
There were some marginal improvements from 2018 to 2019, as the Las Vegas Raiders went from 31st to 27th in points allowed, and from 27th to 14th in yards. They still gave up an unforgivable number of big plays but there have been several extraneous factors that have hampered the defense as a whole.
The roster tear down in 2018, and the trade of Khalil Mack cut the legs out from underneath the unit, but it is slowly getting back to its feet as the Las Vegas Raiders added talent through the draft and free agency.
Injuries and suspensions were the killers in 2019, but in 2020, Paul Guenther will finally have some talent to work with at all three levels of the defense, and this will be the first year he can be fairly evaluated. If the defense struggles for whatever reason, the Las Vegas Raiders have a ready-made replacement in Rod Marinelli, who has been coaching football since 1973.
Rod Marinelli joined the Las Vegas Raiders as the defensive line coach and is surely ready to step in to the top defensive job if the unit falters under Paul Guenther. The sands in Las Vegas are hot, but they are nothing compared to the hot seat Paul Guenther will be on if the defense struggles early on.
So, for all that Khaled Abdallah said, which I agree with by the way, my question becomes When will the Las Vegas Raiders become able to cover an opposing team’s tightend? As we all know, the Las Vegas Raiders have to see and cover Travis Kelce twice in 2020. Aside from Tyreek Hill, who presents his own unique set of challenges for the Las Vegas Raiders, Travis Kelce is the Kansas City Chief’s most dominant weapon, on offense. The Las Vegas Raiders HAVE TO shut down at least one of the Kansas City Chief’s weapons in order to beat them. Shutting down opposing team’s tightends has been a weak spot for the Raiders for many years now. I say that it is finally time to FIX THIS ISSUE if the Las Vegas Raiders have ANY plans of having a winning season. In my opinion, the ability to shut down an opposing team’s tightend CANNOT be underestimated. Travis Kelce is a big time scoring weapon for the Kansas City Chiefs and should the Las Vegas Raiders be able to SLOW his effectiveness down, that would, at the very least, give the Las Vegas Raiders a better chance to beat the Kansas City Chiefs and any other opponent that they face. FIXING THIS PROBLEM IS LONG PAST DUE.
In my opinion, these two moves alone would offer the Las Vegas Raiders a chance to become VERY competitive in the AFC West Division.
Gruden won’t cut the present defensive coach for some reason. We lose to bills somebody got to step in Owner Mark Davis And GM MAYOCK GET RID DEFENSIVE COACH GRUDEN WONT DO IT
In the article below, that came out on August 18, 2020, I said;
5 thoughts on “Raiders Still in the Hunt For Jadeveon Clowney and/or Yannick Ngakoue?”
William G. says:
August 18, 2020 at 11:28 am
IF Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden don’t go out and get that 25 year old pass rusher, Yannick Ngakoue, who currently plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars then they can only blame themselves for not excelling this season. Yannick Ngakoue is in his prime and a proven commodity that doesn’t need the time to develop like a first round pick that may or may not prove out. Trading for Yannick Ngakoue would give the Las Vegas Raiders the youth, depth and proven talent on the defensive line that they desire. Von Miller won the Denver Broncos a Super Bowl by putting continuous, persistent and extreme pressure on the Carolina Panthers’ offensive line and subsequently Cam Newton. Collectively, with the current Las Vegas Raiders defensive line, Yannick Ngakoue could be that piece for the Raiders. The truth is that the Raiders actually ARE in a position to upstage the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs this year IF they acquire this young man. The Achilles Heel, currently for the Kansas City Chiefs IS their offensive line. If Al Davis knew this, he would do EVERYTHING possible to attack their weakness. Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden need to do the same. BEATING the Kansas City Chiefs would be Al Davis’ primary objective in order to give the Las Vegas Raiders the ONE THING that they need the most in order to reestablish their dominance, in the NFL, CONFIDENCE!!! Having Carl Nassib replace Benson Mayowa IS NOT going to give the Raiders what they want but acquiring this young man WILL. ANY and EVERYONE can tout Mike Mayock as the next great sports analyst turned General Manager, if they want to, but all that will be talked about, at the end of this season, is WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN IF Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden HAD added Yannick Ngakoue to their roster. The NFL has millions of stories about missed opportunities. The Las Vegas Raiders, 2020 edition, SHOULD NOT BE ONE OF THEM. Just for arguments sake, imagine what Yannick Ngakoue could bring to this team. He is younger than Jadeveon Clowney, his upside is better, he’s there for the asking, albeit at a price that could force the Raiders to jettison Derek Carr to afford him, and his football record, a Pro Bowler, and acumen is proven. THIS move could solidify Mike Mayock’s and indeed Jon Gruden’s legacy in football history. If Jon Gruden wasn’t afraid to pull the trigger on the Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper trades then what is the holdup on making this one? Al Davis was not afraid to go out and get Bubba Smith, Ted Hendricks, Mike Haynes, Lyle Alzado and Richard Sherman in an effort to bring dominance to the Oakland Raiders defense. In fact, Al Davis NEVER let ANYTHING stand in the way of his getting the job done. With the additions that Raiders Management has made this season, thus far, the crowing jewel and missing piece IS Yannick Ngakoue. I challenge ANYONE to say that the Raiders defense would not be formidable with the acquisition of Yannick Ngakoue. In my opinion, his talent is worthy of a second round and possibly a first round pick in order to make this happen. The truth is that this season could possibly rival some of the Raiders’ greatest seasons ever IF and ONLY IF Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock have the “temerity” to make it that way.
Daearl Kelly says:
August 19, 2020 at 9:33 am
I think they would be better on the JD CLOONEWNEY MOVE.you get a pmayer with just as much at a better price and if you makw him happy., you just tell him we banking on you big man and let him go at it
Raider Raider says:
August 19, 2020 at 1:24 pm
Dion Jordan for all of the above. Was getting better as he got playing time. Way cheaper. Played in the system. Played inside and outside. Has something to prove. Will not displace the 2 young guns.
Chris Sanchez says:
August 19, 2020 at 5:41 pm
Ngakoue is a beast. But is he going to get us a Championship? No.
Will he improve our defense immensely? Of Course! But he wants Mack money and give him a few years and he’ll want more! Clowney is another thing. In my eyes he’s a stuational DE at best. And he doesn’t bring it on everyplay. Are we really gonna pay him the 17 Million a year he wants? That’s for a player with a history of injuries back to before he was even in the league!
I say pass on both. To many other needs to be selling the farm just to try and make the playoffs!
William G. says:
August 19, 2020 at 8:16 pm
Clowney is 29 years old and Yannick is 25 years old, to start with. You are entitled to your opinion. In my opinion, having a 25 year old chase after Patrick Mahomes is a better proposition than having a going on 30 year old chasing after him. Obviously, Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden are going to do what they want to do. They have already committed to giving Derek Carr ANOTHER 25 million dollars, this year and so be it. It’s Mark Davis’ money so who cares? The next question becomes, how long will Mike Mayock continue to, according to multiple football analyst and sportswriters, assemble talented players without the Raiders posting a winning record? Andy Reid did what he knew was necessary in order to get the Kansas City Chiefs a Super Bowl victory. Will Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden?
Obviously the Raiders struggle to make competent decisions in free agency. I have jumped up and don begging the Raiders to make rational decisions in their free agency decisions. The only good free agent decision was Incognito! That was a no brainer. Ngakoue was available in the draft and I begged the Raiders to package Williams (WR) and a 2nd round pick to the Jags for the much need pass rusher and do a salary dump on what has proven to be a worthless WR signing! This stuff is not that hard to figure out. Calais Campbell was also available. But the Raiders seemed to forget that Al Davis built the Raiders on DLine, lock down corners and speed at WR! So many opportunities to improve this team in the off season at a price they could afford! I have picked almost all pro bowl players that the Raiders have had available for the last 4 years, but the Raiders always feel the need to pick some nobody from a nowhere school to fill their needs. This is not that hard! Do the right thing right now and resign Burfict to a game by game contract. He would instantly be the Raiders best LB! Get it done Gruden!
It seems the Raiders and Gruden don’t value defense at all. (which is odd since his Bucs won with their D and not Gruden’s 6000 page playbook) The bend don’t break D philosophy has gotten very old for Raiders fans. Gruden wants a high powered offense that hangs 35 on the opposition every game and then too go out and drain the clock with his ground game. Well you need a better QB if that’s your plan Chuckie and maybe some OL that want to play instead of hiding in the trainers room. Check Down Derek ain’t gonna lead you to the promised land and the OL has turned into the drizzling shits
And as far as keeping Eric Harris as your starting safety is mind boggling to the fan base. What is Mayock and Gruden seeing in their player evaluations that they kept him around?
The Raiders D needs a legit DT (not a FA from the bargain bin) a legit FS with NFL speed, and someone to teach their linebackers and db’s how to wrap up and tackle. It almost seems like the Raiders defense are allergic to open field tackling.
Fix the D, get the D in the top 15, and Then talk about making the playoffs.
The Chiefs are light years ahead of Vegas. Chuckie better start sleeping at the Raiders facility to try and play catch up with Andy Reid.
I can’t even say Gruden 2.0 is a work in progress. To me it’s a mess! I just keep seeing so many mistakes that Mayock and Gruden have made the past 2-3 years. From terrible FA signings, to letting better players walk out the door (karl Joseph and keeping Eric Harris), to playing coy about their starting QB, and to this entire face mask debacle. It’s like Gruden is a 14 year old kid barreling down the road at 100mphs on all emotion/passion and zero logic.
3 games into 2020 and I am not convinced this is even a. 500 team let alone a wild card threat
As long as they have Gunther it make a flying banana who their pass rusher is. Gunther is the weakest leak
Gruden won’t cut the present defensive coach for some reason. We lose to bills somebody got to step in Owner Mark Davis And GM MAYOCK GET RID DEFENSIVE COACH GRUDEN WONT DO IT
Mike, I had never heard the phrase Check Down Derek but I like it.