Free agency is coming up quick. In a little over a week, teams will be allowed to start negotiating with those free agents they wish to try and sign. The Raiders are expected to be major playing this free-agent period and have approximately $50.3 million in cap space with which to do it.
Here are ten moves that would make for a perfect free agency for the Raiders as I see it.
1. Release Tahir Whitehead
The Raiders should make it a complete overhaul of the linebacking corps. Whitehead has not been up to snuff in his two years in Oakland and freeing up $6.25 million in cap space is far more valuable.
2. Release Zay Jones
A midseason trade acquisition last year, he was barely roster-worthy, and he’s certainly not worth $1.4 million. That money is better spent and the wide receiver unit is another area that needs a lot of new blood.
3. Sign CB Byron Jones
This should be the Raiders’ top priority. He would be a tremendous pickup, solidifying the Raiders’ cornerback group. He’s just 27 years old and was in the Pro Bowl a year ago.
4. Sign LB Cory Littleton
The Rams have said they don’t plan on using the franchise tag this year. Littleton is the prize of free agency at the linebacker spot. The cool thing about linebackers in free agency is there are a lot of good ones expected to hit the market. So, if the Raiders miss out on Littleton, they should have a lot of good options still to choose from.
5. Sign WR Emmanuel Sanders
Most people are looking at Robby Anderson as the guy the Raiders should go after in free agency. He would add speed and he is young (26), but he is also unproven and is said to be asking for a hefty payday. Sanders is a great route runner who blocks well and still has good speed at 32. The Raiders must be looking for their deep threat in the draft, so a short term free agent receiver like Sanders fits the bill.
6. Sign QB Marcus Mariota
The more I think about Mariota, the more ideal I see him for the Raiders. The name of the game here for Mariota is flexibility. He is coming off a down year, so he will be a cheaper option than some others like Tom Brady, Teddy Bridgewater, or Ryan Tannehill. Mariota allows the Raiders to do basically anything they want at the quarterback position.
They could trade Carr and let Mariota and a drafted quarterback battle for the job. Should Mariota win that job, he could mentor the young quarterback until he’s ready. They could keep Carr and have him battle it out for the starting job with Mariota. Should Carr win, Mariota would make for a great backup. I see no downside here.
7. Sign LB Nick Vigil
Vigil is young, is a solid coverage linebacker, and knows Paul Guenther’s system from their time together in Cincinnati. This is a no-brainer.
8. Sign RB Jordan Howard
What a 1-2 punch Josh Jacobs and Jordan Howard would be. The 6-0, 224-pounder averaged 4.4 yards per carry with six touchdowns last season coming off the bench.
9. Re-sign EDGE Dion Jordan
Signing Randy Quinn would be amazing, obviously. But it seems like a luxury signing at this point. Right now, they have their two second-year guys in Clelin Ferrell and Maxx Crosby with Arden Key behind them.
Jordan was signed midseason coming off suspension and seemed to show some promise late. Talent has not been his problem in his career, it’s been substance abuse. The Raiders gave Darren Waller a shot and it paid off big time. Jordan is certainly worth taking a chance on as well as it could be a big-time return on investment if it pans out.
10. Add interior pass rusher
I don’t have a name here. Chris Jones and Arik Armstead are both looking like they will be retained by their respective teams and they are the two obvious top interior pass-rushing free agents.
If the Raiders were able to either get Tyrone Crawford from the Cowboys in a trade or if they make him a cap casualty, that would be a great move. Otherwise, there are a few possibilities for interior defenders who figure to hit the market who would be upgrades.
