Free agency is set to begin in just over two weeks, and teams have already started to put together their plans on who they will target. The Raiders are expected to be one of the more active clubs in the free-agent market, targeting starting level defensive backs, such as Byron Jones and Chris Harris.
However, there are always a handful of players each offseason who sign cheap deals who go on to be significant difference makers.
One example last season is Shaq Barrett, who signed with the Buccaneers on a one-year deal worth less than $5 million. He went on to record 19.5 sacks and is now set to be one of the highest-paid edge rushers in the NFL.
Today, we are looking at four players who shouldn’t be expensive on the open market that could outproduce their price tag. Without further ado, here are some names the Raiders should target in free agency.
1. DT Maliek Collins, Cowboys
Defensive tackle might be the position with the most depth in free agency as there are several big names expected to hit the market. But a player that could get lost in the shuffle is defensive tackle Maliek Collins of the Dallas Cowboys.
Collins has been a four-year starter for the Cowboys, totaling 14.5 sacks in 55 starts. However, the appeal here is that he’s only 24-years old and has experience under Rod Marinelli.
While Collins will likely never be an All-Pro caliber of player, he has shown the ability to be a high-level starter and would fit well in a rotation with Maurice Hurst as the team’s under tackle. Given all of the connections, keep an eye on Collins’ price tag in free agency.
2. LB Joe Thomas, Cowboys
Another Cowboys player that could fall through the cracks in free agency is veteran linebacker Joe Thomas. While he doesn’t have a lot of starts under his belt, he has played a ton over the last four seasons with the Packers and the Cowboys as a nickel linebacker.
Thomas is one of the best coverage linebackers in the NFL, along with being a special teams demon. While no one is going to confuse him with Ray Lewis or Brian Urlacher, Thomas is a quality player that can play multiple linebacker positions.
With the Raiders expected to draft their future weakside linebacker in April, Thomas would be an excellent addition, as well. Look for the former Cowboys’ linebacker to sign a deal close to the veteran minimum this offseason and continue to be outstanding in coverage.
3. CB Darqueze Dennard, Bengals
If the Raiders miss out on some of the bigger-name free agents at cornerback such as Byron Jones or Chris Harris, a potential target could be Darqueze Dennard of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Dennard has some familiarity in Paul Guenther’s scheme as he played under him for a few years with the Bengals. While he was considered a first-round bust earlier in his career, he’s performed reasonably well over the last three seasons with the Bengals.
Dennard isn’t an elite cornerback, but he has proven to be a quality starter in the NFL. Pairing him with Trayvon Mullen would give the team two above-average starters heading into the 2020 NFL Draft.
While he might be the most expensive player on this list, Dennard could prove to be a significant value for the Raiders during the second or third wave of free agency.
4. FS Karl Joseph, Raiders
The final free agent that could prove to be a massive bargain on the open market is actually one of the Raiders’ own players in Karl Joseph. Before his foot injury, Joseph was playing the best football of his career and finally found a home in the Raiders’ defense.
While injuries and health are a concern, Joseph has shown enough over the past two seasons that he should be retained by the Raiders. His fit with Johnathan Abram will always be a little clunky, but the two are some of the best hitters in all of the NFL.
Joseph would be wise to take a one-year deal to prove that he can stay healthy and then hit the open market again in 2021. And if that is the case, look for the Raiders to welcome him back with open arms this offseason.
