The Las Vegas Raiders need to improve their pass defense and their linebacker corps, that’s a fact, but free agency isn’t the solution, at least not its first wave.
Raiders can’t afford to go on a shopping spree
Free agency injects hope into a fan base and fixes holes any given team may have. What this period is not is a short route to becoming great overnight. Newcomers will be expected to perform proportionally to what they’re earning and that isn’t how free agency works.
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The first wave of players will command premium rates and rightfully so. They had to sacrifice their body and were underpaid if they are coming from their rookie contract. It would be a disservice to themselves not to get top dollar, but most of the time, there’s a reason they hit the free agent market to begin with. Either they may be inconsistent, or just come with red flags such as being injury prone.
On the other hand, the Raiders are in the process of evaluating their program and to be honest, the current roster isn’t as bare as last year. After some years of ineffective drafting, the team was devoid of talent. That isn’t the case now as a trio of sophomore players in Maxx Crosby, Josh Jacobs and Trayvon Mullen provide a solid foundation to build on. Add to that, injury-plagued wide receiver Tyrell Williams will likely be healthy (and hopefully with the team).
Last offseason, the Raiders signed Williams and Trent Brown in order to fill key roster spots and spent accordingly. That won’t be necessary this year as the roster is in better shape and the team has enough draft picks in the first three rounds to select more impact players.
There isn’t anything wrong with anything with free agency in itself as it can help strengthen a team’s core. The problem is when organizations try to use it to build their foundation and in turn, overspend while doing so.
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