Raiders

Raiders Post-Draft Free Agency Ideas

Several marquee free agents are still available and the Las Vegas Raiders could sign one or some, if the price is right.

The Raiders braintrust may not be done adding players to the roster just yet. They have been deliberate in their approach, meticulous and disciplined. In free agency, they didn’t allow themselves to be goaded into winning any bidding wars and that continues to be the case.

Despite being connected to various high priced free agents, bargain shopping and bang for the buck is the route Raiders brass opted to take. Now, early prudence may have a chance to pay off. Players who bet on themselves in search of enormous paydays have seen their values come crashing back to reality.

Related: Raiders in the Cusp of Building a Contender in Sin City

Needing an edge

The Raiders can’t have too many pass rushers and gaining an elite edge rusher for less than a premium price may prove to be too good to pass on. Jadeveon Clowney, Markus Golden, and Jabaal Sheard are the best of the remaining options. Cheaper veteran options include Vinny Curry, Everson Griffen and Dion Jordan.

However, as crazy and obsessive as it may be, the Jaguars still haven’t found a trade partner for Yannick Ngakoue. Ever since the draft ended, they are losing leverage by the day. Despite labeling Ngakoue with the Franchise Tag, teams haven’t ponied up the level of compensation Jacksonville has been looking for. To further muck up the situation, Ngakoue hasn’t signed the tender and senior vice president of football administration and technology Tony Khan can’t command a first and a third round pick like the franchise tag dictates.

The Raiders currently have picks in rounds one through four, a sixth, and a seventh in the 2021 NFL Draft and are $8.165 million under the 2020 salary cap. Waiting the Jaguars out is tipping the trade scales back in their favor. Whether or not it actually happens remains to be seen.

In the Silver and Black corner

The Raiders addressed their secondary this past draft when they selected Damon Arnette with the 19th pick. They would later use the 139th to select Amik Robertson. Currently, Las Vegas is extremely young at the position; Nevin Lawson is the oldest corner on the roster at the ripe old age of 26, and barring injury, Trayvon Mullen, who’s 22, is going to start in 2020. Arnette is a rookie, and the second oldest corner on the roster at the advanced age of 23.

The Raiders corners are big on talent and college championship games, but woefully short on pro experience. Muellen is a second-year player and has promise. What these young ball hawks need is a veteran to help guide them through the season. There are many notable veteran still without a team such as Logan Ryan, Prince Amukamara, Dre’ Kirkpatrick, or the aging Brandon Carr.

Ryan would be the best of the bunch and probably worth a reduced asking price in the $7-8 million range. Down from the $10 million he was previously asking for. He would bring NFL championship experience and years of deep playoff runs to a team with young hawks ready to swoop. It would be a tremendous shot in the arm for the Raiders secondary and give them a ton of matchup flexibility. perhaps they should float Ryan a 1-year deal at what he asks. It could prove to be an invaluable investment in the young talent’s future.

The Raiders went into the draft looking for pieces to fortify their roster but if they still want to add one or a couple, the market offers plenty of options.

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Top Photo: Don Juan Moore/Getty Images

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