3. Romeo Okwara
Romeo Okwara had a career year for the Detroit Lions in 2020, racking up 10 sacks, 44 total tackles 11 for loss and 18 quarterback hits. He also played in all 16 games for the second time in his career since his rookie year. Okwara only started nine games this year and played 67 percent of the defensive snaps for the Lions.
Okwara may have a lot of suitors this offseason due to his lack of name recognition and his price tag could lower as a result. His age will also be a major selling point in negotiations. At 26, he’s just entering his prime and potentially has several years to offer the Raiders. On the other hand, similar to Hendrickson there are some questions about whether or not last year was potentially a fluke or a sign of what’s to come.
This was the first time he cracked double-digit sacks and registered more than five one other time in 2018 when he tallied seven and a half. If the front office believes he can continue at a similar pace, they should be very much involved in the courting process for Okwara.
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Leonard Williams would be a terrific pick up. Suh? No. The rest? I could go either way. Watt might be too spendy. He brings good pressure inside, which is a necessary fill for the Raiders. I would prefer that the Raiders focus on youth, and coaching that youth up correctly. Collins and Nassib sadly, were a waste of time and money. Especially since Marinelli was there. Was Guenther not scheming to them? I don’t know, but if we as Raiders/Raider Nation are ever going to get the collective monkey off our back, we must build a lasting and deep defensive rotation that is RESILIENT.
Here’s the problem the Raiders have every year with bringing in FAs – will the player coming in be productive and make everyone else around him better or is he only as good as the team around him? Raiders have to look at the defenses that these guys were playing on. In other words, can they change their environment or are they a product of it?
Ferrell is the three down defensive end on this team, not Crosby, who regularly got swallowed up by tackles on running downs (if he didn’t run himself right out of the play). I think Hendricksen, Okwara, or Williams would be great. Ngakoe has red flags all over the place with regards to three teams essentially showing him the door last season. Excuse the spelling on the names.