Not long ago, the Las Vegas Raiders were in need of cap relief. They are now under the cap, but to get there, they had to release a few players. Left guard Richie Incognito was among those cuts.
The Raiders will be releasing Richie Incognito, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Moving on from the left guard frees up around $5 million in cap space. Also, this news comes a couple of days after Las Vegas parted ways with right guard Gabe Jackson. Heading into the 2021 season, their offensive line will look very different.
A third-round selection by the Los Angeles Rams in 2005’s draft, Incognito spent time with the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins before signing a one-year contract in 2019. After exceeding expectations, he signed a two-year $14 million extension last offseason. However, the four-time Pro Bowler injured his Achilles in Week 2 and missed the rest of the year. Although he’s free to sign with any team he wants, Vic Tafur of The Athletic doesn’t rule out a reunion at a lower salary.
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What’s next for the Raiders?
The Raiders’ offensive line may look very different in 2021. They already moved on from Jackson and Incognito may find a higher bidder in free agency. Denzelle Good, who appeared in 14 games last season and played 95 percent of the team’s total snaps on offense, is set to hit the open market. Furthermore, the team’s brass has entertained talks about possibly trading right tackle Trent Brown.
Not long ago, Las Vegas had one of the ten best offensive lines in the NFL. Nevertheless, bad front office decisions and poor on-field results have pushed the team to revamp the unit. If the Raiders end up losing Incognito in free agency, they will have to draft his replacement or sign a free agent.
Tyler Shatley may be available in the open market. Also, it’s unlikely, but they could bring back Jon Feliciano, who spent his first four years in the league with the Silver and Black. It will be interesting how they decide to bolster their offensive line. In the meantime, Ramble on, Raider Nation!
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