Just like that, the Las Vegas Raiders (it sounds weird, doesn’t it?) Are already in the third year of Jon Gruden’s second era. When the Raiders, then Oakland, awarded Gruden a $ 100 million 10-year contract to become their new head coach (again), they did it knowing that Gruden couldn’t get them out of the black hole of misery overnight. It was always going to be a process. The good news for the Raiders is that the process could be ahead of schedule and could reach the next phase if the next two months go as planned.
Despite the exchange of their two best players to Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper before and while In the 2018 season, the Raiders managed to win seven games in 2019 after Gruden’s first season in charge led to a record 4-12. It is progress. But the Raiders must be vigilant. Their negative differential of 106 points indicates that they had the chance to emerge with a record of 7-9. Based on their only point differential, their expected win / loss record? 5.3-10.7.
This does not mean that the Raiders are destined to regress in 2020. It just means that they must continue to upgrade their free agency list and the draft so that they can avoid regression.
The good news: the Raiders have money to spend. With more than $ 50 million available in the ceiling space, the salary ceiling should not prevent them from adding the free agents they want. In addition, the Raiders are still charged with draft capital in the aftermath of the Mack trade. Although missing a second-round pick, the Raiders are armed with two first-round picks (one of which belonged to the Bears) and two-thirds (one of which belonged to the Texans). Thus, the Raiders will have the possibility of making upgrades to key positions both in free agency and in draft.
The most important question, of course, concerns the quarterback position. While Derek Carr is under contract during the 2022 season, the Raiders can bail out the contract and save nearly $ 14 million in the process. They could also try to trade it with another needy quarterback team that is better equipped to win with a (caliber) Carr quarterback. Regardless of the exact method, the Raiders should seriously consider leaving Carr this offseason with so many options available through free agency and the commercial market. Shifts from Tom Brady to Teddy Bridgewater to Jameis Winston will likely be available. The best way to compensate for the regression? Improvement to the most important position in sport.
But the Raiders must also find ways to improve a defense that was among the worst in the league in 2019. Despite progress last season, it is still a team in urgent need of reinforcements on both sides of the ball if she wants to go from competitive to worthy of the playoffs.
With all of that in mind, we decided to create a one-stop destination for all the information you need on the Raiders’ off-season, including a list of key upcoming dates, a scorecard for the free agent update, a glance at their tentative situation and the latest reports and rumors.
Key dates to come
- 12th of March: The franchise / transition tag deadline. The Raiders have no real tag candidates.
- March 16: The period of legal falsification begins. Teams are free to speak to free agents without restriction.
- March 18: The new championship year officially begins at 4 p.m. AND. Teams can now officially sign free agents.
- March 29-April 1: The annual league meeting in Palm Beach, Florida.
- Half April: Out of the 2020 regular season schedule. But we already know which teams the Raiders will face in 2020. In addition to their normal divisional roster, they will face the Falcons, Panthers, Browns, Patriots and Jets on the road , and the Bills, Dolphins, Saints, Buccaneers and Colts in their new stadium in Las Vegas.
- April 23-April 25: The NFL Draft, to be held in Las Vegas.
- May 8-11: Mini-camp for beginners, from Friday to Sunday or from Saturday to Monday.
- May-July: OTA, compulsory mini-camp and training camp. Exact dates to be determined.
Free agent dashboard
All information on contracts via Spotrac
Unrestricted free agents
Some notable defensive players are ready to hit the free agency. Worley started 15 games last season, scoring eight assists and one interception. Joseph, a former first-round pick prior to the Gruden era, played in nine games and recorded 38 solo tackles, three defensive assists and one interception. The Burfict, often suspended, has been reinstated, but the Raiders would be wise to distance themselves from him. The same can probably be said of Worley and Joseph, but for different reasons. The Raiders should aim to replace the two players with upgrades a year after their defense ranked 31st in DVOA.
Offensively, there is not much to fear in terms of free agents. Glennon is a backup caliber quarterback. Washington is not a priority, especially after the team drafted Josh Jacobs in the first and recently extended Jalen Richard. And Harris is more of a turner than a receiver.
The Raiders won’t lose much in free agency.
Restricted free agents
Of all these names, Morrow is the most interesting piece. In his third season after remaining draft-free, Morrow had 73 career tackles, a career high. At the kicker, the Raiders may want to find a better option than Carlson, who only achieved 73.1% of his field goals in 2019, who ranked in the bottom half of the league. At the very least, competition is necessary.
Press releases
Signatures from across the league
- LB Lamarr Houston signed a one-day contract to retire with the organization
- Signed LB Quentin Poling
Internal signatures
Incognito, aside from serious concerns outside the field, gives the Raiders some stability at the front while Richard is a nice compliment to Jacobs, especially as a backstop pass option. Meanwhile, Good provides the depth of the Raiders in the trenches. Similarly, Lawson gives secondary school a certain depth, especially since the Raiders could lose some starters in free will.
Draft of 2020
- Tour 1: Las Vegas, Chicago
- Round 2: None
- Tour 3: Las Vegas, Houston
- Round 4: Las Vegas
- Round 5: Las Vegas *
- Round 6: None
- Tour 7: Las Vegas
* A conditional choice involved in Khalil Mack’s trade with the Bears. It is not yet known whether the conditions were met.
Discover a more detailed overview of their needs in the project in click here.
Rumors, reports and updates
March 2: Raiders interested in Chris Harris
As mentioned earlier, the Raiders’ high school is changing, but instead of trying to re-sign players, they should be looking for improvements. Harris would be exactly that. The superstar’s corner should leave Denver this offseason.
The Raiders are rightly interested.
But as the tweet above hinted, they will have competition for its services.
March 1: Raiders are not on the carpet on Tom Brady
One of the many quarters should hit the free agency? Tom Brady. however, it doesn’t seem like the Raiders are shooting him. NBC Sports Boston’s Tom E. Curran says Gruden “is not going to put Brady on his stomach if the quarterback teams reach out, but the team does not intend to give a good chase.” It makes sense. It is likely that the Raiders window does not match that of Brady. The Raiders are still under reconstruction. And Brady is in winning mode now.
February 29: Raiders to sue Byron Jones
If the Cowboys let Jones walk free, the Raiders should be very involved in what will likely become a bidding war for a 27-year-old defensive back who has become a hell of a good player. At the sound of that, the Raiders want it, according to a report by Las Vegas Journal Journal. But the Raiders will not be alone in pursuing it.
February 25: Raiders Won’t Deny QB “Upgrade Chance”
Even if the Raiders don’t chase Brady, that doesn’t mean they’re not looking for a quarterback upgrade.
“Derek played at a high level last season,” general manager Mike Mayock told reporters, by Adam Schefter from ESPN. “I’m very happy with Derek. But as I said before, we will evaluate each position on our list, and if there is a possibility of upgrading, we will look into that.”