2020 Las Vegas Raiders Offseason Plan

Team Needs:

  EDGE, WR, LB, G, S, DL

Available Draft Picks:

1.12, 1.19, 3.80, 3.81, 3.91, 4.118, 5.159

Starting Cap Space:

$56,297,302

Trades:

None

Say what you want to about the possibility of the Raiders trading Derek Carr but he can be good enough to find success in Las Vegas with the right team around him and something about Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock being in charge makes me think they would rather build around him than trade him.

Restructures:

None

Cuts:

None

I don’t think I’ve ever done this before where I listed no cuts but this Raiders roster doesn’t have a lot of fat that needs to be trimmed.

Re-signings:

K Daniel Carlson for 1 year, $660,000 (ERFA)

LS Trent Sieg for for 1 year, $660,000 (ERFA)

Daniel Carlson is an easy re-sign under the ERFA minimum. If the Raiders can bring back a quality special teamer for the vet minimum, I think they have to pull that trigger. This move keeps their cap committed to other positions and means the Raiders don’t have to use a draft pick on their kicker. There is a similar situation in Las Vegas for long snapper Trent Sieg, who is an ERFA worth bringing back at the minimum.

Free Agent Signings:

LB Cory Littleton for 4 years, $49,000,000 ($40M GTD)

LB Kyle Van Noy for 3 years, $25,500,000 ($20M GTD)

CB Bradley Roby for 3 years, $19,500,000 ($14M GTD)

WR Randall Cobb for 1 year, $6,000,000 ($4.5M GTD)

S Clayton Geathers for 2 years, $6,800,000 ($5M GTD)

G Max Garcia for 1 year, $820,000 ($0 GTD)

The Raiders should be big-time spenders on the defensive side of the ball this offseason. Bringing in Cory Littleton and Kyle Van Noy at linebacker means that the Raiders now have two playmakers in what was previously their weakest position group. Littleton could focus more on coverage and run-defense while Van Noy would be able to blitz more from the interior. Bradley Roby had a much improved season in Houston and he should earn a longer-term deal this offseason. Adding Roby gives the Raiders some much needed life on the boundary.

Randall Cobb would be able to come in as a reliable veteran presence that could be a playmaker all over the field. Cobb would also be able to help younger receivers learn the ins and outs of succeeding as a wide receiver in the NFL. Max Garcia would be a depth signing that I would trust to come in in a pinch if he is needed.

Clayton Geathers gets his own paragraph for his signing. Geathers would be able to come in and compete for the starting free safety job opposite Johnathan Abram. Geathers would compete with Lamarcus Joyner and any rookie, should there be a draft pick spent on a safety. The signing of Bradley Roby means that the Raiders added a cornerback who’s capable of playing on the boundary or in the slot, which would free up Lamarcus Joyner to play some more safety if the staff wants him to.

Draft Results:

Pick 1.12 – Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama

Plain and simple, the Raiders need help at wide receiver and Jerry Jeudy is the best route-runner in the class. Adding Jeudy to a Jon Gruden offense would be a thrill to see and would instantly give the Raiders their true #1 option in the receiving game.

Pick 1.19 – A.J. Epenesa, DL/EDGE, Iowa

Say whatever you want about AJ Epenesa’s Combine performance, he knows how to play the game and he has tape that makes his transition to NFL favorable. Epenesa would be a reliable defender who could play all along the defensive line and is both a strong run defender and pass-rusher. Being able to come in and give the Raiders yet another talented contributor on this defensive line is a huge positive for the team strengthening their pass-rush.

Pick 3.80 – Malik Harrison, LB, Ohio State

Malik Harrison has instant start potential that could sit in shallow zones with ease and is quite possibly the best hitter in the Draft. Harrison has excellent closing speed and an aggressive, attacking style that should be welcomed by the Las Vegas Raiders fanbase.

Pick 3.81 – Devin Duvernay, WR, Texas

Duvernay is an absolute speed demon who has fantastic hands. Duvernay on film looks even slightly faster than his 4.39 40 time shows and he should find a consistent role in this offense easily  as he’s one of those players who the team just has to find ways to get him the ball and let him make plays.

Pick 3.91 – Jonathan Greenard, EDGE, Florida

Bringing in some more help along the defensive line, Greenard is a smart edge defender who has shown flashes to be dominant as both a pass-rusher and run defender. Greenard had some injury concerns in college but if he’s healthy, he could legitimately become a 7+ sack per year kind of player.

Pick 4.118 – Shyheim Carter, S, Alabama

Shyheim Carter is a hybrid safety who can play as either the deep safety or in the slot. With solid instincts and decent ball-hawking ability, with some refinement Carter could eventually become a starter for this Raiders team. Carter lacks the size-speed combo that teams love to see now but still offers plenty in terms of actual playing tape.

Pick 5.159 – Calvin Throckmorton, OL, Oregon

Throckmorton is a beast of a man who can rotate between tackle to guard as need be, leaving open another roster spot for the Raiders to go into game day with. With four years of starting experience, Throckmorton offers enough intellectually to make up for his lack of length and athleticism if a spot-start or rotation is needed.

Cap Space Spent on Re-signings:

$1,320,000

Cap Space Spent on Free Agents:

$37,470,000

Cap Space Spent on Draft Picks:

$9,707,365

Total Cap Remaining:

$7,799,937

Backfield

QB: Derek Carr

RB: Josh Jacobs

Pass Catchers

WR: Jerry Jeudy

WR: Tyrell Williams

Slot: Randall Cobb/Hunter Renfrow

TE1: Darren Waller

TE2: Foster Moreau

Offensive Line

LT: Kolton Miller

LG: Richie Incognito

C: Rodney Hudson

RG: Gabe Jackson

RT: Trent Brown

Defensive Line

DE: Clelin Ferrell

DT: Maurice Hurst

NT: Johnathan Hankins

DE: Maxx Crosby

Linebacker Starters

SAM: Ukeme Eligwe

MIKE: Cory Littleton

WILL: Kyle Van Noy

Secondary Starters

CB: Trayvon Mullen

CB: Bradley Roby

Nickel: Lamarcus Joyner

S: Johnathan Abram

S: Clayton Geathers

Special Teamers

K: Daniel Carlson

P: AJ Cole III

KOS: Daniel Carlson

LS: Trent Sieg

KR: Jalen Richard

PR: Jalen Richard