Between Monday and Wednesday, NFL teams will officially be able to set terms for agreements with free agents, also known as the legal tampering period. While at the NFL Scouting Combine, Las Vegas Raiders general manager Tom Telesco noted that he’ll be more active than usual in free agency with a new staff, which means the team could be active early and often in the first few days.
Going into the free agency, the Raiders have major voids to fill at quarterback, along the offensive line and in the secondary.
Though quarterback Aidan O’Connell has earned the opportunity to compete for the starting job, the Raiders seem likely to bring in strong competition and potentially an upgrade for the spot under center.
This week, The Athletic’s Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed shared insight on the Raiders’ intention to add a lead cornerback.
“We were surprised to learn how big a difference they think a No. 1 cornerback would make,” Tafur and Reed learned. “And this draft is deep at that position…An instinctive difference-maker that would allow them to play more zone coverage when they are showing man at the line of scrimmage.”
On top of that, Las Vegas could lose three starting offensive linemen from the previous season in Andre James, Greg Van Roten and Jermaine Eluemunor.
Lastly, Telesco may need to retool the front seven, specifically at defensive tackle and linebacker. Amari Burney, who’s a 2023 sixth-round pick, is the only linebacker under contract with the club beyond 2024.
Days before the legal tampering period, we’ll highlight potential free-agent targets at the biggest positions of need and why these players could be on the Raiders’ radar.
Quarterback
Top option: Baker Mayfield
In all likelihood, Baker Mayfield will re-sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but as of right now, he’s set to test the free-agent market, which means the Raiders have a chance to lure him to Las Vegas.
In 2023, Mayfield proved he’s a solid starting quarterback with a quality supporting cast. The Raiders could get the best out of him with their pass-catching group. Telesco said he doesn’t intend to trade Davante Adams. Last year, Jakobi Meyers flourished as the secondary option in the passing game. As rookies, tight end Michael Mayer and Tre Tucker showed flashes.
Mayfield should be able to work with that collection of talent in the passing game, though he’ll likely command between $25-30 million on a new deal. Yet his moxie and prove-you-wrong attitude should appeal to head coach Antonio Pierce.
Under-the-radar option: Drew Lock
Drew Lock isn’t talked about much as a bridge-gap quarterback option, though he may have a supporter within Raiders headquarters in quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello.
As the Denver Broncos offensive coordinator, Scangarello worked with Lock at the end of the 2019 season. As a rookie that year, Lock threw for 1,020 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions with a 64.1 percent completion rate.
Back then, Lock spoke highly of Scangarello.
“I love that guy,” Lock said about Scangarello. “He teaches in such an awesome way. He’ll let you go out there and make a mistake and not rip you for that mistake unless you go back out there and do it again. Coming from a quarterback standpoint, at least me, I like that kind of coaching.”
Scangarello praised Lock’s “natural arm talent.”
As a new offensive coaching staff takes over in Seattle, Lock may be open to a reunion with his first NFL offensive coordinator.
Wild-card option: Russell Wilson
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Broncos informed Russell Wilson that they will release him. The Broncos will eat a massive dead-cap hit and essentially pay Wilson while he takes snaps for another team.
The Raiders may be interested in Wilson if they don’t see a pathway to move up for a top quarterback prospect in the upcoming draft. Telesco can opt to sign Wilson and draft a rookie signal-caller on Day 2 if none of the blue-chip prospects slide on Day 1.
Statistically, Wilson had a solid 2023 campaign, throwing for 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions with a 66.4 percent completion rate, but one may question if he’s a cultural fit in the Raiders locker room.
Offensive line
Top option: Mike Onwenu
The 2024 draft class features a strong group of offensive tackles. On the other hand, the Raiders may have slim pickings beyond the top two or three players at the position in free agency.
Tom Telesco should look to strengthen the offensive line through the draft, but if he wants the best offensive lineman available in free agency, the Raiders should make a strong push for Mike Onwenu, who has experience at both guard positions and right tackle (mostly on the right side of the line).
At 26 years old, Onwenu wouldn’t be an expensive Band-Aid on the offensive line. He could become a foundational building block along with left tackle Kolton Miller for that unit. In four seasons, with the New England Patriots, Onwenu hasn’t allowed more than three sacks while on the field for at least 647 snaps in a single season, per Pro Football Focus.
Most realistic option: Cody Whitehair
Telesco wouldn’t excite a lot of people with the addition of Cody Whtiehair, but you can easily connect the dots to offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, who worked with the interior lineman while calling the Chicago Bears offense.
By the way, when the Bears selected Whitehair in the second round of the 2016 draft, assistant general manager Champ Kelly served as Chicago’s director of pro scouting.
Whitehair struggled through most of the previous season, but he put together seven decent or average years in Chicago. More importantly, he can be a placeholder at left guard or center, which will allow the coaching staff to experiment with Dylan Parham in those positions.
Wild-card option: Connor Williams
Connor Williams comes with some risk, and the Raiders may have to exercise patience with his recovery from a torn ACL, which is why he’s a wild-card option.
With that said, Williams played his best at center with the Miami Dolphins between 2022 and 2023 before the knee injury. He’s also familiar with Raiders senior offensive assistant Joe Philbin, who worked with him as an offensive line coach in Dallas.
With the Cowboys, Williams had a solid four-year run at left guard before his move to the pivot in Miami, so he would also bring position versatility to mesh with Parham.
Because of his recovery from a significant injury, Williams may not cost top dollar on the open market. If the Raiders can sign him at a bit of a discount, and he expects to be ready for training camp, Telesco may consider him as part of a rebuild along the offensive line.
Defensive tackle
Dream option: Chris Jones
Just about every defensive coordinator in the league would love to plug two-time All-Pro Chris Jones into their defensive line rotation, and we should expect the Kansas City Chiefs to make an effort to re-sign him.
For now though, Jones will test free agency, and the Raiders can make their pitch and convince him to join the dark side of an AFC West rivalry, easier said than done though.
Jones could command close to $30 million per year at the negotiating table because of his pass-rushing production, logging 85 pressures and 26 sacks over the last two years.
Nonetheless, the Raiders can afford to splurge on at least one position while they’re not paying much for their quarterback room.
Yes, they have other positions to fill, so Tom Telesco should spread the money, but just imagine a defensive line with Maxx Crosby, Jones, Malcolm Koonce, and a much-improved Tyree Wilson; that could be a quarterback’s biggest nightmare.
Top option: Christian Wilkins
At defensive tackle, Christian Wilkins is arguably the biggest name on the open market behind Jones, and he will likely cost a lot less without any All-Pro or Pro Bowl accolades or a double-digit sack campaign on his resume.
Yet Wilkins looks like he’s on the rise after recording career highs in sacks (nine) and pressures (30) last season.
Wilkins is also a system fit with one year of experience (his 2019 rookie term) in defensive coordinator Patrick Graham’s scheme. Since then, he’s developed into an impact player in the pass rush, and Graham can continue to unlock his potential as one of the top well-rounded players at the position.
Most realistic option: Leonard Williams
If the Raiders ink Leonard Williams to a deal, the signing would seem long overdue. Coming out of USC in 2015, he talked about the possibility of playing for the Silver and Black, a team he watched growing up.
Between 2020 and 2021, Williams had a couple of standout seasons under Graham, logging career highs in sacks (11.5) and tackles for loss (14) in the latter year.
At 29 years old, Williams showed that he can still wreak havoc at and behind the line of scrimmage, notching 41 tackles, nine for loss, 15 pressures and four sacks in 10 games with the Seattle Seahawks last season.
Cornerback
Top option: Darious Williams
On Tuesday, in a surprising move, the Jacksonville Jaguars released Darious Williams. Last season, he logged four interceptions and a team-leading 19 pass breakups.
Perhaps new Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen wants a better fit in the secondary, though one team’s roster cut could become another squad’s starter. In the middle of the 2023 campaign, the Raiders claimed Jack Jones off waivers, and he looks to have a bright future in Las Vegas.
Williams doesn’t have previous ties to Antonio Pierce, but he’s familiar with Raiders’ run game coordinator and linebackers coach Mike Caldwell, who served as the defensive coordinator for the Jaguars between 2022 and 2023.
At 5-9, 187 pounds, Williams may remind fans of Amik Robertson in stature, but he’s allowed far fewer big plays in coverage.
In fact, Williams has allowed a passer rating of 68.7 or lower while giving up just two or fewer touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks in each of his last two seasons.
Though Williams is a shorter cornerback, he’s played most of his snaps on the perimeter. With extensive zone coverage experience, he could be an ideal fit for the Raiders’ needs on the boundary.
Most realistic option: Michael Davis
In 2017, Tom Telesco signed Michael Davis as an undrafted free agent, and he went on to start 74 out of 107 contests, logging 69 pass breakups and eight interceptions with the Chargers.
With the exception of the previous season, Davis has allowed a passer rating of 87.1 or lower every year since 2018. Going into his age-30 term, he’s a solid No. 2 cornerback with size (6-2, 196 lbs) and length.
Because Davis far exceeded expectations in Los Angeles, Telesco may look to reunite with him as the coaching staff looks to fill a void opposite Jones in the secondary.
Familiar option: Adoree’ Jackson
In 2021, Adoree’ Jackson had a solid year in Graham’s system with the Giants, allowing a completion rate of 52.1 percent.
In seven seasons, Jackson has only recorded four interceptions, so he’s not someone who forces turnovers at a high rate, but if Telesco wants a fill-in starter with experience in Graham’s scheme at a manageable cost, Jackson could find his way to Las Vegas.
Linebacker
Top stop-gap option: Lavonte David
Lavonte David has a lot of tread on his tires with 12 years of experience, but he still makes plays all over the field when going downhill on attack mode.
Last year, David led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in tackles (134) and tackles for loss (17) while picking up 4.5 sacks. He barely came off the field, playing 98 percent of the defensive snaps.
As a Super Bowl champion with rare longevity at his position, David can bring more leadership to a relatively young defense. Based on his numbers, he wouldn’t just be a mentor to young teammates. Like Maxx Crosby, David has an ongoing motor that keeps him on the field.
Raiders run game coordinator and linebackers coach Mike Caldwell coached David between 2019 and 2021 with the Buccaneers. With David and Spillane in the middle of the defense for at least one year, the coaching staff can gradually bring along a third- or fourth-round linebacker.
Most realistic option: Jerome Baker
Jerome Baker could reunite with Patrick Graham. Like defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, he played under Graham in 2019, logging 126 tackles, three for loss, 1.5 sacks, four pass breakups and an interception.
Beyond Baker’s past history with Graham, the Raiders may be interested in his inside-outside versatility at linebacker. On the second level of the defense, he can provide run support, but the 6-2, 225-pounder can also get after the quarterback. Baker recorded 16.5 sacks between 2020 and 2022.
Underrated option: Frankie Luvu
Frankie Luvu’s name doesn’t come up often in discussions about the league’s most productive linebackers, and he may be one of the most underrated free agents in this year’s class.
Over the last two seasons, Luvu has logged 236 tackles, 29 for loss, 26 pressures, 12.5 sacks, nine pass breakups and an interception.
Unlike many of the players on this target list, he doesn’t have direct ties to a coordinator or lead position coach, but after a couple of breakout years with the Carolina Panthers, he should draw a lot of interest on the open market.
With Luvu’s ability to rush the passer, Graham can add more wrinkles to his defensive scheme.
Maurice Moton covers the Las Vegas Raiders for Sportsnaut. You can follow him on Twitter at @MoeMoton.