Jones would help out significantly in the Raiders secondary. Photo: USAToday
We all know the offense is further along than the defense. The glaring need for Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock on the offensive side of the ball continues to be a true playmaker at wide receiver.
Among top-tier free agent wide receivers, it’s Amari Cooper, A.J. Green (if healthy) and then everyone else.
Both could re-sign with their respective clubs, the Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals. Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Raiders need a game-changer at the position—someone who can put safeties on high alert and cornerbacks on their heels.
The Raiders could pursue Emmanuel Sanders or Robby Anderson as solid second-tier wideouts, but the latter could cost $13-15 million, a price his current team isn’t willing to pay, per The Athletic‘s Connor Hughes. According to Spotrac, the former may command $10 million on the open market.
Sanders would be a more cost-effective option than Anderson. At 32 years old, he still makes plays and isn’t afraid to let you know it:
Sanders is open to re-signing with the San Francisco 49ers, but he would have a solid line of interested teams, which may slightly increase his salary cost.
Tyrell Williams’ $11 million base salary became fully guaranteed February 5th, which means he’s going to be on the 2020 roster:
Gruden still believes we’ve yet to see the best of Williams, per The Athletic‘s Vic Tafur.
“They could have walked away with no dead money hit on the salary cap, but apparently coach Jon Gruden still thinks Williams can be a No. 1 receiver — something the team said several times last year, even after they traded for Antonio Brown,” Tafur wrote.
In 2019, Williams battled plantar fasciitis in both feet, which caused a significant drop-off in production after the first few weeks. He recorded six catches for 105 yards and a touchdown against the Denver Broncos in the season opener—his best performance with the Silver and Black.
Williams scored a touchdown in five consecutive games to open the 2019 term. He didn’t see the end zone again until Week 15. Gruden pardoned the fifth-year wideout because of his foot issue, per Tafur.
“We still think he’s an excellent player,” Gruden said. “We go back and I watch him in training camp and Week 1 when he was healthy against Denver, and he’s a talented guy. But it’s hard to play when your feet are on fire and his feet were hurting bad.”
Nonetheless, the Raiders still need help at wide receiver. If Williams goes down, they don’t have the firepower to compete in high-scoring games.
General manager Mike Mayock and Gruden could peruse the wide receiver market for quality depth.
Breshad Perriman, a 2015 first-rounder, flashed his potential at the end of the 2019 campaign as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ lead pass-catcher with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin on injured reserve nursing hamstring injuries. Between Weeks 13 and 17, he ranked third league-wide in receiving yards (506) and tied for the most touchdown receptions (five).
Then again, Mayock selected Hunter Renfrow in the fifth round of last year’s draft. Because Antonio Brown forced his way out of Oakland and Williams’ injury, the Clemson product assumed a bigger role than expected. Still, he progressed as the season went on and finished with back-to-back 100-yard, one-touchdown performances in the last two outings.
Mayock has earned trust in his eye for wide receiver talent with a solid Day 3 hit. Now, he’ll assess a draft class loaded with high-potential prospects at the position.
CeeDee Lamb and Jerry Jeudy are favorites among the Raiders fanbase, but the list goes far beyond those two prospects.
If Gruden wants speed, Henry Ruggs III, Jalen Reagor, and K.J. Hill check that box. For more size, Tee Higgins (6’4″, 215 lbs), Michael Pittman Jr. (6’4″, 220 lbs) and Tyler Johnson (6’2″, 205 lbs) can satisfy that requirement. Brandon Aiyuk (6’1″, 206 lbs) and Justin Jefferson (6’3″, 192 lbs) provide a good blend of both traits.
Las Vegas could acquire a wide receiver with one of their two first-round picks and double-dip using one of three third-round selections to overhaul the position.
With Williams’ $11 million salary on the books, and Renfrow’s strong finish to the 2019 season, why overpay for Anderson or any other veteran wideout?
The Raiders just need a high-upside starter and another capable pass-catcher for depth in case of injury. The additions would help this offense outscore opponents when the defense struggles to make stops or come up with turnovers, which speaks to a bigger issue on the other side of the ball.
What about the Defense? Click the arrow to continue….
Play-caller Paul Guenther deserves some blame for the Raiders’ defensive struggles. Lamarcus Joyner, as a slot cornerback, rather than a safety doesn’t help this unit. Clelin Ferrell should focus on his natural position at defensive end instead of moving inside where he’s less effective in the pass rush.
More importantly, Guenther must develop and emphasize the need for athletic linebackers who are comfortable in space rather than two-down defenders limited to run support. The Raiders can’t trot out Tahir Whitehead and Marquel Lee expecting to stop a growing number of talented pass-catching tight ends on intermediate routes.
Despite Guenther’s oversights and flaws, his unit needs more playmakers on every level. Assuming Benson Mayowa, who logged seven sacks this past season, tests free agency, the defensive line could use another veteran pass-rusher.
As mentioned above, the Raiders don’t have an average coverage linebacker on the roster. Opposite cornerback Trayvon Mullen, the secondary has a question mark. As pros, Keisean Nixon and Isaiah Johnson have played 52 combined defensive snaps. Daryl Worley has an expiring contract.
Safety Johnathan Abram (torn labrum) should be ready to suit up for the 2020 term, but he’s only played 48 defensive snaps. There’s palpable excitement for his sophomore season, but the 23-year-old is still an unproven commodity on the pro level.
If the Raiders roster plan heading into Vegas should be aggressive. They need a defense that will bloody a few noses on the field. The Denver Broncos aren’t coming for a pillow fight with the 10th-best run-blocking offensive line, per Football Outsiders. For three quarters of Super Bowl LIV, the 49ers defensive line made quarterback Patrick Mahomes work extremely hard to move the ball.
The Las Vegas Raiders can gradually develop a defense with years of solid drafts and a sprinkle of high-performance veterans to expedite the process.
This offseason, notable talents like linebacker Cory Littleton, cornerback Byron Jones, edge-rusher Mario Addison, and safety Anthony Harris could be available on the open market—that’s just to name a few.
The Raiders have invested 21.93 percent of their cap dollars in the defense—that ranks 30th leaguewide, per Spotrac.
Over the last two years, the team has poured money and resources into the offensive line, drafting Kolton Miller 15th overall in 2018, signing Trent Brown to the highest-paid salary among offensive linemen and extending center Rodney Hudson. Richie Incognito inked a new two-year, $14 million deal in December.
Now, it’s time for team brass to turn its attention to the other side of the ball. In 2019, the Raiders defense gave up the fourth-most passing touchdowns (33) and ranked 24th in scoring. The pass rush remains inconsistent, though, the run defense ranked eighth.
The unit needs to generate more impact plays with increased pocket pressure and more takeaways. If Mayock, Gruden, and Guenther put their heads together and agree to take a couple of swings at key free agents, the defense may be able to hold up its end of the bargain with consistency.
Gruden and Mayock aren’t flushed with cap space, a projected $51.6 million, but the team will rank above the league average—more than enough to make a couple of big free-agent splashes. Fans may disagree on the quarterback situation, but they can agree the defense needs more high-end talent.
Ferrell and Maxx Crosby could certainly learn from a veteran pass-rusher like Robert Quinn, who’s familiar with defensive line coach Rod Marinelli from their shared time in Dallas this past season. Littleton, Joe Schobert or De’Vondre Campbell could lay the foundation for a stronger linebacker corps. (Byron) Jones can play cornerback or safety. He’s done so in Dallas and excelled in both positions.
If (Anthony) Harris doesn’t return to Minnesota, he’s the ball hawk the Raiders need on the back end. The 28-year-old has recorded nine interceptions and 17 pass breakups over the last two seasons.
Regardless of who’s under center for Raiders next season, the signal-caller will have a stout offensive line, a sensational ball-carrier in Josh Jacobs and an emerging pass-catching tight end with a 1,000-plus yard season in Darren Waller.
Imagine what blue-chip prospects like Lamb, Jeudy or Ruggs could do for the offense—all of them at a low cost compared to second-tier wideouts on the free-agent market.
The Raiders roster is far from done. Mayock and Gruden would be best to focus on each side of the ball in two different ways.