In life, we often receive what we pay for in terms of product value. If you skim on the cost of certain items, expect low quality from those investments. The same concept can apply to NFL free agency. Under head coach Jon Gruden, the Las Vegas Raiders have been modest with their acquisitions on defense.
Gruden is singled out because we know he pulls the strings for the Raiders— Mike Mayock said so after he accepted the Raiders general manager position.
“In all honesty, Jon’s got final say, if it ever comes to that, and I’ve got zero problems with that,” Mayock said to ESPN’s Steve Levy last January.
So, Gruden deserves some of the responsibility for a defense that allowed the most points in franchise history during the 2018 campaign (467) and ranked 24th in the category this past season.
Following a 42-21 Week 14 loss to the Tennessee Titans, Gruden seemed fed up with the Raiders’ inability to make timely stops, per Vic Tafur of The Athletic:
“You gotta force a three-and-out, and we weren’t able to do that yesterday, from the jump,” Gruden said. “Very, very concerned about it. We’re going to make some changes and get it right.
In the big picture, the Raiders rank 30th in cap dollars spent on defense ($45.3 million), per Spotrac. After blowing off all that steam about defensive changes, Gruden has to put his money where his mouth is.
We’ve got to play better, and we’re going to play better. There will be changes. There will be changes. What happened yesterday will not happen again. I can’t allow it to happen.”
In 2019, the Raiders gave up 40-plus points three times. Although the Titans’ loss seemed like the last straw for Gruden, he had little flexibility to make roster changes in December.
The Raiders haven’t invested much in veteran defensive talent since Gruden took over. Linebacker Tahir Whitehead, defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins and safety Lamarcus Joyner are the most notable names with bigger deals, but only two of them make the list of top-three investments on that side of the ball, per Spotrac.
1. S Lamarcus Joyner, $9.2 million
2. LB Tahir Whitehead, $7.3 million
3. DE Clelin Ferrell, $7.1 million
Ironically, the Raiders have mishandled two of their highest-paid defensive players. The other has functional limitations in pass coverage.
Joyner has performed much better as a safety than a slot cornerback, but the coaching staff insists on using him in the latter position.
Mayock admitted the team put Ferrell in a difficult situation, shifting him inside at the beginning of the year, per Tafur.
“Early in the year, we probably asked him to do too much,” Mayock said about Ferrell. “He had never played inside and he was splitting reps inside and outside.
After London, when he got his weight back up, I thought the season began to build for him. We asked him to play one position and I thought he got better and better each week, and we’re excited about him.”
At linebacker, Whitehead has limited coverage skills. In the modern-day league, a second-level defender who struggles to play in space is a liability.
In the big picture, the Raiders rank 30th in cap dollars spent on defense ($45.3 million), per Spotrac. After blowing off all that steam about defensive changes, Gruden has to put his money where his mouth is. The team will have a projected $57.6 million in cap space this offseason—the eighth-most leaguewide.
In fairness, the Raiders haven’t completely ignored the defense over the last two years. Mayock and Gruden utilized six of nine 2019 draft picks on that side of the ball. In fact, they used five of the first six selections to improve a historically bad unit.
Yet, that’s not enough. Typically, a solid defense consists of a mix of high-upside talent and proven veterans. The Raiders only have half the equation with Clellin Ferrell, Maxx Crosby, Trayvon Mullen and Maurice Hurst showing promise over the last two years.
Now, the unit needs high-end contributors, closers and players who can produce in crucial moments while helping the younger, inexperienced talent grow along the way.
Here’s another point of emphasis. The Raiders don’t have to splurge on the biggest names set to hit the 2020 free-agent market. Defensive tackle Chris Jones, pass-rusher Yannick Ngakoue and linebacker Cory Littleton aren’t the only possible solutions for the Silver and Black’s defensive woes.
Let’s briefly take a look at a mid-tier free agent for each level of the defense. These players will command a decent amount of cash, but they won’t cost the top dollar amount at their respective positions like Jones, Ngakoue or Littleton.
The Raiders hired defensive line coach Rod Marinelli to replace Brentson Buckner. Although the move didn’t go over well with a portion of the fanbase, the well-respect position coach could lure Robert Quinn from Dallas to Vegas.
This past season, Quinn made an immediate impact in his first year with the Cowboys, logging a team-leading 11.5 sacks. Marinelli calls him the “snake” for a good reason and the 29-year-old pass-rusher embraced the label:
Marinelli also has data to prove the importance of bolstering a defensive line, per Jon Machota, formerly of the Dallas Morning News.
“According to the long-time D-line coach, 65% of turnovers start in the pocket when defenses pressure quarterbacks into bad throws or knock the ball loose,” Machota wrote.
“He’s got some juice now,” Marinelli said about Quinn. “He’s got that quick first step. He’s an established pass rusher in this league. He’s going to bring some good stuff for us.”
Benson Mayowa did a solid job as the veteran pass-rusher alongside Ferrell and Crosby. He logged seven sacks but only played 29 percent of the defensive snaps.
As a more complete player on the edge, Quinn could replace Mayowa, who’s going to become a free agent in March.
De’Vondre Campbell made the list of ideal free-agent targets. To avoid rehashing the same discussion points, we’ll focus on a new development and the reasoning behind it.
The Atlanta Falcons have engaged in early extension talks with Campbell, per his agent Drew Rosenhaus via ESPN’s Vaughn McClure.
“There will be a lot of interest in Dre,” Rosenhaus said. “We have had a positive dialogue with the Falcons. Dre will be a highly sought-after player.”
Falcons head coach Dan Quinn praised Campbell during the team’s late-season turnaround, per Will McFadden of the team’s official website.
“He was just ready to answer every challenge thrown his away,” Quinn said about Campbell. “Another good thing for him is the production that he’s had over the last few ball games. There have been sacks, there have been interceptions, forced fumbles. He’s been one of the better ball-hawking players for us.”
Typically, we hear the term ball hawk used for defensive backs who snag interceptions and break up plays on the back end. To hear that label attached to Campbell, the Raiders should inquire about him if his talks with the Falcons fall apart. The Silver and Black’s linebacker corps desperately needs that type of player.
The Raiders hope to see rookie fourth-rounder Isaiah Johnson and undrafted rookie Keisean Nixon take major steps in the right direction next season. However, we can’t bank on either because they played 52 combined defensive snaps in 2019.
With Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes lighting up defenses with Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, and Travis Kelce, the Raiders can’t rely on unproven rookies, Nevin Lawson, who doesn’t have an interception in 73 games, and Joyner in a position that’s not his strength.
The Raiders need a plan B at cornerback going into Vegas if they want to compete with the Chiefs. Logan Ryan can line up on the perimeter or in the slot. He’s been effective in both spots.
Despite his versatility and experience, Ryan knows his time in Tennessee may come to an end, per Buck Reising of A to Z Sports Nashville.
“All I wanted to do was pour my heart and soul into this franchise,” Ryan said. “I wanted to make it a better place. If I were to leave, I wanted to make it a better place when I came in and I felt like I did that…Right now, I’m looking for a job.”
In 2019, Ryan had his best season, logging 113 tackles, four for loss, 4.5 sacks, a career-high 18 pass breakups and four interceptions. Clearly, he’s equipped to help out in run support, blitz packages and coverage assignments.
If Ryan needs an NFL job, as he says, Vegas should be hiring.
Skeptics will turn the attention back to quarterback Derek Carr in this discussion. And yes, assuming he’s the starter, the 28-year-old must elevate his level of play going into his third season in Gruden’s system.
Nonetheless, whether it’s Carr or anyone else under center, the Raiders can’t continue to field a bottom-half scoring defense and expect to compete for a title. They have to eventually stop someone. Even the best offenses have off-games and clunkers at some point.
Here’s a history of the Raiders defense over the last 17 seasons. As you’ll see, the unit hasn’t ranked better than 18th in scoring with only two years listing 11th or higher in yards allowed in that stretch. That’s brutal:
| Oakland Raiders Defense Since 2002 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Points Allowed | Yards Allowed |
| 2003 | 25th | 30th |
| 2004 | 31st | 30th |
| 2005 | 25th | 27th |
| 2006 | 18th | 3rd |
| 2007 | 26th | 22nd |
| 2008 | 24th | 27th |
| 2009 | 23rd | 26th |
| 2010 | 20th | 11th |
| 2011 | 29th | 29th |
| 2012 | 28th | 18th |
| 2013 | 29th | 22nd |
| 2014 | 32nd | 21st |
| 2015 | 22nd | 22nd |
| 2016 | 20th | 26th |
| 2017 | 20th | 23rd |
| 2018 | 32nd | 26th |
| 2019 | 24th | 19th |
Once and for all, Mayock and Gruden have to face the franchise’s defensive woes head-on, investing a little more cash in the non-glamorous parts of the roster.
For Raiders fans, it’s difficult to do this but look at the two Super Bowl teams. Yes, the Chiefs have Mahomes and a high-octane offense, but they rank seventh in points allowed with two pass-rushing closers in Frank Clark and Chris Jones. The San Francisco 49ers field an elite defensive line that’s embodied their physical identity. They’re eighth in scoring defense while surrendering the second-fewest yards.
The Raiders have the cap room and young promising talent to field a respectable defense. The unit doesn’t have to be top five in points and yards allowed, but a solid group that can take away the ball would suffice in a push for a playoff spot, especially if the offense pulls its weight. Mayock and Gruden will probably add some spark to the aerial attack, acquiring wide receiver help via free agency and the draft.
Yet, legitimate title contenders need a little grit, toughness or as players call it, “dawg” in its fabric to overcome obstacles and adversity. The offensive line and running back Josh Jacobs already have that quality. Now, the Raiders need a few more high-production defensive players with a similar mentality.