The Las Vegas Raiders became more competitive after firing Josh McDaniels and installing Antonio Pierce as interim head coach. With 2024 NFL free agency just around the corner, how will Pierce and new Raiders general manager Tom Telesco rebuild Vegas’ roster?
Here’s how the Raiders could proceed this offseason as they try to take down Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West.
Las Vegas Raiders Free Agency Predictions
Keep Russell Wilson in the Division
The Denver Broncos are moving on from Russell Wilson two years after sending a massive trade package to the Seattle Seahawks to acquire the veteran quarterback. Denver will cut Wilson once the new league year begins next week, and the Broncos have permitted him to speak with other teams before free agency officially kicks off.
Las Vegas will be in the quarterback market. Pierce recently suggested that a Raiders depth chart with 2023 rookie Aidan O’Connell in the top QB slot would represent a “worst-case scenario.”
Wilson is already scheduled to earn $39 million in guaranteed salary for the Broncos, so he will likely collect a league-minimum contract from his next team. That savings could allow the Raiders to use most of their $42 million in cap space to address other areas of the roster, particularly on defense.
Wilson would enter the 2024 campaign as Vegas’ starting QB under new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, but his addition wouldn’t necessarily mean the Raiders couldn’t address quarterback in April’s draft.
While Las Vegas probably wouldn’t consider trading multiple future first-rounders to move up for a QB if it signs Wilson this offseason, Telesco and Pierce could consider any signal-caller that falls to the Raiders’ pick in the first (No. 13) or second (No. 44) rounds.
Add Christian Wilkins to Defensive Front
The Miami Dolphins opted against the franchise tag for pending free agent defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, allowing the former first-round pick to hit the market unfettered. The Baltimore Ravens tagged DT Justin Madubuike, while Chris Jones could re-sign with the Kansas City Chiefs, leaving Wilkins as the clear No. 1 interior defender in free agency.
The Raiders should be willing to look into a Wilkins acquisition, which would allow Pierce and Co. to supplement a defense that rapidly improved over the second half of the 2023 season. Wilkins, who played more snaps than any DT last year, might be a perfect fit alongside Maxx Crosby, who’s topped 900 snaps in four consecutive campaigns.
Wilkins had always been a productive player heading into 2023, but he stepped up his game in his fifth NFL campaign. After posting 11.5 sacks and 27 QB hits from 2019 to 2022, Wilkins put up nine sacks and 23 quarterback hits in 2023 alone.
The Raiders have youthful DTs like Byron Young and Matthew Butler that they’ll want to develop. But veterans John Jenkins, Bilal Nichols, and Adam Butler are headed for free agency, creating an interior void that Wilkins could fill.
Figure Out the Offensive Line
While Las Vegas is set on the left side of its offensive line with LT Kolton Miller and LG Dylan Parham, Telesco has decisions to make at center, right guard, and right tackle.
Center Andre James might be the Raiders’ priority, especially if they plan on rolling with O’Connell or a rookie QB under center. James was underpaid on his three-year, $12.5 million extension, especially after ranking second among centers in pass-blocking win rate in 2023.
Journeyman Greg Van Roten posted arguably the best season of his career for the Raiders in 2023 but is entering his age-34 campaign. Las Vegas might also want to upgrade at right tackle, where Jermaine Eluemunor made 31 starts from 2022 to 2023.
KEEP READING: Raiders 2024 Free Agents
The Raiders might not be willing to spend at the top of the OL market if they’ve already landed Wilkins on a big-money deal. While that could put free agents like Mike Onwenu, Robert Hunt, and Kevin Dotson outside Vegas’ price range, other front-five options will be available.
Guards like Jonah Jackson, Ezra Cleveland, and Dalton Risner could be on the Raiders’ radar, while a free agent offensive tackle such as Mekhi Becton might offer more upside (albeit a lower floor) than Eluemunor.
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