Las Vegas Raiders cannot afford to miss in free agency again in 2021

Raiders have struggled mightily in free agency in recent years: 2019

In his first season as an NFL general manager, Mike Mayock looked to make a splash in free agency, adding incredible talent on both sides of the ball. The Raiders were coming off a four-win season in 2018, and needed help all over the roster, all the while trying to shed some terrible contracts that were still on the books.

Mayock swung a trade for Antonio Brown, which proved to be a disaster, and then went to work on free agency. Guys like Trent Brown, Tyrell Williams, and Lamarcus Joyner were all supposed to be a part of the solution in Oakland, and for a small glimpse that first season, it looked like Mayock pushed all the right buttons.

Williams was a touchdown machine early on, Brown became a Pro Bowler, and though Joyner struggled, he was really playing out of position all season long. There was some good, as Johnathan Hankins has played very well for the Raiders, and Denzelle Good could be a part of the long-term solution upfront along the offensive line, but for the most part, this is a class one would like to forget.

Sure, Erik Harris flashed a bit in 2019, and Williams was solid before being injured, but this is a group that is likely not going to help this franchise at all this upcoming season for the most part.