Similar to Trey Hendrickson, Romeo Okwara had a big 2020 season after being primarily a rotational player in his five-year career so far. Unlike Hendrickson however, Okwara has another good season under his belt as he started 14 games for Detroit in 2018 and recorded 7.5 sacks and 8 tackles for loss.
2020 was his true coming-out party however as Okwara played in all 16 games, had the highest snap count of his career, and came through with ten sacks, 18 QB hits, three forced fumbles, and 11 tackles for loss for the Lions. As mentioned it was not the first time he has had a productive season but this was the first time he entered the conversation as one of the better pass rushers in the NFL.
The Raiders would do well to target him as he has a relative track record of success but is also just 25 years old and can be an impact player for several years. There are already reports of the Raiders being interested in Okwara but the same can be said of any good pass rusher on the open market after their recent struggles.
It is hard to say what kind of contract that Okwara will garner in free agency with the cap dropping to $18 million less than it was in 2020 but he may want to take a one-year deal and bet on himself because of how young he is. Older players may want the security of a longer deal with more guaranteed money but a player in the 24-27 range like Okwara or Hendrickson may settle for a one-year deal and reassess their options in 2022.
Either way, whether it’s for one year or 3-4 years, Romeo Okwara would be a welcome addition to the Las Vegas Raiders.