Las Vegas Raiders: Top free agent targets for roster needs in 2021
Guards
Vegas cut Richie Incognito, but Vic Tafur of The Athletic expects the team to re-sign him at a lower cost. The Raiders haven’t announced Gabe Jackson’s release, so he may restructure his deal, or the front office could send him to another team in a trade. For now, this is a glaring need without any clear-cut starters at the position.
Denzelle Good (Realistic Option)
Jon Gruden praised Denzelle Good as an “unsung hero” for his ability to play left guard and right tackle this past season. He has an expiring contract but seems like a probable returning player on a new deal.
Whether the Raiders release Jackson or not, expect the club to retain Good, though he may have to battle 2020 fourth-rounder John Simpson for a starting spot.
Richie Incognito (Realistic Option)
As previously mentioned, Tafur believes the Raiders will re-sign Incognito. They let him go and saved approximately $5.5 million. He’s worth a one-year, $2 million deal unless another team entices him with a better offer on the open market.
In 2020, Incognito missed 14 games and underwent surgery on his foot. Vegas’ ground attack missed his physicality and tone-setting presence down the stretch this past season. If he’s healthy, the 37-year-old can give the Raiders another solid season.
Kyle Long (Jon Gruden’s Choice)
Gruden cannot help himself with Raiders history. Hall of Famer Howie Long played his entire pro career with the Silver and Black. The club can open its doors to one of his sons in Kyle Long, who took a year off from the grind of the NFL.
Between 2016 and 2019, Long missed 34 games because of various injuries. Perhaps he needed to give his body a full year to recover before going back into the trenches. When healthy, the three-time Pro Bowler played mostly at right guard. The 32-year-old can compete to replace Jackson if the team eventually releases him.