Las Vegas Raiders 2021 complete roster breakdown pre-free agency
Skill Positions
Quarterbacks
On the Roster: Derek Carr ($22.125 Million), Marcus Mariota ($10.725 Million), Nathan Peterman ($1.025 Million), Kyle Sloter ($920K).
Need: None
I’m not going to start this article off with clickbait out of respect to the readers. Gruden and Mayock like Derek Carr, and his season last year was good enough to say “maybe the Raiders need to focus on other problem areas on this roster.”
The need here however is to get out of the Mariota contract, with the salary cap going down 8% in 2021, having a backup QB making over $10 Million is a luxury no team can afford. Maybe Peterman isn’t quite as good as Mariota, but is Mariota $9 Million better?
Running Backs
On the Roster: Jalen Richard ($3.5 Million), Josh Jacobs ($3.25 Million), Alec Ingold ($853K).
Need: Moderately High
Yes, you read that correctly, Jalen Richard makes more money than Josh Jacobs. That is an expensive 3rd down back whose touches have gone down each year in the Gruden tenure. Raiders need to get out of that contract and spend it on another guy who will do the same thing as Richard but for cheaper.
Raiders could also use a complementary back to share the rushing load. Either a wily vet to show Jacobs the ropes (Carlos Hyde, Mark Ingram, Frank Gore), or an explosive rookie (Khalil Herbert, Jermar Jefferson, Chuba Hubbard) to hit home runs.
Wide Receivers
On the Roster: Henry Ruggs ($3.8 Million), Bryan Edwards (1.06 Million), Hunter Renfrow ($928K), Marcel Ateman ($850K), Trey Quinn ($850K), Keelan Doss ($780K).
Need: High
Of all the Raiders receivers currently rostered, the most proven is Hunter Renfrow whose career highs (656 yards in 2020, 4 TDs in 2019) aren’t good enough to carry a receiving room. Sure maybe in the future, the trio of Ruggs, Renfrow, and Edwards will be the Raiders starting receivers but bringing back Nelson Agholor should be a high priority to bridge the gap to the future.