Las Vegas Raiders: What good is cap space if you don’t know how to use it
By Nico Di Fede
Raiders made a splash with Mike Mayock as General Manager
The biggest signing was of tackle Trent Brown, who was inked into a four-year, $66 million contract. Brown was his dominant self when on the field, but not staying on the field was a problem for him. Just recently the Raiders traded the veteran to the New England Patriots for a 5th round pick.
Las Vegas then signed WR Tyrell Williams to a 4-year deal worth $44 million. Like Brown, Williams was solid when on the field but could not stay healthy. Williams played the majority of the 2019 season but missed the entirety of the 2020 season. Williams was recently cut by the Raiders.
Recently cut cornerback/safety Lamarcus Joyner was the Las Vegas Raiders last big splash during the 2019 free agency period. He was signed to a 4-year $42 million contract, and he was straight-up bad manning the Nickel for the Raiders, but this can fall on the defensive coaching staff as much as Gruden and Mayock.
Joyner played best as a free-safety for the Los Angeles Rams but the Raiders played him in the Nickel where he looked lost much of the time.
Failing on three of the key signings, plus the Antonio Brown trade is a bad look.
Gruden and company did, however, make some okay 2nd-3rd tier signings in 2019. Jordan Devey was a decent backup guard, Erik Harris made some splash plays as a backup though isn’t cut out as a starter, and Denzelle Good was a solid addition at offensive guard who has always filled in admirably as a backup and starter when called upon with the added ability to slide over to tackle when needed.