2021 Las Vegas Raiders offseason: Player movement tracker
By Brad Weiss
2021 Las Vegas Raiders offseason: Player movement tracker
Free Agency: Who’s New
The Raiders were a bit slow to get the party started on Day 1 of the legal tampering period, but ended with a flourish by addressing one of their biggest needs on the roster. Las Vegas added an elite edge rusher in Yannick Ngakoue, someone who has at least eight sacks in every season he has played in the NFL.
Edge, Yannick Ngakoue (2yr/$26M)
As edge rushers started to re-sign with their current teams early on Monday, it was looking like the Raiders would be on the outside looking in. However, at around 3pm PT, the Silver and Black made a huge splash, adding one of the more talented edge rushers available in free agency this year.
That player was Yannick Ngakoue, who is only 26-years old, and came to the Raiders on a very friendly deal. With Ngakoue on the roster, Maxx Crosby finally has some help along the edge, and the Raiders could technically move Clelin Ferrell inside with Maurice Hurst and hopefully, Jonathan Hankins.
WR, John Brown (1yr/$3.75 to $5.5 million)
The Raiders are adding to the wide receiver room with John Brown, the soon-to-be 31-year old, who recently played with Buffalo. Brown is not the splashiest of deals, but this is a very team-friendly signing, and it brings a veteran in the room of young wideouts looking to improve in Year 2.
RB, Kenyan Drake (2yr/$14.5 million)
In a move that turned some heads on Thursday, the Raiders bringing in a new RB2 to fit behind star Josh Jacobs. In reality, Kenyan Drake is going to play all over the field for Jon Gruden and this Raiders offense, and should add another dimension for the Silver and Black on that side of the ball
DL, Quinton Jefferson (1yr/ $3.5 million)
For those of you who do not remember the player, but the play, this is the guy who had a strip-sack of Derek Carr this past season. In fact, Jefferson has been solid at getting after the quarterback from his defensive tackle position throughout his NFL career, and seems like a perfect fit in Gus Bradley’s scheme.
DL, Solomon Thomas (1yr/ $5.0 million)
The Las Vegas Raiders continued to bolster their defensive line with this pick, grabbing a former top-5 pick to bring more depth. Solomon Thomas has never lived up to his draft slot, but he has dealt with a ton of issues in the past, and hopefully this can be a fresh start for him in the Silver and Black.
C, Nick Martin
Nick Martin has started 62 games for the Houston Texans, and with the Raiders, he will get a chance to continue to be a starter in this league. He is going to have to battle it out with Andre James for the starting center job in 2021, and whoever wins, will be replacing a legend in Rodney Hudson.
Continue to check back in as the Raiders look to address the many issues they still have on both sides of the ball.