Las Vegas Raiders: Top-5 2021 offseason additions
Las Vegas Raiders: Top-5 2021 offseason additions
1. Yannick Ngakoue – Defensive End
The Raiders have been searching for A dominant pass rushing defensive end four years after trading away Khalil Mack to Chicago. They have tried to address the position in the draft by picking Clelin Ferrell and have thrown some money at the position recently by signing Carl Nassib to a large deal that they are trying to move on from.
They have even tried to find players off the scrapheap like Tak McKinley, Vic Beasley, and David Irving to help fill that void.
They may have finally done so by signing free agent end Yannick Ngakoue to a two-year deal worth $26 million. Ngakoue’s contract is fully guaranteed so the Raiders have faith that he will continue to be as productive in Las Vegas as he was in Jacksonville and even in Minnesota/Baltimore.
The former third-round pick has been a menace to opposing quarterbacks since he came into the league in 2016. He has recorded 45.5 career sacks in 78 games and has also recorded 96 QB hits and 18 forced fumbles over that span.
Ngakoue’s addition to the Raiders defensive line should make everyone else on that unit better. He is a talented pass rusher that requires the full attention of opposing offenses and will take a great deal of focus and pressure off of Clelin Ferrell and Maxx Crosby.
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A good pass rush is the best way to improve a defense from top to bottom and new Defensive Coordinator Gus Bradley has plenty of experience getting the most from his edge rushers. The Raiders defense may still not be an elite unit with the addition of Ngakoue but even an average unit would be a welcome change.