Raiders 2022 free agency: Potential players who won’t break the bank
Raiders 2022 free agency: Potential players who won’t break the bank
Players with a connection to the current staff
James Bradberry is up first. While not a free agent, Bradberry has been talked about as both a trade piece and cap casualty. The connection here is Patrick Graham, Raiders’ new defensive coordinator. Graham has worked with the corner over the last two years.
Although coming off a year that wasn’t his best, Bradberry still was able to compile a career-high INT total with four, as well as being available to play 99% of snaps. He’s also no stranger to success in the NFL, or with Graham. Bradberry hit the market as a premier free agent after the 2019 season, where he would sign with the Giants and appear in his first Pro Bowl that following year.
A Pro Bowl appearance might not excite many people, but here’s something that will: The 2019 Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore is also looking to find a new home. Gilmore and Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels spent four years together in New England, where the corner earned three Pro Bowls, two first team All-Pro’s, and that sweet DPOTY award mentioned earlier.
Now, some may be quick to point out how McDaniels was coaching the offense while Gilmore was on the other side of the ball,but during the general manager/ head coach introductory press conference, McDaniels stated that Bill Belichick had him work with the offense and defense.
One last connection here is Nate Solder. The tackle has spent time with both McDaniels and Graham, and this may play a factor as Solder begins his next chapter. Of course, it’s true that a majority of his career has been spent at the left tackle position, but fortunately, he also has experience as an NFL right tackle.
In this instance, Alex Leatherwood would move to guard.
The funny thing about Solder is he was picked 17th overall in the 2011 NFL draft. Why is that funny? In 2009, Raiders acquired DE Richard Seymour from the Patriots. The compensation? What would be the 17th pick in the 2011 draft – Nate Solder. Football has a way of coming full circle, and this would be as full circle as it gets.