Las Vegas Raiders 3 worst contracts heading into 2022
By Alex Perl
Las Vegas Raiders 3 worst contracts heading into 2022
Andre James, C
First off, kudos to the new regime for restructuring the contract of Andre James. With this move, the Raiders were able to save $2 million in cap. But one must wonder, how did he earn this contract in the first place?
Andre James had one start to his name and was a mere spectator behind Rodney Hudson, one of the best centers in Raider history. It’s true, James had near impossible shoes to fill, especially thrust into starting action immediately as a 24-year-old former undrafted player.
So, it was either a sign of madness or maybe wishful thinking when the Raiders extended James before the 2021 season with a three-year, $12.5m extension. He had proved nothing before the deal, and with a lack of experience, it was odd the Raiders would invest so quickly into a player who had proved nothing.
2021 was an indicator of how experience is key in this league. James struggled heavily, and he clocked in at a dismal 64.1 PFF grade while allowing seven penalties.
James was a constant force (in a bad way) for a very disappointing Raiders offensive line. Sure, he may not have been the worst of the bunch, but with the ink still fresh on his new extension, his level of play was not in accordance with his new deal.
Rookie Alex Leatherwood was indeed the worst of the bunch on the offensive line, but he was also what was stated, a ‘rookie’. And guard second-year guard John Simpson was thrust into action way too early, as incumbent Denzelle Good was lost early to injury, and ‘captain’ Richie Incognito did not line up once for the Raiders.
Even with the restructuring of the contract, James has not even remotely earned his extension, and it is another blight on this roster left over from the haunted Jon Gruden era.