The Las Vegas Raiders did not make too big a splash on Day 1 of legal tampering, but on Day 2, they should swing for the fences.
On Day 1 of legal tampering, the Las Vegas Raiders made some noise early, signing quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to a three-year deal. That move gave the Silver and Black their starting quarterback for 2023, and possibly beyond, but heading into Day 2, there is a lot of work left to be done.
Here, we look at three players the Raiders must target on Day 2 of legal tampering.
Las Vegas Raiders 2023 free agency: 3 players to target Day 2 of legal tampering
No. 3: Lavonte David, Linebacker
If there is one position group that needs a full revamp this offseason it is the linebacker position, as Denzel Perryman is expected to leave via free agency. That means Divine Deablo is going to be asked to step up in a big way in Year 3, but he needs help, as well as a few starters to come via free agency, or the 2023 NFL Draft.
One player to keep an eye on is Lavonte David, a star linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who may be a bit older, but has a lot of good football ahead of him. A former All-Pro, David would be a leader on the field, and in the locker room for this Raiders defense, and brings with him a Super Bowl ring.
Las Vegas Raiders 2023 free agency: 3 players to target Day 2 of legal tampering
No. 2: Jordan Poyer, Safety
Coming into 2023 free agency, one position group that needed a serious upgrade was the safety position, especially with really only Trevon Moehrig returning. Duron Harmon was a solid player last year for the Raiders, but he is entering free agency as well, which made this position group very thin as we inched toward March.
Now, with legal tampering in full swing, the Raiders need to make a full swing at a real impact player at the safety position. The hope is that Moehrig will turn things around after a bad 2022 season, and if the team can somehow land Jordan Poyer in free agency this week, that would bring a huge boost to the Raiders’ defensive backfield.
Sure, Las Vegas has already added safety help in Marcus Epps, but Poyer is on another level, and instantly brings credibility to the position group. The Raiders secondary has to play Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes twice a season, so if they do not bolster the defensive backfield this offseason, we could be in for another long year in a tough AFC West.
Las Vegas Raiders 2023 free agency: 3 players to target Day 2 of legal tampering
No. 1: James Bradberry, Cornerback
Staying in the defensive backfield, the Las Vegas Raiders have a serious problem at the cornerback position, even after adding some depth on Day 1 of legal tampering. Brandon Facyson played very well for the Raiders back in 2021, making him a free-agency target of the Indianapolis Colts last year, a season where he played in 16 games, and made four starts.
Facyson returns to the Raiders in 2023, but the position group has a long way to go before it is ready to kick off Week 1 of the season. One name that has been on our radar for quite some time has been James Bradberry, an elite cornerback who played a big role in the Philadelphia Eagles making it to the Super Bowl last season.
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Nate Hobbs is back in 2023, as is Amik Robertson, but with Rock Ya-Sin entering free agency, the position group as a whole is very thin. If the Raiders hope to do anything in the AFC West, they have to upgrade on all three levels of the defense, and by adding these three players, they get better on the second and third levels.