Las Vegas Raiders: Top 5 Free Agents For The Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders released their quarterback Derrek Carr from his contract after 9 years with the franchise. 

You may think the Raiders will hone in on the quarterback free agents to get their losses back, but because new manager Dave Ziegler and somewhat new coach Josh McDaniels are trying to put their stamp on the team, not all is what it seems. 

The NFL draft picks are drawing near, and the new management needs to consider everything before making a decision.

Quarterback – Brain Hoyer

Okay, so yes, the Raiders will need a new quarterback. We might have been a little dramatic before, but that doesn’t mean the NFL draft shouldn’t be a consideration.

Hoyer has already been signed by the Raiders, and he has agreed to the two-year contract.

Before Hoyer, the Raiders already had a large group of well-established quarterbacks. Chase Garbers and Jimmy Garoppolo could have held their position without a third. But with Hoyer on the side, McDaniels has a team of people who understand this coaching system and gel well with his methods.

Most people forget this, but if an average player gels well with their coach, the team can turn into something spectacular. And if a fantastic player doesn’t get along with their coach, then they could drop to the bottom of the league.

Comradery, partnership, and communication are just as important as skills.

Now that the team has three quarterbacks, they probably won’t look for a fourth. Remember, they have the 7th pick overall and all the other teams will snap up the best players first. Unless luck goes their way, they shouldn’t be counting on a fourth quarterback.

The only issue we can foresee with this blend is McDaniels putting Hoyer in the first place instead of Garoppolo. As we said before, comradery is key. Although Hoyer might have the most experience on the field and with McDaniels, stripping Garoppolo of first place will ruin the team dynamic. 

Wide Receiver – DeAndre Carter

As part of their free-agent strategy, the Raiders have signed Carter. Carter was with the LA Chargers just last season, but rumors of the sale have been around for months.

This signing was a strange one, and it led a lot of fans down a rabbit hole. There are two outcomes most fans have come to. The first is more of a threat. Buying DeAndre Carter means that the Raiders can remove Hunter Renfrow from their team without worry.

Many teams have been hunting Hunter and he is often in talks about trade deals. Having Carter on the side means that the Raiders can make a bank and finally close a deal.

On the other side of the coin, fans are suggesting that this 5th wide receiver on the team is a show of strength. With so many on side, the players can be swapped in and out without worry, allowing a good amount of rest and preventing any injuries from occurring.

Regardless of what our thoughts are on the matter, the main thing to consider is Carter’s skill. Last season, he hit a career-high of 46 catches, 3 touchdown catches, and 538 yards. The Raiders can work with those numbers.

Guard – Alex Bars

Bars has been recently re-signed which means their offensive line will continue to be tight. We were worried for a while. If Bars had left, the offensive line would be missing a key player, and seeing as the Raiders only have the 7th pick in the drafts, they could miss out on a good alternative.

However, our fears have been quelled. The team has also brought back Jermaine Eluemunor and Brandon Parker, so their offensive line is looking as powerful as ever.

Try as we might, we cannot see a downside to bringing Bars back. Last season was arguably his best, the man gels well with the team, and Bars is a team player. Without him, Josh Jacobs would never have led the NFL in Rushing last year. That was the first time in 38 years that a Raider had earned that achievement.

Defensive Tackle – John Jenkins

Jenkins was originally with the Miami Dolphins but has recently signed on with Las Vegas. Although Jenkins was a good buy, the team might still need a second Defensive Tackle in the drafts.

Jenkins needs more experience before we can rate him accurately. Hopefully, this season he can prove himself.

Wide Receiver – Keelan Cole

Cole has been re-signed to the team. Another familiar face will help get McDaniels on the right track. But history isn’t the only thing Cole will be bringing.

Last season, Cole made a touchdown clutch catch that shocked the nation. Cole became a legend in that moment, and if he continues to create unreal plays like that, he will add a new legacy to the team.

Final Thoughts

All of these players have been recently signed into the team as the Raiders have snapped up every free agent they can. Coach Josh McDaniels is ready to shake up the team, by adding in old friends and powerful new players.

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