2021 Free Agency

[drfrey13]

4 hours ago, Darbsk said:

Haha, yes. I dont really disagree and as I said, I liked Brown having watched his pops play so would have taken him over Parker too. I do believe Cable has some influence but ultimately it is Gruden and Mayock that should be getting criticism IMO.

They will take the blame but if this thing goes sideways Mayock will be the scapegoat.  Cable knows where the security is and that is having Gruden defend you.

[NYRaider]

Kwon Alexander is still available, wouldn't mind bringing him into camp.  

[Humble_Beast]

I think Raiders have 3.8 m in cap space with almost all the rookies signed. I could see us signing one more impact defender, still hoping for Ingram 

[Geezy]

9 minutes ago, Humble_Beast said:

I think Raiders have 3.8 m in cap space with almost all the rookies signed. I could see us signing one more impact defender, still hoping for Ingram 

We usually keep a balance, during the season. Wouldn’t mind Ingram 

[NYRaider]

4 hours ago, Humble_Beast said:

I think Raiders have 3.8 m in cap space with almost all the rookies signed. I could see us signing one more impact defender, still hoping for Ingram 

4 hours ago, Geezy said:

We usually keep a balance, during the season. Wouldn’t mind Ingram 

Ingram would be nice but just not sure we have a spot for him as we're likely only going to carry 5 defensive ends and Ferrell, Crosby, Yannick, Koonce, and Nassib all seem like locks to make the roster. I'd be up for cutting Nassib and signing Ingram but if we were going to move on from him we likely already would have because we'd be eating $9.25M in dead cap if we let him go. Plus I think at this point there would also be a ton of negative media attention if we decided to cut him. 

 

[jimkelly02]

On 6/24/2021 at 3:29 PM, Humble_Beast said:

I think Raiders have 3.8 m in cap space with almost all the rookies signed. I could see us signing one more impact defender, still hoping for Ingram 

I haven’t had time with work to assess the raiders cap space but remember we need cap space for the Practice Squad and cap space for when players get hurt and we have to bring in veterans.  Most teams carry 2M minimum into week 1 for this.

[jimkelly02]

On 6/21/2021 at 6:04 PM, drfrey13 said:

 

LB NaVorro Bowman, QB Derek Carr, G Gabe Jackson, P Marquette King, RB Marshawn Lynch and WR Cordarrelle Patterson (return specialist) were named as alternates for the annual all-star game, scheduled to be played at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 28, 2018.

I never understood why Bowman was never resigned.

[Mr Raider]

On 6/24/2021 at 8:03 PM, NYRaider said:

Ingram would be nice but just not sure we have a spot for him as we're likely only going to carry 5 defensive ends and Ferrell, Crosby, Yannick, Koonce, and Nassib all seem like locks to make the roster. I'd be up for cutting Nassib and signing Ingram but if we were going to move on from him we likely already would have because we'd be eating $9.25M in dead cap if we let him go. Plus I think at this point there would also be a ton of negative media attention if we decided to cut him. 

 

Yeah I don't see room for Ingram as it stands currently either. I mean maybe if Koonce shows he just isn't ready they try and sneak him onto the IR or something and that would open the door, but outside of that I just can't see it. 

I would have much preferred to let Nassib go prior to the restructure and have Ingram as his replacement but now that has been done there's no real incentive to do it. Nassib will be on the roster. And the timing would be a very bad look to let him go now while virtually eating a bunch of money just to open up that roster spot. Right or wrong we would get killed for it and there would be talk about what the motivate is. 

Ingram could be a really good fit though. So if someone at EDGE goes down in camp (hopefully nobody does) he should be the first call, but if everyone is healthy I actually think our DE group could be a really solid unit for us this year. I have made it well known how much I love the Yannick signing, and I think having someone of his caliber will help Crosby take a step forward. They could be a very good one two punch on the edge and we could see Ferrell and/or some of the bunch of guys that will get reps on the interior benefit from their edge pressure. Plus Yannick and Koonce are guys I feel can be used really creatively and manufacturer some pressure with them standing up and coming off the edge on the same side as Maxx or on the opposite side coming off the edge with Ferrell. 

Of all the spots on the defense, I would say EDGE has made the biggest improvement in terms of my confidence level for this upcoming season. Yannick isn't an elite EDGE, but he's a pro bowl caliber pass rusher, Crosby has shown as many flashes as most 4th round picks in terms of sacks/pressures through two seasons without much help on the DL, and I think Koonce and the rest of the guys offer a lot of versatility and bring some great traits to the table. Hopefully if I am correct about how well they will play it isn't all ruined or wasted by a total lack of interior pressure, which I can't say I am confident won't end up being the case. 

[drfrey13]

2 hours ago, jimkelly02 said:

I never understood why Bowman was never resigned.

Me either.  It seemed like we would get decent production out of a LB and we were never interested in bringing them back.  We also did not want to spend any draft capital after McClain.  Somebody in here talked about how our coaches and GM did value LBs very highly.

[jimkelly02]

I’m not interest in Ingram.... let’s see what Koonze has.  If Ingram wasn’t so injury prone and didn’t have 0 sacks in 8 games then I’d be on board.  Also Nassib has been playing stand up LB a bit, so I heard. 

I’d much rather bring in a sCB / S like Brian Poole. 
 

but if Ingram Wants to come for real cheap then all that goes out the window and im definitely onboard.

Edited June 26, 2021 by jimkelly02

[Mr Raider]

38 minutes ago, jimkelly02 said:

I’m not interest in Ingram.... let’s see what Koonze has.  If Ingram wasn’t so injury prone and didn’t have 0 sacks in 8 games then I’d be on board.  Also Nassib has been playing stand up LB a bit, so I heard. 

I’d much rather bring in a sCB / S like Brian Poole. 
 

but if Ingram Wants to come for real cheap then all that goes out the window and im definitely onboard.

I was actually wondering what it would take to bring him in contract wise. I feel confident in saying at this stage of the off season, and due to his age, injury history, and zero sack half of a season last year, like you touched on, it wouldn't take a big commitment in regards to money or length. He seems like the classic right before the off season aging vet teams hope can bounce back and have a productive season or two at an area of need that is signed right before camp on a one year, prove it/repair your standing in the league type deal. 

I would be shocked if it's anything substantially more than what Ryan Kerrigan recently signed for with the Eagles. They are really comparable when you look at age, past accolades (Kerrigan a 4x pro bowler, Ingram a 3x pro bowler), past production both recently and overall with both guys being around 2 years removed from their best seasons that they were consistently at for a handful of years. Kerrigan actually has less concerns when it comes to the injury factor, with Ingram missing 31 games in 9 seasons in the league and Kerrigan missing only 4 games in 10 seasons and all of those coming 2 years ago. 

If I am a team, I'm sitting down with his agent and saying Kerrigan is only a year older, with substantially less injury history, actually had higher highs in terms of sack productivity throughout their careers at their peaks, was more productive last season with 5.5 sacks in a rotational role on a stacked defense while Ingram missed 9 games and couldn't get a single sack in those 7 games. There really isn't a leg to stand on negotiation wise from Ingram's side to argue he should be paid more than the one year, 2.5 million Kerrigan received. They can argue that Kerrigan may have left a little money on the table because he wanted a chance at starting or significant playing time or whatever, but those factors are the reason a guy leaves a million or two on the table, not millions of dollars. And obviously the phone hasn't been blowing up for his services if he is still unsigned at this point in the off season.

The question than becomes if we happen to have a spot due to injury or guys not looking like they are ready to make the impact we expected/need this year, is Ingram as the player he is today worth it on a one year, 2.5ish million dollar deal? I personally would say yes, but mainly because I believe the value he could bring as a seasoned, respected veteran in the locker room for the young guys, with a long history of playing in our new DC's scheme could go a long way with helping the young guys in our locker room learn the tricks of the trade and help the entire defense understand the defense and what their responsibilities are. 

I personally think some fans severely overrate the aspect of leadership, mentoring, helping to learn a scheme, etc. I think it's one of those things that does happen, and it can help the team, it's just not as common and doesn't provide nearly the impact some fans act like it does. Those type of things shouldn't be the main reason you sign a player, or especially sign a player to a big contract. But it can certainly be a positive that should be considered when signing a guy that fits an area of need, for very little money, no long term commitment, and on a team with a ton of youth (making the whole leadership and scheme mean more than it would to teams with a ton of vets). 

Like I said, I currently don't really see the fit either after Nassib restructured. But if they are looking at Koonce and they don't think he's ready to be one of our primary depth pieces and provide a pass rush specialist type of boost, first and foremost it will be a very bad sign that the second year in a row we will have taken a guy in the 3rd round that the staff doesn't believe at all can contribute year one (that's something acceptable for 5th round picks and later), but it's not like we haven't seen this very same front office have that happen. We did it with Muse last year, and also Bowden was drafted and immediately traded (regardless of what the real reason was for) so it's not something we should rule out. If that were to happen or Ferrell, Crosby, Yannick, Koonce or Nassib suffer a serious injury (lets pray nobody does on the team period), Ingram in my eyes is probably the best option on the market for us because of the scheme fit, low money, and some upside to be a productive third or fourth rusher instead of being expected to be the defensive cornerstone he has been with the Chargers. 

[RaidersAreOne]

We've already signed a good amount of DT but surprised Casey is still out there.

 

[NYRaider]

Just now, RaidersAreOne said:

We've already signed a good amount of DT but surprised Casey is still out there.

 

Seems like most of the top vets on the market will wait until closer to training camp to sign with a team. 

[jimkelly02]

27 minutes ago, NYRaider said:

Seems like most of the top vets on the market will wait until closer to training camp to sign with a team. 

Yeah with the cap crunch happening these guys aren’t going be looking at small deals so why not wait and see and avoid the grind of TC as long as possible.

[Darbsk]

On 6/26/2021 at 4:03 AM, Mr Raider said:

Of all the spots on the defense, I would say EDGE has made the biggest improvement in terms of my confidence level for this upcoming season. Yannick isn't an elite EDGE, but he's a pro bowl caliber pass rusher, Crosby has shown as many flashes as most 4th round picks in terms of sacks/pressures through two seasons without much help on the DL, and I think Koonce and the rest of the guys offer a lot of versatility and bring some great traits to the table. Hopefully if I am correct about how well they will play it isn't all ruined or wasted by a total lack of interior pressure, which I can't say I am confident won't end up being the case

Great point. I've been an advocate for years of building the pass rush from the DT position and then outwards. Every year it seems I'm pushing a DT towards the top of the draft or writing that we should be looking at such and such DT in free agency as we never seem to have anyone pushing the pocket or getting penetration or helping out the outside pass rush.

It's a great thing to have a speedy, bendy edge rusher like Ngakuoe but I do question what is to stop the QB from stepping up into a clean pocket away from the pass rush whilst the opposition tackle can shepherd our speed rushers past the QB. Even though we've spent resources at end we still need somebody doing the job inside of creating some pressure, pushing the centres and guards back and getting in the QBs face, keeping the QB from just skipping up and evading the speed rush on the outside. This is still a massive question mark. Solomon Thomas, Jefferson and Stills could potentially offer some pass rush and penetration, they're all smaller guys (compared with guys like Hankins) who could potentially have a massive role in making the outside pass rush effective but whilst we know Crosby and Ngakoue are good pass rusher s with proven production and credentials the guys inside are all potential and hope at this point.

I like what we've got at DE but I'm still in the camp that DT can have a bigger effect on DE and pass rush that the other way round. I don't think the DEs will have quite the effect on the DTs that will make them super effective, either the DTs will be effective and help out the ends and they'll prosper or we're in for another long season watching an ineffective or less than optimum pass rush as the DTs struggle to generate push.