HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Ravens Sign CB Rock Ya-Sin

May 3rd, 2023 at 4:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

4:48pm: The deal is done. The Ravens announced the agreement with Ya-Sin, who will likely become the frontrunner to start opposite Humphrey.

3:34pm: Rock Ya-Sin visited the Ravens in March and has remained one of the top free agents available since. The Ravens brought in the veteran cornerback again, and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports this latest meeting is expected to produce an agreement (Twitter link).

The Ravens gave Ya-Sin a physical Wednesday, and barring any complications, the team is planning to add him on a one-year deal. The former second-round pick spent last season with the Raiders but missed some time due to injury. He will represent a veteran presence for a team that has not re-signed Marcus Peters.

Rock Ya-Sin (vertical)Ya-Sin’s contract is set to be worth up to $6MM, Schefter adds (on Twitter). Considering his experience, the Ravens look to have done well to land the former second-round pick on these terms. Both Ya-Sin and the player the Raiders included in the Colts trade last year — Yannick Ngakoue — entered May unsigned. With signings no longer counting against the 2024 compensatory formula — as of Monday — the Ravens figured to be in the mix for some vets at corner and outside linebacker.

No team prioritizes comp picks more than the Ravens, so it is unsurprising they waited here. They kept in touch with Ya-Sin since his March visit, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, who adds this May agreement would not jeopardize the projected fourth-round compensatory choice the team is in line to receive for Ben Powers‘ Denver departure (Twitter link).

Ya-Sin, who will turn 27 later this month, has 38 starts on his resume. Nine of those came for the Raiders last season, though the former Colts draftee missed six 2022 games and has not played more than 13 in a season since his 2019 rookie year. A knee injury ended Ya-Sin’s Raiders season early, and while the AFC West team was a candidate to re-sign him early in free agency, Ya-Sin remained unattached during the market’s initial waves.

Pro Football Focus slotted Ya-Sin 50th among corners last season, but the advanced metrics site graded the Temple product as a top-30 performer at the position during his final Colts campaign. Indianapolis turned to Ya-Sin as a regular during most of Matt Eberlus‘ DC stay. While he was shipped out at the start of Gus Bradley‘s Indy run, Ya-Sin joined Kenny Moore as Colts cornerback fixtures under Eberflus. The Raiders still gave the 6-foot cover man more run, using him on 665 defensive snaps despite the knee trouble limiting him. In Indianapolis and Las Vegas, Ya-Sin worked as a boundary corner.

Marlon Humphrey remains Baltimore’s corner anchor, but Peters — a Raven from 2019-22 — is a free agent heading into what would be his age-30 season. Baltimore did not address its corner spot until Round 5 (Kyu Blu Kelly) but did re-sign Kevon Seymour earlier this offseason. Two years also remain on Brandon Stephens‘ contract. A Peters fill-in, Stephens has 15 starts on his resume.

Jets, DT Al Woods Agree To Deal

May 3rd, 2023 at 3:38pm CST by Sam Robinson

Free agency’s third wave — annually brought on by the May compensatory deadline — is producing a run of Wednesday-afternoon agreements. The latest will send Al Woods to the Jets.

The Jets have reached an agreement with the veteran nose tackle, Connor Hughes of SNY reports (on Twitter). Woods has managed a 13-year career and has remained a regular run-stopping presence on several teams’ defensive lines, most recently the Seahawks’.

This addition will bring a roundabout reunion between Woods and Robert Saleh. The third-year Jets HC was on Pete Carroll‘s Seahawks staff during Woods’ first stint with the team. Saleh and Woods overlapped on the 2011 Seahawks, though Woods only played two games on that team. But the mammoth interior D-lineman spent time in the scheme Saleh runs in recent years, lining up as a starter in the 4-3 scheme Seattle used leading up to last season.

Woods, 36, visited the Jets early last month, meeting with the Browns as well. Teams eyeing midlevel veterans often wait until after signings no longer affect the following year’s compensatory formula, and the Jets are proceeding down this path this week. They have already agreed to terms with tackle Billy Turner and longtime Aaron Rodgers sidekick Randall Cobb.

In addition to Woods rejoining Saleh — who was on the quality control level the last time the two were in the same building — he will follow ex-Seahawk Quinton Jefferson to New York. The Seahawks released both Woods and Jefferson in March, clearing the way for the additions of Dre’Mont Jones and Jarran Reed. Woods spent his past three seasons with the Seahawks but has played for five teams in his career. The 2010 Saints draftee never appeared in a game for New Orleans but has suited up for the Buccaneers, Steelers, Colts and Titans during his lengthy NFL run. He was with the Jaguars in 2020 but never played a game for the team, opting out of the season due to COVID-19 concerns.

The Seahawks made Woods (30 starts from 2021-22) a defensive captain last season, and Pro Football Focus ranked him 32nd among interior D-linemen during the team’s surprise journey to the playoffs. Woods, who registered two sacks, played on 39% of Seattle’s defensive snaps last season. While that usage rate was down a bit from Woods’ 2021 work, the Seahawks prioritized his return in the form of a two-year, $9MM deal in 2022. He will now attempt to help the Jets to their first playoff berth since 2010.

Woods will join Jefferson, Solomon Thomas and John Franklin-Myers as Quinnen Williams wingmen in the Big Apple. The Jets, who lost Folorunso Fatukasi to the Jaguars in 2022, pursued Calais Campbell and made a competitive offer. That pursuit indicated Saleh’s team is not concerned with adding a mid-30s defensive lineman, and the Jets will move forward with one of the league’s oldest non-quarterbacks or specialists.

Giants Re-Sign OLB Oshane Ximines

May 3rd, 2023 at 3:21pm CST by Sam Robinson

While the Giants did not draft an edge rusher, they will bring back one of their previous options at outside linebacker. Oshane Ximines will return on a one-year deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The Giants have since announced the signing.

A former Giants third-round pick, Ximines has mostly worked as a rotational presence with New York. But the Old Dominion product has made nine starts over the course of a four-year career.

Former GM Dave Gettleman eschewed the Giants’ edge-rushing need — created by the team trading Jason Pierre-Paul and Olivier Vernon — for much of his tenure. Ximines represented one of the since-departed GM’s top investments at the position. A year after drafting Lorenzo Carter in the third round, the Giants chose Ximines 95th overall in 2019. The team let Carter walk last year, and he has since signed a multiyear deal with the Falcons. But Ximines remains positioned as a Big Blue second-stringer.

After totaling 4.5 sacks as a rookie, Ximines has not made many statistical contributions over the past three seasons. An offsides penalty that proved costly in a narrow loss to the Chiefs affected Ximines’ role in 2021, when he fell out of favor with Joe Judge‘s staff. Ximines spent much of that season’s dreadful Giants stretch run as a healthy scratch. The 26-year-old edge defender did bounce back a bit last season, recording two sacks and eight quarterback hits.

New York’s edge rush remains centered around Kayvon Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojulari. The latter’s rookie contract runs through 2024. Both starters battled injury issues last season, and Ximines’ workload increased as a result. After playing just 183 defensive snaps in 2021, Ximines logged a career-high 506 last season. Don Martindale will give the fifth-year defender another chance to be part of his edge rotation this season.

NFC North Notes: Vikings, Lions, Savage

May 3rd, 2023 at 3:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Vikings have multiple departure candidates still on their roster. The Dalvin Cook–Za’Darius Smith holding patterns may persist, with SI.com’s Albert Breer noting the Vikes have informed other teams they are in good enough shape cap-wise to hold onto both veterans. This will be contingent on a bit more work being done, as OverTheCap credits the Vikings as holding $1.2MM in cap space. Cook is due $10.4MM in salary, and the Dolphins’ Devon Achane third-round pick complicates a previously discussed trade. The Vikings could take a Bengals path and prepare for a pay-cut ask, but we have not heard that is in the works yet. Smith, who asked to be cut earlier this year, is tied to a $9.45MM base. The Vikes have he, Danielle Hunter and UFA addition Marcus Davenport in the fold. The Vikings remain open to moving either player, though Breer adds they might need to pick up part of each’s salary — similar to how the Bears proceeded with their Robert Quinn trade last year — to make such a move worthwhile in terms of compensation.

Here is the latest from the NFC North:

  • Between free agency and the draft, the Lions have revamped their secondary. Detroit signed Cameron Sutton, Emmanuel Moseley and C.J. Gardner-Johnson before drafting versatile DB Brian Branch in Round 2. The Eagles had moved Gardner-Johnson to safety last season, but he primarily played slot corner under Aaron Glenn in New Orleans. The Lions DC is planning to use CJGJ frequently in the slot this season, Justin Rogers of the Detroit News notes. It will be interesting to see how the Lions manage the workloads for Gardner-Johnson and Branch, considering both have experience — albeit one of them at the college level only — of working in the slot and as a safety.
  • In the wake of the NFL’s gambling investigation producing four Lions suspensions, the team released recently re-signed special-teamer C.J. Moore and wideout Quintez Cephus. Those two were not the only Lions employees dismissed as part of their involvement in this scandal. The team also fired staffers, and Breer adds a strength and conditioning coach and two equipment managers were let go. Receivers Jameson Williams and Stanley Berryhill were also suspended, but they are still with the team.
  • The Packers moved some money around in Darnell Savage‘s contract recently, and Field Yates of ESPN.com indicates the restructure created $5.5MM in cap space (Twitter link). Savage is attached to a fifth-year option salary in 2023. The Packers converted $4MM of Savage’s option salary into a signing bonus and tacked on four void years to the former first-round safety’s deal, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky tweets. If the Packers do not re-sign Savage before the 2024 league year begins, they will be hit with $5.5MM in dead money due to the void years now on this contract. The Packers, who absorbed a record-tying $40MM in dead money by trading Aaron Rodgers last week, are still near the top of the league in cap space. They hold just more than $17MM in room as May begins.

Commanders Add 12 UDFAs

May 3rd, 2023 at 1:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Commanders reached agreements with 12 undrafted free agents. Here is the NFC East team’s post-draft class:

Ron Rivera‘s team hunted for wide receiver help during the post-draft signing period. In addition to the five receivers in this group, the Commanders offered Oklahoma Baptist wideout an $80K guarantee. But he ended up with the Falcons. Washington still authorized some decent UDFA guarantees to receivers.

Tinsley received a $120K guarantee to sign, per Tom Pelissero of NFL.com, while KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson adds Tremayne signed for $100K (Twitter links). Tremayne totaled eight touchdown receptions over the past two seasons and caught 38 passes for 490 yards during his senior year. While Tinsley joins Jahan Dotson as an ex-Nittany Lions wide receiver, he was not teammates with the Commanders’ 2022 first-rounder. Tinsley transferred from Western Kentucky in 2022. One of Bailey Zappe‘s targets during his monster Hilltoppers one-off, Tinsley totaled 1,402 yards and 14 touchdowns in that pass-crazed system in 2021. In his Big Ten season, Tinsley amassed 577 yards and five scores.

A former Tinsley teammate at Western Kentucky, Brooks was a first-round USFL draft choice last month. He will put that potential option on hold. The 5-foot-9 Allen won the 100-meter dash in one of the toughest states to do so (California) and operated as the Bruins’ kick returner in multiple seasons. Henderson started 40 games for the Spartans, taking advantage of his extra year of eligibility.

The Jets extended DeMorat a rookie-camp invite, Pelissero adds (on Twitter), but he will join a few non-Division I-FBS UDFAs in Washington instead. DeMorat finished his final Fordham season as a Division I-FCS first-team All-American, lighting up scoreboards during a 56-touchdown pass senior season. DeMorat finished last season with 4,891 passing yards. He finished as a three-time first-team All-Patriot League selection and parlayed his record-setting career into a East-West Shrine Bowl invite.

At receiver, Washington has three defined starters — Dotson, Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel — and former third-round pick Dyami Brown remains rostered. But this UDFA batch will vie for backup jobs. Although Sam Howell and Jacoby Brissett headline Washington’s QB room, the team also has ex-Georgia starter Jake Fromm on its offseason roster. The team did not draft a quarterback.

Bengals To Sign QB Trevor Siemian

May 3rd, 2023 at 11:57am CST by Sam Robinson

A few hours after Brandon Allen agreed to terms with the 49ers, the Bengals revealed their new QB2 plan. A month after visiting, Trevor Siemian will become Joe Burrow‘s new backup.

The well-traveled quarterback committed to a one-year Bengals agreement on Wednesday, James Palmer of NFL.com tweets. This will mark a change for the Burrow-era Bengals, who had rostered Allen throughout the former No. 1 overall pick’s career.

For Siemian, the Bengals will be team No. 7. The 31-year-old passer spent last season with the Bears, having signed a two-year contract. Chicago cut Siemian earlier this offseason. The former Broncos starter brings a clear connection to the Bengals, with OC Brian Callahan being on Denver’s staff as an offensive assistant when the team drafted Siemian out of Northwestern in 2015.

Callahan left the Broncos after Siemian’s rookie year, missing his run of starts as Peyton Manning‘s initial successor, but connections often lead to agreements — at just about every level — in the NFL. The Bengals will now have a backup with eight years’ worth of experience. Siemian has made 30 career starts. For his career, Siemian holds a 58.9% completion rate, a 42-28 TD-INT ratio and has averaged 6.7 yards per attempt.

Between the Broncos and Bears, Siemian played for the Vikings, Jets, Titans and Saints. Denver still represents his most notable NFL stop. After the Broncos signed Mark Sanchez and drafted Paxton Lynch in the 2016 first round, they still turned to the 2015 seventh-round pick to succeed Manning. Siemian directed the Broncos to a 9-7 season in 2016 — by far the team’s best post-Manning record — and held off Lynch for the job in 2017. After signing Case Keenum in 2018, the Broncos traded Siemian to the Vikings.

Siemian has started six games since departing Denver. Four of those came with the Saints in 2021. Equipped with a bottom-tier receiver situation, Siemian lost all four starts during a stretch that also included an Alvin Kamara absence. The journeyman did, however, help the Saints defeat the Buccaneers after replacing an injured Jameis Winston. Siemian made a Week 18 start for the Bears last season.

Allen and Siemian agreeing to deals on the same day is probably not coincidental. But the Bengals showed interest in making a change last month. Allen, 30, made six Bengals starts during his three-year Cincinnati run. One of those included a 371-yard, two-touchdown performance in a 2020 win over the Texans. It would seem the Bengals prioritized Siemian, seeing as Allen is now on a 49ers roster housing Brock Purdy, Trey Lance and Sam Darnold.

Falcons Sign Six UDFAs

May 3rd, 2023 at 10:21am CST by Sam Robinson

The Falcons kept their UDFA class small this year. Here are the six players Atlanta brought in as post-draft priority signings:

Only one of these prospects comes from a Power 5 program. The Falcons reached to the mid-major level in Division I-FBS (Enechukwu, Marshall), Division I-FCS (Washington) and Division II (Harris, Malone) for their UDFAs this year.

The Commanders also pursued Harris, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, who notes the NFC East team offered the small-school wideout an $80K guarantee (Twitter link). It is unclear what the Falcons are guaranteeing Harris, but it is likely in that ballpark. Harris posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons at Oklahoma Baptist; he caught 16 touchdown passes in 2021 and combined for 172 catches in that span. He also excelled as the Bison’s kick returner.

Atlanta lost Olamide Zaccheaus and Damiere Byrd in free agency and did not draft a wide receiver, opening a door for this UDFA class. The team did add Mack Hollins and Scotty Miller to its equation. Malone joined Harris as a Division II All-American last season. The former JUCO transfer caught 67 passes for 1,382 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2022. The Falcons certainly placed a premium on production with this receiver duo, which both produced out of the Great American Conference. That said, Harris and Malone will obviously be set for quite the competition level jump this offseason.

49ers, QB Brandon Allen Agree To Deal

May 3rd, 2023 at 9:35am CST by Sam Robinson

John Lynch said post-draft the 49ers would add a fourth quarterback. The team has decided on veteran Brandon Allen. The former Bengals backup agreed to terms with the 49ers on Wednesday, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo report (via Twitter).

The 49ers have Brock Purdy rehabbing a torn UCL; the anticipated starter is not expected to receive full clearance until close to Week 1. Coming off a season marred by a September broken ankle, Trey Lance has come up in trade rumors. Sam Darnold committed to the NFC West team early in free agency. Allen will join the former Jets and Panthers starter as outside hires.

Allen, 30, spent the past three seasons as Joe Burrow‘s primary Bengals backup, signing three one-year deals. Cincinnati hosted Trevor Siemian on a free agent visit earlier this offseason but has not agreed to terms with the veteran backup yet. But Allen, who made five starts in relief of Burrow in 2020, will not be part of the Bengals’ equation any longer.

Both Allen and Siemian were part of the Broncos’ collection of post-Peyton Manning/pre-Russell Wilson lot of starters. The former made three starts during the 2019 season, the first game appearances for the 2016 draftee, as the Broncos transitioned from an injured Joe Flacco to then-rookie Drew Lock. The Jaguars initially drafted Allen in the sixth round out of Arkansas, but he spent the 2017 and ’18 seasons as a Rams reserve.

For his career, Allen holds a 56.7% completion rate and has averaged just 6.1 yards per attempt. While the former Razorbacks starter won his first career outing, he is 2-5 as a starter. One of those wins came in a December 2020 start in Houston, in which Allen finished with 371 passing yards and two touchdown strikes. For a potential camp arm, the 49ers can do a lot worse.

The 6-foot-2 QB, of course, will join an unusual situation. Lynch has discussed the above-referenced trade rumors with Lance, the team’s 2022 Week 1 starter, and Darnold has received early momentum about being the team’s starter — in the event Purdy is not ready to roll by Week 1. For all the uncertainty, the 49ers — who saw all four of their 2022 quarterback options go down — have three healthy QBs going into the offseason.

2020 Draft Class Sets Record For Fewest Fifth-Year Options Exercised

May 2nd, 2023 at 9:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

Tuesday marked the deadline for teams to decide on fifth-year options. The NFL’s annual round of choices regarding rookie-contract bumps moved a large number of players into contract years.

A few players were not eligible to see their options picked up, due to teams already cutting ties. The Raiders waived both their 2020 first-rounders — Henry Ruggs and Damon Arnette — following off-field events. The Titans bailed on tackle Isaiah Wilson after one season and four career snaps. Former Vikings draftee Jeff Gladney tragically died in a car accident last year, weeks after the Cardinals had signed him. Because the Falcons restructured Jeff Okudah‘s contract, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com notes (via Twitter) the former No. 3 overall pick is ineligible for the fifth-year option.

The 2020 first round housed Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert and Tua Tagovailoa, along with standout receivers Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb. A few left tackle anchors came off the board as well. In addition to the likes of Roger Goodell‘s recliner and Bill Belichick‘s dog, the 2020 first round will be remembered for misfires. Only 12 fifth-year options ended up being exercised. Seventeen (the class of 2016) marked the previous low, Albert Breer of SI.com notes (on Twitter). Twenty-three (2014) remains the record for most options picked up.

A few factors contribute to this low total. While the 2020 Scouting Combine took place, the COVID-19 pandemic nixed most pre-draft visits and shut down in-person workouts and meetings. The virtual draft led to some missteps, particularly in the second half of Round 1. But the CBA agreed to weeks earlier in 2020 changed the option structure. Fifth-year options — guaranteed for injury only as part of the 2011 CBA — became fully guaranteed in 2020. This helped prevent teams from picking up a player’s option, thus delaying agency, and cutting him a year later if he passed a physical. This change introduces more risk with option calls.

Still, the 2018 first-round contingent — the first to see their options come with full guarantees — produced 21 exercised options and one option-negating extension (the Raiders’ Kolton Miller). The 2019 class produced 19. The Packers reached an extension agreement with Jordan Love earlier today, though it is not a traditional re-up like Miller’s. Love’s fully guaranteed money ($13.5MM) compared to what it would have cost the team to pick up the option ($20.27MM).

Via PFR’s fifth-year option tracker, here is how teams proceeded with 2020 first-rounders’ 2024 options:

  1. QB Joe Burrow, Bengals ($29.5MM): Exercised
  2. DE Chase Young, Commanders ($17.45MM): Declined
  3. CB Jeff Okudah, Falcons* ($11.51MM): N/A
  4. T Andrew Thomas, Giants ($14.18MM): Exercised
  5. QB Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins ($23.2MM): Exercised
  6. QB Justin Herbert, Chargers ($29.5MM): Exercised
  7. DT Derrick Brown, Panthers ($11.67MM): Exercised 
  8. LB Isaiah Simmons, Cardinals ($12.72MM): Declined
  9. CB C.J. Henderson, Jaguars** ($11.51MM): Declined
  10. T Jedrick Wills, Browns ($14.18MM): Exercised
  11. T Mekhi Becton, Jets ($12.57MM): Declined
  12. WR Henry Ruggs, Raiders: N/A
  13. T Tristan Wirfs, Buccaneers ($18.24MM): Exercised
  14. DT Javon Kinlaw, 49ers ($10.46MM): Declined
  15. WR Jerry Jeudy, Broncos ($14.12MM): Exercised
  16. CB AJ Terrell, Falcons ($12.34MM): Exercised
  17. WR CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys ($17.99MM): Exercised
  18. OL Austin Jackson, Dolphins ($14.18MM): Declined
  19. CB Damon Arnette, Raiders: N/A
  20. DE K’Lavon Chaisson, Jaguars ($12.14MM): Declined
  21. WR Jalen Reagor, Vikings*** ($12.99MM): Declined
  22. WR Justin Jefferson, Vikings ($19.74MM): Exercised
  23. LB Kenneth Murray, Chargers ($11.73MM): Declined
  24. G Cesar Ruiz, Saints ($14.18MM): Declined
  25. WR Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers ($14.12MM): Exercised
  26. QB Jordan Love, Packers ($20.27MM): Extended through 2024
  27. LB Jordyn Brooks, Seahawks ($12.72MM): Declined
  28. LB Patrick Queen, Ravens ($12.72MM): Declined
  29. T Isaiah Wilson, Titans: N/A
  30. CB Noah Igbinoghene, Dolphins ($11.51MM): Declined
  31. CB Jeff Gladney, Vikings: N/A
  32. RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs ($5.46MM): Declined

* = Lions traded Okudah on April 11, 2023
** = Jaguars traded Henderson on Sept. 27, 2021
*** = Eagles traded Reagor on August 31, 2022

Cardinals Made Offer For Raiders’ No. 7 Overall Pick

May 2nd, 2023 at 8:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cardinals made three trades during the draft’s first 33 picks, moving down twice and climbing up to land Paris Johnson. The middle trade came together late, with the Cardinals’ late offer evidently stopping the Lions from making a shocking pick — Jahmyr Gibbs at No. 6 overall.

Before GM Monti Ossenfort made a successful trade proposal to Detroit counterpart Brad Holmes, the rookie Arizona front office boss made an offer to the Raiders. The GMs discussed the No. 7 overall pick in a deal that would have moved the Raiders down to No. 12, NBC Sports’ Peter King reports. Arizona’s proposal would have sent Las Vegas the No. 33 overall pick, it appears, which would have given the Raiders three picks between Nos. 12 and 38.

Although the Raiders met with this draft class’ top five quarterbacks, Josh McDaniels said just before the draft (per King, granted war-room access) the Raiders had four non-quarterback prospects targeted at No. 7, but the team mulled the Cardinals’ offer for the pick. As McDaniels and GM Dave Ziegler considered the move down to 12, the Cardinals ended up making the trade with the Lions.

The Raiders ended up with Texas Tech defensive end Tyree Wilson at 7, but King adds McDaniels pondered the prospect of the team adding draft capital and then selecting Oklahoma tackle Anton Harrison at No. 12. The Raiders were high on both Harrison and Johnson, which makes the draft route they ended up taking rather interesting. Not only did the Silver and Black not select a tackle over the weekend, they did not draft any offensive linemen. Harrison ended up 27th overall to the Jaguars.

Vegas made a move up at No. 35 to select Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer, and by the time Round 3 ended, the Raiders had added both Mayer and wide receiver Tre Tucker. (The Raiders had attempted to trade back into Round 1 with Mayer in mind, per King, who adds the Chiefs discussed No. 31 with their rivals briefly.) They have now used two premium picks on pass catchers and gave Jakobi Meyers $16MM fully guaranteed. As of now, the Raiders would be set to field an offensive line consisting entirely of players on the 2022 roster. Though, the team did re-sign Brandon Parker, a tackle who missed last season due to injury. While considerable doubt existed about the Raiders’ O-line going into last season, the blockers helped Josh Jacobs become the first Raider to win the rushing title since Marcus Allen in 1985. Pro Football Focus rated Las Vegas’ O-line 10th last season, though McDaniels’ Harrison reference points to the team targeting that position.

Regarding the player the Raiders took in Round 1, teams voiced concerns regarding the talented pass rusher’s injury past. The Raiders are one of the teams to clear Wilson medically, Ziegler confirmed, joining the Cardinals and Texans (likely among others). Not all teams cleared the former Big 12 standout. Several teams said, via the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora, they would not have taken Wilson due to the Lisfranc fracture that ended his senior Red Raiders season. Wilson, who also dealt with back trouble last year, needed two surgeries to repair the fracture.

“Our board was right. We needed three quarterbacks to go, and we’re so happy we got one of the four non-quarterbacks who were our top-rated guys on the board,” McDaniels said (via King) in the war room after the team chose Wilson. “Look, we gotta rush the passer. We gotta go get [Patrick] Mahomes and [Justin] Herbert. That’s four games a year for the next few years against these great young quarterbacks. And the AFC is full of these great young quarterbacks. This is a great outcome for us.”

The Raiders have Maxx Crosby signed long term, and while Chandler Jones‘ $17MM-per-year deal runs through 2024, it is certainly possible the team moves on from the former All-Pro after this season. Jones’ guarantees only cover this season. Wilson will mix in with the veterans this season but could be Crosby’s top bookend soon.

Load More Posts