With the initial waves of free agency along with the draft having taken place, many teams around the NFL do not have the cap space to make a notable splash this summer. The Raiders have plenty of spending power, but a noteworthy acquisition should not be expected. 
[RELATED: Josh Jacobs Confirms No Raiders Talks Occurred Before Packers Deal]
Vegas was one of the teams which executed a post-June 1 release in 2024, moving on from quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo after one season in Sin City. That created $24MM in cap space, bringing the Raiders’ available funds to roughly $34MM. Rather than committing a portion of that to an immediate addition, the team is planning to keep it for in-season breathing space and future use, Tashan Reed of The Athletic reports (subscription required).
The addition of defensive tackle Christian Wilkins (four years, $110MM) represents the team’s most lucrative outside deal this offseason. Other big-ticket financial moves include the recent acceleration of compensation on edge rusher Maxx Crosby‘s deal and the signing of quarterback Gardner Minshew. A number of veterans remain on the free agent market, but interest from new Raiders GM Tom Telesco does not appear to be high.
As Reed notes, Vegas sees the remaining list of available players as negligible upgrades at positions such as cornerback. Nate Hobbs is set to start in the slot, with Jack Jones in line for a first-team role on the outside. Who will join the latter on the perimeter remains to be seen, but both Reed and Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal write that 2023 Jakorian Bennett has received the most starter’s reps so far this offseason.
By passing on an addition at the CB spot (which could involve the arrival of a player like Stephon Gilmore, J.C. Jackson, Steven Nelson, Adoree’ Jackson or Patrick Peterson), the Raiders will leave funds available for moves at other positions if they become necessary. Poor performance or injuries this summer could require a deal which is not currently deemed necessary. On a larger scale, Reed notes Vegas likely does not see 2024 as the season for a serious run at a Super Bowl, meaning rolling over funds into next year would be a logical approach.
Bonsignore also notes the Raiders should not be expected to aggressively seek out a move with the funds opened up by Garoppolo’s release. Position battles amongst the team’s in-house options will thus be worth watching closely as the rest of the offseason unfolds.
This is why the Raiders are the Raiders. Should be obvious by now the Raiders are tanking.
Telesco is claiming there are no upgrades available for the roster? Perhaps he just doesn’t want to spend some money that will reveal how bad a choice Davis made when the Raiders went shopping for a new GM.
Who do they get? A CB? I mean I guess but all I see in the availability is old men or JC Jackson, but if anyone knows Jackson it’s Telasco. There’s a reason he isn’t signing him. I just dont see any upgrades out there really. All the good ones are gone. There’s a reason none of the remaining guys haven’t been signed.
Why hire a GM if the guy plans to just sit on his hands for a year and do nothing? The Raiders could have got you or I to do that for a lot less than they paid Telesco…lol.
I don’t get the logic here. While I’d like to add Adoree Jackson cheaply, if the best move is to either extend guys or to bank the money, then the last thing I’d want to do is to spend it on 2024 guys, simply because you don’t want the GM sitting on his hands.
You guys understand cap space rolls over right? They’re not in the business of blowing money on rentals, they’re not rental or two away from actually competing. They’re much better served using the rest of that space next year when they address the qb position.
If your going to use the argument that a team shouldn’t spend for upgrades until they can actually compete for something like a division title then the Raiders could probably just keep rolling over the cap for another decade. Even if your the worst team in the league you owe it to your fans to try to improve. It’s outright theft if you take their money with no intention of getting better.
Didn’t the raiders have one of the splash/ spendy free agent additions? Wilkins. I don’t think signing 58 year old Patrick Peterson would get fans excited.
I think it’s generally accepted that most FA signings don’t move the needle all that much but you still have to appear to be making an effort to improve. I respect the Jets organization because no matter how many times they shoot themselves in the foot they always keep exploring ways to improve. Some of their attempts seem comical but how you gonna get better if you don’t even try?
Step 1 – Don’t do comical things
As a raider fan I love this off-season
Spot on stezzy
you owe it to your fans to try to improve.
======================
Your assumption here is that extending guys is not an improvement. Or spending the money for the 2025 team is not an improvement.