HEADLINES

Las Vegas Raiders News & Rumors

Raiders Sign Round 1 TE Brock Bowers; Antonio Pierce Denies Terrion Arnold Coin-Flip Rumor

May 9th, 2024 at 10:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Raiders have their top 2024 draftee under contract. The team and tight end Brock Bowers came to terms on his four-year rookie contract Thursday, checking off a notable box off the team’s offseason checklist.

Bowers’ deal can run through 2028 via the fifth-year option, a decision that Raiders will be in line to make during the 2027 offseason. The Raiders chose Bowers 13th overall, selecting the Georgia tight end despite having traded up for Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer early in last year’s second round.

Closely linked to a Jayden Daniels trade-up effort, the Raiders were also interested in Michael Penix Jr. The Falcons selecting the Washington quarterback at No. 8 surprised most and led to a scenario in which the Raiders were shut out of the first-round QBs, as the Broncos stopped the six-passer run by drafting Bo Nix at No. 12. With the Raiders in need of a QB and lurking at No. 13, the Broncos did not view it as safe — based on their need — to trade down for a shot at grabbing Nix later.

As for the Raiders, they nabbed one of this draft’s top skill-position prospects in Bowers. An interesting storyline developed in the aftermath of Las Vegas adding this draft top tight end. Terrion Arnold, who went 24th to the Lions, said during an appearance on The Next Round (video link) Antonio Pierce informed him the Raiders determined their Bowers investment — a Bowers-or-Arnold decision, per Arnold — on a coin flip. Raiders assistant GM Champ Kelly did not confirm or deny that rumor, but Pierce (via ESPN’s Ryan Clark) did shoot down Arnold’s recount of the Raiders’ first-round decision. Pierce also denied speaking with Arnold during the draft.

Pierce said as soon as both J.J. McCarthy and Nix went off the board, the team agreed on Bowers as the selection. The team viewed a value gap between the Daniels-Caleb Williams–Drake Maye tier and the McCarthy-Penix-Nix trio, helping to explain why the Raiders stayed at No. 13 after Daniels went off the board.

The Raiders do figure to be linked to QBs in the 2025 draft class months ahead of that event, as Gardner Minshew sits as a clear bridge option. Although Pierce made no secret of the team’s QB need this offseason, the Raiders appear set to table that rather critical issue to 2025. A pre-draft report suggested Pierce was readier to trade up for a passer in Round 1 compared to GM Tom Telesco. It is not known how aggressive the Raiders were in their pursuit of a first-round arm, but they ended up standing down and will go into their offseason program with Minshew and Aidan O’Connell.

Pre-draft rumors suggested Bowers would not make it out of the top 10, and the Rams tried to trade up for the standout tight end. But the six-QB run helped Bowers tumble to No. 13. Bowers comes to Las Vegas after being the rare tight end to lead his team in receiving in each of his college seasons. Yardage-wise, Bowers went 882-942-714 at Georgia, becoming a central part of the Bulldogs’ two national championship wins as an underclassman. Bowers, who totaled 26 touchdown receptions in his college career, missed time last season due to ankle surgery.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/9/24

May 9th, 2024 at 10:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

As a number of teams prepare for rookie minicamps this weekend, Thursday has represented a signing day of sorts for rookie draftees. Here is the latest batch of mid- and late-rounders to sign their four-year rookie deals:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

  • T Travis Clayton (seventh round, England)

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Las Vegas Raiders

New Orleans Saints

  • QB Spencer Rattler (fifth round, South Carolina)
  • WR Bub Means (fifth round, Pittsburgh)
  • LB Jaylan Ford (fifth round, Texas)
  • DT Khristian Boyd (sixth round, Northern Iowa)
  • T Josiah Ezirim (seventh round, Eastern Kentucky)

New York Giants

Tennessee Titans

Zamir White Expected To Be Raiders’ RB Starter; Jack Jones ‘Set’ As Starting CB

May 7th, 2024 at 9:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of the more eventful days in running back history, transactionally speaking, occurred March 11. More than a third of the league either signed a veteran starter or lost one, with several clubs in both camps. The Raiders ended up only in the first section, losing Josh Jacobs to the Packers hours into the legal tampering period.

More moves affecting 2023 starters occurred soon after, as the Raiders added primary Vikings first-stringer Alexander Mattison a week into free agency. While Mattison worked as Minnesota’s initial Dalvin Cook replacement last year, the Raiders might not be readying a competition to fill the spot Jacobs held for five years.

[RELATED: Raiders’ Josh Jacobs Offer Not Close To Packers’ Proposal]

The Raiders brought in Mattison as a player who will work as a sidekick to Zamir White, per the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore. White filled in for Jacobs as the Las Vegas starter over the final four games last season. He totaled 100-plus rushing yards in two of those tilts. Two seasons remain on White’s rookie contract, giving him a path to take over as a multiyear option for the Raiders.

The Vikings released Mattison one year into a two-year contract; the Raiders gave him a one-year, $2MM deal. The former third-round pick’s run as Cook’s replacement did not go well. While the Vikings look to have picked the right offseason to jettison Cook, their run game ranked 29th. Mattison averaged 3.9 yards per carry and did not score a rushing touchdown. The Vikings joined the Raiders in investing a 2022 Day 3 pick on a back (Ty Chandler), and Jacobs’ Green Bay arrival led Aaron Jones to Minneapolis. Mattison, 25, fared better as a Cook spot starter in prior years; the Raiders will give him a chance to mix in behind White, who is going into his age-25 season.

Elsewhere on the Las Vegas depth chart, Bonsignore adds Jack Jones is “set” as a starting cornerback. The ex-Patriots draftee is on track to work as one of the Raiders’ boundary starters, with a competition in the works for the role alongside he and slot cog Nate Hobbs. Considering where Jones stood prior to the Raiders claiming him, a route to a clear-cut starting role is interesting.

Jones undoubtedly benefited from ownership’s decision to remove Antonio Pierce‘s interim tag. Pierce coached Jones at both Long Beach Poly High and then at Arizona State. Jones, 26, ran into off-field trouble in college and in the NFL. An arrest for trying to bring a loaded gun onto a plane overshadowed Jones’ 2023 offseason, and the 2022 fourth-round pick fell out of favor with Bill Belichick late last season. The Patriots waived Jones after he had missed curfew in Germany.

The Raiders upped the talented corner’s usage rate shortly after the November waiver claim, using him as a starter over the final three games. Jones delivered a memorable stretch, which included pick-sixes in back-to-back games. A 2022 starter who encountered speedbumps last year — which also featured an IR stint following a September hamstring injury — Jones is on steadier ground with his second NFL team.

The team let Amik Robertson walk (to the Lions) in free agency and did not draft a corner until Round 4. The Raiders used fourth- and seventh-round picks at the position, but the team is planning to have Jones and Hobbs as locked-in starters. Jakorian Bennett and the reacquired Brandon Facyson may be the early leaders for the other boundary CB job, Bonsignore adds, with the rookies (Decamerion Richardson, M.J. Devonshire) in the mix now as well.

2024 NFL General Manager Search Tracker

May 7th, 2024 at 4:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

With the Patriots hiring Eliot Wolf as their de facto GM after having moved on from Bill Belichick, all five teams in need of a GM have filled their post this offseason. If other teams decide to make GM changes, they’ll be added to this list.

Updated 5-11-24 (4:35pm CT)

Carolina Panthers

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

New England Patriots

Washington Commanders

Raiders, OL Andrus Peat Agree To Deal

May 6th, 2024 at 9:25pm CST by Ben Levine

Andrus Peat has found a new home in the post-draft wave of free agency. The longtime Saints offensive lineman has agreed to a deal with the Raiders, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

A 2015 first-round pick, Peat has spent his entire career in New Orleans, starting 102 of his 111 appearances (plus six playoff starts). That included a three-year stretch between 2018 and 2020 where he started all 36 of his games while earning Pro Bowl nods each season. Injuries were often a theme during Peat’s tenure with the Saints; the lineman missed 36 regular season games in nine seasons, including 17 between 2021 and 2022.

Peat bounced back from a health perspective in 2023, appearing in a career-high 16 games. The veteran initially lost his starting guard spot to James Hurst, but Peat eventually worked his way into the lineup at left tackle. Pro Football Focus only ranked him 56th among 81 qualifying offensive tackles, although he did improve on his performance from the previous two campaigns.

The veteran inked a five-year, $57.5MM deal with the Saints in 2020, but after a series of restructurings, the final year of that pact was voided. That made Peat a free agent following the 2023 campaign, and it’s been a relatively quiet offseason for the lineman. The 30-year-old has only been connected to the Titans, although it was assumed his market would pick up following the draft.

Considering Peat’s versatility, he should be in the mix for a starting role in Les Vegas. The Raiders added Cody Whitehair via free agency before selecting Jackson Powers-Johnson in the second round of the draft. Peat will join that duo and holdover Dylan Parham in a competition for the two starting guard spots, although the latest acquisition’s versatility means he could also see some opportunities at either tackle spot.

Raiders Sign WR Jalen Guyton

May 6th, 2024 at 11:27am CST by Sam Robinson

MAY 6: Guyton’s visit has produced a deal. The Raiders announced on Monday that the deep threat has been signed, and he thus represents the newest receiver addition brought in by Telesco. Vegas signed Michael Gallup in the wake of the draft, and he will compete for starter’s snaps alongside Adams in the team’s passing game. Guyton will look to carve out a role of his own as he aims to put together a healthy campaign.

APRIL 29: An ACL tear brought a turning point in Jalen Guyton‘s five-year Chargers tenure, leading to the deep threat tumbling out of the picture as the Brandon Staley era wore on. But the GM that brought in the former UDFA has him back on the radar.

The Raiders met with Guyton on a visit Monday, ESPN.com’s Field Yates tweets. Tom Telesco brought in Guyton as a UDFA in 2019, and the North Texas alum became a key Justin Herbert target in 2020 and ’21. A Week 3 2022 ACL tear sidetracked the 6-foot-1 pass catcher.

Guyton, 26, managed to return last season — after being re-signed — but was not activated off the Chargers’ reserve/PUP list until early November. Despite the Chargers playing most of the season without Mike Williams and losing Keenan Allen late in the campaign, Guyton finished last season with just 10 receptions for 89 yards.

He was a far more relevant option earlier in his Bolts tenure. Guyton totaled 28 receptions for 511 yards in 2020 and 31 receptions for 448 yards in 2021; he scored three touchdowns in each season. Best remembered for being on the receiving end of a Herbert laser that traveled 60-plus yards in the air against the Giants in 2021, Guyton represents a flier at this point. Though, he is now more than 18 months removed from the major knee injury.

The Raiders moved on from Hunter Renfrow this offseason but have not relented on a potential Davante Adams trade. The All-Pro weapon remains Las Vegas’ No. 1 target, and 2023 free agent pickup Jakobi Meyers — a player with close ties to the since-booted Josh McDaniels-fronted regime — is going into Year 2 of a three-year, $33MM deal. The Raiders did not draft a wide receiver this year and did not make a notable signing in free agency. Guyton, who has clear ties to Telesco and ex-Chargers front office lieutenant/interim GM JoJo Wooden, would be a low-cost auxiliary option.

NFL Front Office Updates: Panthers, Cardinals, Buccaneers, Raiders

May 4th, 2024 at 5:58pm CST by Ely Allen

Oftentimes, when there are staff and front office changes on NFL teams, a Black Monday-type of exodus can happen following the NFL Draft. With mere months or even weeks between the time of a new staff’s hiring and the draft, it can be advantageous to utilize the scouting and personnel department already in place. Though, after the draft concludes, those same teams may opt to clear house and in their own preferred employees.

The Panthers are one such team, with Joe Person of The Athletic reporting that both director of pro scouting Rob Hanrahan and assistant director of pro scouting Tyler Ramsey have been let go. Hanrahan had been with the team for seven years, while Ramsey had been there for three.

The two weren’t alone as Neil Stratton of SucceedinFootball.com reported the departure of northeast area scout Michael Coe and senior personnel executive Jeff Morrow, as well. New general manager Dan Morgan had forecasted changes after the draft, which we’re seeing now.

Here are some other changes in NFL personnel departments:

  • Stratton also informs us that the Cardinals have parted ways with director of college scouting Josh Scobey. The former Arizona running back had just finished his second year in the role after 12 seasons as a part of the team’s scouting department.
  • The Buccaneers have also moved on from personnel department employees with Stratton reporting that neither veteran scout Mark Ellenz nor assistant director of pro scouting Alex Smith will return in 2024. Smith had been with the team for seven years and was elevated to his most recent position after four seasons as a pro scout.
  • The Raiders are the next team mentioned by Stratton with director of scout development Keith Kidd reportedly being removed from the team’s website.

Raiders Add 17 UDFAs

May 4th, 2024 at 11:20am CST by Ben Levine

After adding eight rookies via the draft, the Raiders are continuing to add young players to their roster. The team announced that they’ve signed 17 undrafted free agents:

Carter Bradley is one of the most notable names on the list, as the QB tossed 47 touchdowns for South Alabama between 2022 and 2023. The Raiders needed to pay up to add the rookie to their roster. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, Bradley will earn a $25K signing bonus plus $100K in guaranteed base salary. The front office also gave significant chunks of cash to two undrafted offensive linemen. Furman guard Jake Johanning got a $25K signing bonus and $75K of his base salary guaranteed (via Wilson) while TCU tackle Andrew Coker got a $20K signing bonus and $75K of his salary guaranteed (via Wilson).

On defense, the Raiders gave Ron Stone a $20K signing bonus and $150K in guaranteed base salary (per Wilson). The Washington State product wrapped up his college career with a 2023 campaign where he compiled five sacks and 11 tackles for loss. Meanwhile, Maryland cornerback Ja’Quan Sheppard got a $25K signing bonus and a whopping $205K of his base salary guaranteed (via Wilson). Sheppard finished his lone season with the Terrapins with 31 tackles and eight passes defended.

OL Notes: Guyton, Beebe, Cowboys, Commanders, LT, Raiders, Packers, Patriots

May 3rd, 2024 at 5:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

Tyler Smith delivering strong early returns at two positions — left tackle, left guard — gave the Cowboys options while constructing their draft board, and Oklahoma tackle Tyler Guyton became the team’s pick. The Guyton move points to Smith staying at guard. The Cowboys are set to give the ex-Sooners right tackle every opportunity to win the starting LT job, The Athletic’s Jon Machota notes (subscription required). Teams make the inverse move more often, with the college game’s top O-linemen most frequently coming from the left tackle spot. Guyton views himself as a more natural left tackle, however, and his development there will keep well-paid RT Terence Steele in place.

Trading down from No. 24 to 29, the Cowboys picked up an extra third-rounder (No. 73). Dallas used the latter pick on Kansas State’s Cooper Beebe, and Machota adds he profiles as the team’s Tyler Biadasz center replacement. Linked to Duke center prospect Graham Barton at No. 24, the Cowboys passed with the ex-Blue Devil on the board (Barton went to the Buccaneers at No. 26). Beebe vacillated between left tackle, right tackle and left guard with the Big 12 program. While Machota notes Beebe could be an eventual Zack Martin successor, he is on track to begin his career at center.

Here is the latest from O-lines around the league:

Broncos Met With Drake Maye, Spencer Rattler; Raiders’ QB Need Impacted Team’s Bo Nix Plan

May 1st, 2024 at 1:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

While Sean Payton effectively admitted he participated in a smokescreen effort regarding the Broncos‘ interest in trading up for a quarterback, the team was most closely tied to Bo Nix during the draft run-up. That did not end up costing the Broncos, who selected the Oregon prospect at No. 12. But the team also did its homework on other passers.

We heard before the draft that J.J. McCarthy trekked to Denver and Nix threw for Broncos brass in Eugene, but SI.com’s Albert Breer notes the Broncos did meet with Drake Maye and Spencer Rattler before the draft. Maye proved to be well out of Denver’s price range, as New England turned down two offers — from the Giants and Vikings — that included 2025 first-round picks. Ticketed to be Derek Carr‘s backup in New Orleans, Rattler did not go off the board until Round 5.

[RELATED: Assessing Bo Nix’s Prospect Profile]

Multiple reports pointed to the Broncos being interested in making an aggressive move up the board for a passer; McCarthy, who met with the Broncos on a “30” visit, was mentioned as a target. It turns out Broncos-Nix connections early this offseason doubled as prescient reports. The five-year college starter will likely be given the keys early in his rookie season, with ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano mentioning during a recent TV appearance the recent Pac-12 star is expected to “play right away.”

Broncos GM George Paton scouted Nix at four Oregon games but did not share his views with Payton, per Breer, with an aim toward the Super Bowl-winning HC — and the current Broncos top decision-maker — reaching his own conclusions on the prospect. Payton said post-draft Broncos brass viewed the Vikings as being McCarthy fans and the Raiders eyeing Michael Penix Jr. The Broncos did carry some fear, especially after the Falcons chose Penix at No. 8, the Raiders would leapfrog them for Nix, Breer adds. The QB-needy Raiders’ presence at No. 13 influenced the Broncos to stay put and make a pick many have labeled a reach.

The Raiders were, in fact, interested in Penix — more so than Nix or McCarthy — according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler. After a second straight offseason of extensive work on QB draft prospects, the Raiders did not add a high-value pick at the position. As the Raiders regroup around Gardner Minshew, the Broncos do not have a clear hurdle in Nix’s path to seeing action early. Denver has Jarrett Stidham as a placeholder and took a flier on Zach Wilson before passing on the ex-Jet’s fifth-year option. Barring something unexpected, it would surprise if Nix is not Denver’s starter early this season.

Although QBs coach Davis Webb ran Nix’s workout, Breer adds the Paton-Payton tandem — along with ownership — did not reveal to other members of the team’s staff where Nix stood on the team’s board. It is believed the Broncos viewed Nix as this draft’s third-best QB prospect. Most do not agree with that placement, and longtime draft analyst Todd McShay said during an appearance on The Ringer’s Ryen Russillo Podcast (h/t the New York Post) at least 10 NFL evaluators he spoke to did not have a first-round grade on Nix. The Broncos are high on Nix’s accuracy, with their research effort removing QB prospects’ screens and short routes to reveal a player who still ranked as one of Division I-FBS’ most precise passers when those dumpoffs are taken out of the equation.

Since Peyton Manning‘s retirement, the Broncos have used two first-round picks on QBs (Nix, Paxton Lynch) and one second-rounder (Drew Lock) on the position. The team made three trades for starters, obtaining Joe Flacco (2019), Teddy Bridgewater (2021) and Russell Wilson (2022), while signing Case Keenum (two years, $36MM) in 2018. Nothing has worked for the NFL’s only franchise to see a QB retire following a Super Bowl win. That has occurred twice in Denver, and the team has encountered a much tougher journey replacing Manning than John Elway.

Nix now holds the keys to the Broncos’ effort to pick up the pieces post-Russell Wilson, whose $85MM dead money number will cut into Denver’s ability to capitalize on the No. 12 pick’s rookie contract. Although Payton led the effort in pointing Drew Brees to the Hall of Fame and helping develop Tony Romo in Dallas, grooming a first-round pick from scratch will be new territory. With Wilson’s contract quickly becoming an albatross, the Broncos did not have much of a choice but to turn back to the draft.

Load More Posts