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Raiders Sign DT Kyle Peko

March 22nd, 2022 at 9:11pm CST by Ben Levine

Kyle Peko is back in the AFC West. The Raiders announced that they have signed the defensive tackle.

Peko joined the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2016, and the defensive lineman ended up spending two-plus seasons with the organization. He had stops with the Bills and Colts before rejoining the Broncos for parts of the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

The 28-year-old spent the 2021 season in Tennessee, where he saw time in eight games, including his first three NFL starts. Peko finished the campaign with 10 tackles, two sacks, and one forced fumble while appearing in a third of his team’s defensive snaps.

This is the second defensive lineman that the Raiders added today. This afternoon, we learned that the team was signing former first-round defensive tackle Vernon Butler.

Raiders Sign WR Demarcus Robinson

March 22nd, 2022 at 5:27pm CST by Ben Levine

Demarcus Robinson has found a new home. The former Chiefs receiver is signing with the Raiders, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter).

The wideout is inking a one-year deal with Las Vegas, per Schefter. We heard earlier today that Robinson was set to meet with the Raiders.

The 27-year-old wideout had spent his entire six-year career in Kansas City. He started 42 of 97 games during that span, including a 2020 campaign where he operated as a secondary piece in the Chiefs offense and finished with 45 catches for 466 yards and three touchdowns. However, the veteran has also had seasons like 2021, when he had a reduced role on offense and finished with only 264 receiving yards.

The writing seemed to be on the wall for Robinson’s future in Kansas City when the Chiefs added JuJu Smith-Schuster to a depth chart that already included Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman (not to mention Travis Kelce).

So, the receiver is off to Las Vegas. Robinson is the second post-worthy addition to the Raiders’ WR room this offseason. Having already traded for Davante Adams, the team also has reliable slot man Hunter Renfrow and tight end Darren Waller in the fold. Just like in Kansas City, Robinson will likely continue to rank third or fourth in terms of targets, although he should have a firm grasp of that spot on the depth chart.

Raiders Sign DT Vernon Butler

March 22nd, 2022 at 4:32pm CST by Ben Levine

The Raiders are adding a veteran defensive lineman. The team has inked defensive tackle Vernon Butler to a contract, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter).

It’s a one-year deal for Butler. ESPN’s Field Yates tweeted earlier today that Butler was set to visit Las Vegas.

Butler was a first-round pick by the Panthers back in 2016, but he didn’t do a whole lot during his first three seasons with the organization, collecting two sacks in 38 games. Naturally, the organization didn’t pick up his fifth-year option. The defensive tackle finally started some games during the 2019 season, and he popped a bit, finishing with six sacks.

Butler ended up getting a two-year contract from the Bills in 2020, and he started 10 of his 24 games during his time in Buffalo. The 27-year-old had 29 tackles and no sacks during his two seasons with the team, but he still managed to find himself playing on nearly half his team’s defensive snaps. Butler also started all three of the Bills’ playoff games in 2020.

Demarcus Robinson To Visit Raiders

March 22nd, 2022 at 9:56am CST by Adam La Rose

After the Chiefs added a new receiver in JuJu Smith-Schuster, they may be close to losing another. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (on Twitter) that Demarcus Robinson is meeting with the Raiders. 

[RELATED: Raiders Acquire Adams From Packers]

Robinson, 27, has spent his entire six-year career in Kansas City. He started 42 of 97 games during that span, as his playing time fluctuated over the years. After reaching a peak snap percentage of 70% in 2019, his playing time has dropped for two straight years. The former fourth rounder has yet to miss a game in his NFL career.

Robinson’s best statistical season came in 2020. He posted 45 catches for 466 yards and three touchdowns in that campaign, operating as always as a secondary piece in the Chiefs’ passing offense. Overshadowed by Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill, he has been in competition with the likes of Mecole Hardman for targets, but averaged just over 45 per season in the five years in which he has been involved in the offense.

If he were to land in Vegas, Robinson would of course mark the second significant addition to the Raiders’ WR room. Having already traded for Davante Adams, the team also has reliable slot man Hunter Renfrow and tight end Darren Waller in the fold. Robinson would therefore likely continue to rank third or fourth in terms of targets amongst pass catchers. Much of his role in Kansas City, meanwhile, would go to the more accomplished Smith-Schuster.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/21/22

March 21st, 2022 at 9:06pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor NFL transactions:

Buffalo Bills

Cincinnati Bengals

Denver Broncos

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Tennessee Titans

Raiders Sign TE Jacob Hollister

March 21st, 2022 at 8:45pm CST by Ben Levine

Josh McDaniels has recruited another former player to Las Vegas. The Raiders are signing tight end Jacob Hollister to a one-year deal, reports NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter).

Hollister was an UDFA pickup by the Patriots when McDaniels was New England’s offensive coordinator, seeing time in 23 games. He saw a larger offensive role during his two seasons in Seattle, collecting 558 receiving yards and six touchdowns between the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

The tight end reunited with Josh Allen in Buffalo last offseason, but he didn’t end up making the team. He later caught on with the Jaguars, hauling in nine receptions in seven games (two starts).

Hollister will be counted on for his blocking and special teams ability with the Raiders. He’ll be joining a depth chart that features Darren Waller and Foster Moreau.

Raiders Sign LB Kyler Fackrell

March 21st, 2022 at 5:55pm CST by Ben Levine

The Raiders have added some pass-rushing help to their defense. The team announced that they have signed linebacker Kyler Fackrell.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter), it’s a one-year deal for the 30-year-old defender.

Fackrell was a third-round pick by the Packers back in 2016, and the linebacker ended up spending four years in Green Bay, including a 2018 campaign where he finished with 10.5 sacks. Fackrell followed up that performance with a 1.5-sack season in 2019, and he had to settle for a one-year deal with the Giants in 2020.

After getting in 12 games with New York in 2020, the linebacker joined the Chargers for the 2021 campaign. He only started one of his 13 games, but he still finished the season with 17 tackles, three sacks, and one forced fumble. He had a brief stint on injured reserve that forced him to miss a month of the season.

 

Raiders Re-Sign OL Brandon Parker

March 21st, 2022 at 4:47pm CST by Ben Levine

Despite a new regime taking over, the Raiders are sticking with Brandon Parker. The team announced that they have re-signed the offensive tackle.

The North Carolina A&T product joined the Raiders as a third-round pick in 2018. He played a significant role on the offensive line during his rookie season, but he was demoted to a backup/rotational role in 2019 and 2020.

Parker again emerged as a starter in 2021, starting a career-high 13 games. The 25-year-old ended up seeing time in 77 percent of his team’s offensive snaps this past year, and he also continued to a have a somewhat-regular role on special teams.

The Raiders have made a handful of fringe moves on their offensive line, re-signing Jackson Barton and signing free agent Alex Bars. The Raiders also signed former Patriots fullback Jakob Johnson.

Contract Details: Watson, Adams, Stafford, Jones, Maye, Reed, Joseph-Day, Bozeman

March 21st, 2022 at 3:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are the latest details from contracts recently agreed to across the league, starting with the Browns’ fully guaranteed deal for their new quarterback.

  • Deshaun Watson, QB (Browns): Five years, fully guaranteed $230MM. Everything else about Watson’s Cleveland arrival is complicated; his contract is not. Following the 2022 season, in which the Browns reduced his salary to $1MM due to the likely forthcoming suspension, Watson is set to make $46MM in base salary from 2023-26, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes.
  • Matthew Stafford, QB (Rams): Four years, $160MM. The Rams are keeping Stafford’s base salaries down in the near future; they reside at $1.5MM for both 2022 and ’23, per OverTheCap. The team gave its quarterback a $60MM signing bonus, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. There are no void years on this deal, which includes $49.5MM, $50.5MM and $49.5MM cap numbers from 2024-26.
  • Davante Adams, WR (Raiders): Five years, $140MM. Adams’ deal surpasses DeAndre Hopkins‘ $27MM-per-year pact, but it is essentially a three-year, $67.5MM accord, Florio notes. Only $22.75MM is guaranteed at signing, but by early 2023, $42.9MM in injury guarantees shift to full guarantees. The Raiders have Adams tied to a $3.5MM 2022 base salary, helping for cap purposes, with a $20MM roster bonus representing part of that $42.9MM guarantee in 2023. Adams’ 2023 salary is set to be $6MM. His 2025 and ’26 salaries — $35.6MM apiece — are nonguaranteed.
  • Chandler Jones, OLB (Raiders): Three years, $51MM. The Raiders guaranteed Jones $32MM, with SI.com’s Howard Balzer noting the deal includes an $8.5MM roster bonus (Twitter link). The Raiders, who have Jones tied to base salaries of $4MM in 2022 and $7.5MM in 2023, tacked on two void years for cap purposes.
  • D.J. Reed, CB (Jets): Three years, $33MM. Reed collected $10.5MM guaranteed at signing and will count just $4.6MM against the Jets’ cap this year, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com tweets. Reed is set to count $14.2MM against the Jets’ 2023 and ’24 caps.
  • Marcus Maye, S (Saints): Three years, $22.5MM. Originally reported as three years and $28.5MM, Maye’s deal does include $14.5MM guaranteed, per Spotrac (on Twitter). Maye’s 2022 cap hit is just $2.6MM, and the Saints included two void years. Maye’s cap hits for 2023 and ’24 are $8.6MM and $8.7MM, respectively.
  • Sebastian Joseph-Day, DT (Chargers). Three years, $24MM. Joseph-Day will receive $16.5MM guaranteed, which is up from initial reporting here. His 2022 and ’23 base salaries — $2.5MM and $6.5MM — are guaranteed, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com tweets.
  • Bradley Bozeman, OL (Panthers): One year, $2.8MM. Bozeman will receive a $1MM signing bonus and a $1MM base salary, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com tweets.

Panthers Sign Cory Littleton

March 20th, 2022 at 7:59pm CST by Adam La Rose

Cory Littleton has found his third NFL home. The Panthers announced on Sunday that they have signed the veteran linebacker. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero adds (on Twitter) that the deal is for one year and $2.6MM, with $2MM guaranteed. 

[RELATED: Panthers Re-Sign CB Jackson]

Littleton, 28, started his career with the Rams in 2016. After two seasons playing primarily as a special-teamer, he took on a starting role the following year. Given the new opportunity, he put together two highly productive campaigns, earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2018. In his final two years in Los Angeles, the former UDFA totalled 259 tackles and 7.5 sacks.

That production earned the former Washington Huskie a three-year contract worth over $35MM with the Raiders in 2020. However, his deal was re-worked three times during his two seasons with the team. As a result of the complicated financial situation that created – along with his solid, but unspectacular production – Littleton was released earlier this month.

In Carolina, Littleton will reunite with former college teammate Shaq Thompson and provide a veteran presence to an otherwise relatively young defense. Looking to rebuild his value closer to the level it was at two years ago, the short-term deal could give him an opportunity to do just that as the Panthers look to improve a unit which ranked second in the league in terms of yards per game allowed, but just 21st in scoring defense.

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