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Las Vegas Raiders News & Rumors

Josh McDaniels: Derek Carr To Remain Raiders’ Starter

March 2nd, 2022 at 6:18pm CST by Sam Robinson

Josh McDaniels‘ first try as a head coach involved an early feud with the team’s starting quarterback and a seismic trade occurring soon after. It does not appear the new Raiders HC has his sights set on a quarterback change to start his second HC go-round.

When asked by NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero if he was prepared to confirm Derek Carr would be Las Vegas’ Week 1 starter, McDaniels indicated there was “no doubt” this would be the case (video link). This follows a report that indicated mutual respect exists between Carr and the longtime Patriots offensive coordinator. This would be Carr’s ninth season as the Raiders’ QB1.

In Denver, McDaniels’ irking of Jay Cutler led to a stunning trade in April 2009, sending the 2008 Pro Bowler to Chicago for a package of picks. McDaniels trading up for Tim Tebow in the 2010 first round added to a dismal quarterback run for the young coach/de facto personnel czar in Denver. It seems McDaniels is eyeing a more stable start to his Raiders tenure.

Carr spent most of Jon Gruden‘s stay in trade rumors, but the Raiders kept going year to year with the Reggie McKenzie-era draftee. The Raiders brought in Marcus Mariota to push Carr in 2020, but the longtime starter staved off the former No. 2 overall pick. Mariota is on track for free agency again. Last season, Carr led the Raiders to the playoffs despite the midseason exits of Gruden and Henry Ruggs. Carr finished with a career-high 282.6 passing yards per game, though his QBR figure (52.4, 14th) dropped after back-to-back marks above 64 (10th, 11th).

The Raiders will soon need to make a decision on Carr, and McDaniels added (via Pro Football Focus’ Doug Kyed, on Twitter) the sides have not begun extension discussions yet. Carr’s $25MM-per-year contract — an NFL record when signed in June 2017 — runs through the 2022 season. If the Raiders are committed to the soon-to-be 31-year-old passer, they will need to authorize a big raise.

Raiders, Jaguars To Pursue Davante Adams If WR Hits Free Agency

February 28th, 2022 at 6:17pm CST by Ben Levine

The Packers are preparing to use the franchise tag on Davante Adams, but that won’t stop other teams from expressing interest in the star receiver. According to Tony Pauline of ProFootballNetwork.com, if Adams doesn’t get tagged and hits the open market, the Raiders and Jaguars will be among the teams that will pursue the free agent. Pauline also mentions the Broncos as a suitor, backing a previous report, and he lists the Chargers as a “team to watch.”

[RELATED: Packers Preparing To Put Franchise Tag On Davante Adams]

Derek Carr played with Adams at Fresno State, and the two have publicly talked about a potential reunion for some time. The Raiders are armed with about $40MM in cap space, and Josh McDaniels and co. would surely like a top-end receiver to pair with receiver Hunter Renfrow and tight end Darren Waller. DeSean Jackson provided a bit of a spark after joining the organization, but there’s no guarantee he sticks around. The team also lost a key future piece in Henry Ruggs, so it wouldn’t be shocking if the Raiders add to their receiving corps.

The Jaguars have an awe-inspiring $70MM to play with, and the organization has been interested in pairing Trevor Lawrence with an elite receiver. Adams is used to winning, so it remains to be seen (in the hypothetical where he hits the open market) if he’d pursue a lucrative contract with a lesser team. Of course, Adams could also be a key piece in helping Jacksonville return to the postseason.

The Chargers are an interesting suitor considering their current receiver situation. Keenan Allen is set to earn $19MM in 2022, while breakout star Mike Williams is hitting free agency. While Allen’s spot in Los Angeles seems secure, the team could end up punting on the up-and-coming Williams and pivot to an elite option like Adams.

Green Bay has not used its tag since 2010 (Ryan Pickett) but is prepared to cuff its All-Pro wide receiver. Hopes for an Adams extension continue to be on hold. The sides have not discussed an extension since the Packers’ season ended last month.

Raiders Sign DT Andrew Billings

February 28th, 2022 at 8:57am CST by Adam La Rose

The Raiders added some depth to their defensive line before the start of free agency. Per an announcement from his agency (Twitter link), the team has signed defensive tackle Andrew Billings.

Billings, 26, was originally a fourth round pick of the Bengals in 2016. In 47 games in Cincinnati (including 37 starts), he compiled 81 tackles, 12 QB hits and 3.5 sacks. His next stop was set to be Cleveland, where he signed a one-year deal in March 2020; however, he opted out of that season, keeping him in Ohio for the 2021 campaign.

The 6-foot-one, 328-pounder only ended up playing in six contests with the Browns, recording a single tackle before being waived. He bounced around during the latter part of the campaign, joining the practice squads of the Dolphins and Chiefs in November and January, respectively. He didn’t end up making any appearances for either team during his brief stints there, however.

In Las Vegas, Billings will add depth to a defensive line that could stand to be upgraded. In 2021, the Raiders gave up just over 114 yards per game on the ground, ranking them in the bottom half of the league. This move could very well be the first of many along the defensive front, as Quinton Jefferson, Johnathan Hankins, Solomon Thomas and Gerald McCoy are all scheduled to hit free agency in March.

Raiders Rehire Shaun Herock

February 22nd, 2022 at 7:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Raiders are adding a familiar name to their front office. Shaun Herock is joining GM Dave Ziegler‘s staff as a personnel advisor, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). This will interestingly bring Herock back to the Raiders, an organization that has employed both he and his father (Ken Herock). This hire probably should not be too surprising, with Mark Davis calling Ken Herock the “ringleader” of the Raiders’ 2022 GM and HC searches (via The Athletic’s Vic Tafur; subscription required). Shaun finished the 2018 season as the Raiders’ interim GM, working atop Oakland’s front office after Reggie McKenzie‘s exit and before Mike Mayock‘s arrival. Herock worked with the Raiders from 2012-18 and spent the past two years as a Browns national scout. Prior to Herock’s Oakland years, he spent nearly two decades under Ron Wolf and Ted Thompson in Green Bay’s front office.

  • Josh McDaniels added another name to his staff as well. The Raiders are hiring Kennedy Polamalu as their running backs coach, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. Polamalu, 58, coached the Vikings’ running backs for the past five seasons. He also worked as the Browns and Jaguars’ running backs coach in the 2000s.

Rams Hire Liam Coen As OC, Bring Back Greg Olson

February 21st, 2022 at 9:53am CST by Adam La Rose

The favorite for the Rams’ offensive coordinator job is indeed being hired. Liam Coen is set to return to L.A., according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer (Twitter link). He adds that Greg Olson is also being brought back to the Rams. 

It was reported as recently as last night that Coen was at the top of the list of OC candidates for the Rams. He spent three years with Sean McVay, working first with the team’s wide receivers and then quarterbacks. That marked his first foray into coaching at the NFL level, following eight seasons in the college ranks.

Coen then returned to the NCAA last year, working as the OC at Kentucky. The 36-year-old received multiple offers to leave that post, but, before this instance, turned them down. The Wildcats were reportedly prepared to lose him last week, though, which signalled that a return to L.A. was likely. He will represent a familiar face on a coaching staff that has undergone significant changes this offseason.

The same can be said for Olson, who, unlike Coen, has a plethora of NFL experience. He has been an OC on six different occasions, including the 2006 and 2007 seasons with the then-St. Louis Rams. Most recently, the 58-year-old had been leading the offense of the Raiders during his second stint with the team. That began after his one-year gig with the Rams during McVay’s first year in charge, where he held the familiar title of quarterbacks coach.

Lastly, Breer reports that Thomas Brown is being given “more responsibility within the offense and team”. Brown, 35, spent 2020 as the team’s running backs coach. Last year, he had the title of assistant head coach added. Again, retaining him – and expanding his role, at that – will be critical to maintaining stability on the offensive staff.

These changes will play a large role in determining if the Super Bowl champions can repeat their top-ten output in terms of points (27) and yards (387) per game in 2021. If they can, they will be in contention to win back-to-back titles.

AFC Notes: Raiders, Chiefs, Dupree, Weddle

February 19th, 2022 at 10:52pm CST by Ely Allen

First-round draft pick Alex Leatherwood had an up-and-down rookie season in Las Vegas. After struggling a bit at right tackle, Leatherwood was moved to guard to fill in after injuries to starters Richie Incognito and Denzelle Good. According to Vic Tafur of The Athletic, the Raiders’ former staff intended to move Leatherwood back to his drafted position next season.

The decision is now out of their hands and in the hands of new offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo. With Kolton Miller set at left tackle and Andre James filling in admirably this season with the loss of center Rodney Hudson in a trade to the Cardinals last year, the Raiders have three offensive line spots with which to play around. Bricillo’s placement of Leatherwood will likely depend on how they choose to address those open positions.

Here are a few more notes from around the AFC, starting with another note from the West:

Raiders To Add D-Line Coach

February 18th, 2022 at 3:38pm CST by Sam Robinson
  • The Raiders are hiring a new defensive line coach, tabbing Frank Okam for that role, per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler (on Twitter). This comes more than a month after the Panthers fired Okam. Carolina brought Okam from Matt Rhule‘s Baylor staff in 2020, when he served as the Panthers’ assistant D-line coach. Carolina bumped Okam to its D-line coach last year. He will follow ex-Panthers assistant Jason Simmons to Las Vegas.
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