The first chance for a fresh brain trust to put their mark on the Las Vegas Raiders roster will come in the offseason of 2024.
As an interim head coach, Antonio Pierce has already made an impact on the field. He performed well enough to maintain the Raiders’ competitiveness and secure a full-time position.
Champ Kelly filled the role of interim general manager until Dave Ziegler was replaced by new general manager Tom Telesco.
The pair will deal with free agency as their first significant event. Prior to March, the Raiders need to address a few critical gaps.
There are certain needs that are better met by adding a veteran to the squad, but there are also some that should be addressed through the draft.
The Raiders have roughly $55.5 million in space given the revelation that the NFL salary ceiling will climb to $255.4 million this offseason.
There is money to be spent on addressing some critical issues, even after deducting the cost of signing the draft class, keeping their free agents, and setting up money for an in-season budget.
If these players decide to go on the market, they should think about providing the following contracts.
Numerous resources are allocated to the Raiders’ defensive line edges.
Tyree Wilson was recently selected with a top-10 pick, and Maxx Crosby receives a good deal of compensation for his ability to ruin games.
Malcolm Koonce had a breakthrough run last season, earning him possibly an extension.
Still, there are issues with the defensive line’s interior that need to be resolved. As of the now, Bilal Nichols is a free agent. Jerry Tillery may be a useful pass-rusher, but he also has limitations versus the run.
The Raiders need to add a reliable stopper against the run who can also pursue the quarterback if they want to strengthen their defensive line and establish it as a really formidable force in the AFC.
That precisely describes Christian Wilkins. For an inside defender, he logs an impressive amount of tackles (355 total over the last five seasons). In 2023, he improved as a pass-rusher, recording nine quarterback sacks.
Wilkins, who is 28 years old, is well-positioned to benefit from a prosperous period in Miami.
It won’t be inexpensive to sign Williams, presuming the Dolphins decide not to keep him. According to Spotrac, the defensive tackle will be worth $81 million after four years of play.
It wouldn’t be shocking if he received a raise, though, given Justin Madubuike and Chris Jones might also be in line for sizable salaries that would give him greater negotiating power.
This offseason, the Raiders offensive line will be a crucial group to keep an eye on. It appears that they have a strong left side now. Dylan Parham has developed into a valuable player at left guard, and Kolton Miller remains a solid left tackle.
Every other place, though, raises issues. The agreement with Andre James has ended. Although he is 34 years old and will be a free agency along with Jermaine Eluemunor, Greg Van Roten was a good right guard.
There is a ton of offensive line talent in this draft class. The Raiders should think about drafting a player with greater depth, but it would also be wise to go into the draft with positional flexibility to address other issues.
That entails exploring free agency for a few solutions. The Raiders still require a longer-term replacement for the other guard position, even if they bring back James and Elumunor.
The best solution would be to sign Mike Onwenu. With his stature that allows him to fit in numerous locations, Onwenu has experience playing all over the offensive line.
He has demonstrated his ability to flourish at right tackle, though. He might fit in best there, where he can contribute the most.
But regardless of what happens in the draft, the Raiders would have the flexibility to play their best five players because to his ability to slide inside at guard.
Since he hasn’t played tackle exclusively, it is difficult to determine Onwenu’s exact value. Obtaining too many comparables is difficult.
However, Spotrac projects his market worth to be $54.6 million over the next four years, so the Raiders should start around that amount.
