Tashan Reed is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the Las Vegas Raiders. That said, with Williams gone, the Raiders need more consistency out of the receiving corps and have to decide whether they want to give looming UFA Nelson Agholor a payday. Well get our first real insight with the start of the league free agency tampering period at 9 a.m. on Monday. The Raiders have two options for releasing them: Cut them before June 1, which would free up immediate cap space but it would be a lesser amount and come with a larger dead-money hit for players who still have guaranteed money on their contracts. Incognito, who played just two games last season because of an Achilles injury, seems almost certain to be released. Leavitt was well-liked by the previous staff and played a lot on special teams, but he never made much of an impact on defense; it would make more sense to give second-year safety Tyree Gillespie a shot. The most notable are guard Denzelle Good, defensive end Carl Nassib and linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski. Its likely that Hayward is headed elsewhere, and the top cornerback prospects will likely be off the board when the Raiders pick in the first round, so targeting someone through free agency seems like the surest bet. Witness the clinic he put on against Khalil Mack in London in 2019. The Raiders cleared an additional $7.1 million in salary-cap space. The NFL salary cap for the 2022 season is now set at $208.2 million after a major downswing in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The answer, of course, is cutting salaries. Plus, QB Selection trends over the past five seasons. Former UNLV defensive lineman Adam Plant was among nine undrafted free agents the Raiders signed Saturday after the conclusion of the NFL draft. Looking solely at the numbers, Carr carries just a $2.5 million dead money hit for 2021, so the Raiders could save $19.625 million against the cap by simply cutting him. Your digging led you this far, but let me prove my worth and ask for references! Now the Panthers financial outlook for 2021 looks much better. Reggie McKenzie is an unproven x Green Bay management castoff, not a proven leader. First, the advantages; You'll now receive the top Raiders Wire stories each day directly in your inbox. Heres the full list of in-house free agents: QB Marcus Mariota, UFA Free agency was an area in which the previous regime led by Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock failed miserably, but coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler are starting with a clean slate. I have been a Raiders fan since 1968. Nixon is a solid backup nickelback and good special teamer, but thats another replaceable asset. The maneuvers give the Raiders just under $30 million in cap space according to the calculator provided by OverTheCap.com. Try a week on us. Thanks to the 2021 salary cap being expected to go down for the first time in over a decade, the Ravens will have far less salary-cap space than they originally envisioned. How about the guy who came off the bench in Week 15 when Carr strained a groin, gave the offense a jumpstart with his ability and willingness to run and would have beaten the Los Angeles Chargers at home if not for another defensive meltdown? The NFL salary cap is $2.5 million more than previously projected, but still a significant drop from last years $198.2 million, which explains why there have been so many cap casualties this offseason. That number differs slightly from Over the Caps number Honestly the only two I would want to keep that to me are great pieces worth it Gabe Jackson and Trent Brown, now granted Trent Brown is a risk I think is upside is too much to let him go because what if he actually pulls it together he is one of the best tackles in the game. -- that deal probably should have been made. He has a cap number of $14 million and zero dead money, so the Raiders could find a lot of space by parting ways with a guy who has played 10-plus snaps in a mere 14 of 32 games since the Raiders signed him to that massive, four-year, $66 million free-agent contract in 2019. Of the group, Good is one who stands out as someone the Raiders may want to keep. Your full Raiders 2023 Draft class. Gruden does not have an eye for talent, he needs to know the difference between pragmatism and optimism.This is defined as what something actually IS versus what he would like for it to be. With the NFL and its players association agreeing to set the 2021 salary cap floor at $180 million, there is a reasonable expectation that the ceiling could rise to between $185 million and $188 million. They have some extensions to pay for coming up like linebacker Darius Leonard and right tackle Braden Smith, two contracts that will take up a lot of cap space. In fact, there are 22 teams that currently estimate to have more 2021 salary cap room than the Raiders. Players such as Renfrow, Crosby and Denzel Perryman already have low 2022 salaries, so that wouldnt be an effective method for them, but it could work with players already making significant money, like Carr and tight end Darren Waller. 17 overall): Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama. The Cardinals declined to franchise Jones, which paved the way for him to hit the open market. Copyright 2019 Las Vegas Review-Journal, Inc. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service, Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) scrambles past Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (42) in the fourth quarter during an NFL football game on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. The Raiders took Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer, projected to be a first-round pick, with the 35th selection overall in the second round of Fridays NFL draft. Realize what every team that has ever won a Super Bowl knows, that DEFENSE wins championships.So make his first priority team speed on defense. Of that group, 26 players are unrestricted free agents, three players are restricted free agents, and one is an exclusive-rights free agent. Here is how the Raiders could get that done: With Williams coming off the books, Trent Brown ($14 million savings), Marcus Mariota ($10.75 million), Lamarcus Joyner ($8.7 million) and Richie Incognito ($5.4 million) are the next likely candidates to be traded, released or approached by the Raiders to restructure their deals. Jones, 33, is a former first-round pick of the Patriots back in 2012. One of their top priorities will Four of the Raiders top six 2021 salaries played very little in 2020 and all could be cut or traded prior to free agency. Grading the biggest deals | Top 100 Sign up for our newsletter and get every update delivered to your inbox! Jeff Heath could also be a target with his $3.15 million cap number and no dead money. With teams across the NFL trying to adapt to a lower salary cap, it leaves a number of veteran players in a vulnerable position. If they had more cap room, maybe the Raiders could afford to pay a backup quarterback $10.1 million, but the better idea would be to find a quarterback-needy team willing to offer a mid-round pick for Mariota. But after several cuts of high-paid players, theyre in a better position cap-wise. They should let the fans evaluate the coaches and players, and send the cut and keep lust to Mark Davis. Lets take a look at the quickest way the Raiders can trim more than $40 million in salary before next year. First, Mark Davis might consider invoking the Lemon Law; The Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act or Song-Beverly for short is a law enacted by the state legislature that basically says that a manufacturer must replace your vehicle or give you a refund if your vehicle has a defect that substantially impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle and the manufacturer has not been able to fully repair the vehicle within a reasonable number of opportunities. You have come to the ESPN Africa edition, for other ESPN editions, click above. So, let's say the Raiders free up more than $20 million in cap space by cutting Brown and Incognito (hard to see them doing that, but play along), what would the O-line look like? I understand offloading Mariota but they better find a better backup than Peterman if they do. Projecting the Giant's first-round pick. Projecting the Giant's first-round pick, Everything you need to know for the draft Nothing would give him greater satisfaction than to return and complete his unfinished business, with the Raiders. This number is included with the trade of Carson Wentz, which isnt official until the new league year arrives on March 17. But where would he play? Good. Finally, with just five days until the start of the free agency negotiating period, the 2021 salary cap has been set. Here we all were, a week out from the start of free agency, and no NFL salary cap had been announced. Sign up for the Colts Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Bryan Edwards has promising athletic traits, but hes less than the sum of his parts and has struggled to create downfield separation. They could also restructure the deals for Nassib and Kwiatkoski, but keeping them on the books longer into the future doesnt seem wise. Tyrell Williams, $11.6 million (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto, Raiders offensive tackle Trent Brown (77) stretches before an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Keep an eye on Jackson, too, for possible savings. C Nick Martin, UFA Ingold was viewed as a lock to come back, but the Raiders opted against tendering him and allowed him to become a UFA. view Josh Jacobs DT Gerald McCoy, UFA Whether they will, though, is the big question of the offseason. Round 2 (35, 2021 (No. But when do you know when youve found everything you NEED? Remember, Belichik changed the culture in New England and look at what he was able to do with a guy who was drafted 199th. Gruden is narcissistic and its hard for him to accept constructive criticism and believes that his force of will can conquer all. LB Nicholas Morrow, UFA The Raiders, after they release Derek Carr, have ample cap space in 2023 and 2024. Get a clue. Re-signing either Richard or Barber as the third-down back makes sense. There has been much speculation on Lamarcus Joyner, who many contend has been misused in the slot and is much better at safety. Future plans, financial benefits and timing can be huge factors in approach. The Raiders could explore restructuring Browns contract to lower their cap hit, but would he be willing to do so? Be sure to follow NFL Trade Rumors on TWITTERand FACEBOOKfor breaking NFL News and Rumors for all 32 teams! Kiper picks winners, reaches and value picks from Round 1: Which teams fared well? And the boost they get in June with the Littleton release will be helpful when it comes to extending players such as Maxx Crosby, Derek Carr and Hunter Renfrow. The Las Vegas WR Zay Jones, UFA They can match any contracts offered to the RFAs and the ERFAs cannot negotiate with other teams unless the Raiders opt to allow them to hit the open market, but the UFAs will be able to negotiate with anyone starting Monday. He played out his four-year, $8.173 million contract before the Patriots picked up his fifth-year option back in April of 2015. Where might the Raiders find salary-cap space? The Seahawks have $7.08 million in available cap space, according to NFLPAs salary cap report. You found me for a reason. Jones made a base salary of $15.5 million in 2021. Lamarcus Joyner? The Raiders could also create space by extending players on the roster to deals with large signing bonuses and low 2022 salaries that would free up cap space. Also, they hope to re-sign a handful of their free agents, including wide receiver Nelson Agholor and guard Denzelle Good. Jones made a base salary of $15.5 million in 2021. Team futility year after year will never change until ownership changes. Jones made a base salary of $15.5 million in 2021. How they plan on going about that in free agency remains to be seen. Draft tracker. There is no one on the entire defense that is a mainstay due to production. S Roderic Teamer, ERFA. Have that high priced staff do their due diligence and spend some time reviewing and compiling successful plays run in similar situations and use them. Yeah, there are lots of savings to be had here in a major overhaul, with Good -- who was called the team MVP by Carr and coach John Gruden last season -- about to become an unrestricted free agent and more than deserving of a new contract and pay raise. They arent as expensive, but Jalen Richard ($3.5 million) and Jeff Heath ($3.15 million), might make sense as potential roster cuts, as well. The NFL is setting the 2021 salary cap floor at $180 million, which is higher than earlier projections. The Raiders restructured the contract of OLB Chandler Jones, creating $5.068M in cap space. The Raiders will either need a starting right guard or right tackle depending on where they decide to line up 2021 first-round pick Alex Leatherwood, and they could also need a starting left guard depending on how the coaching staff feels about John Simpson and Good. The Las Vegas Raiders are already dealing with the salary-cap reality, as they are $6,373,333 over the cap heading into free agency. HENDERSON. Please check your email for a confirmation. Draft tracker. After They have smaller needs like backup quarterback and third-down running back to address, but these are the primary concerns. The salary cap for the 2022 season has been set at $208.2 million but figuring out how much cap space a team has is always an inexact science. The Cardinals declined to franchise Jones, which paved the way for him to hit the open market. Gruden has the decided advantage of retrospection from years of coaching, years of sitting on the sidelines, years of observing how other teams have been successful and watching the mistakes other teams have made. Sign up for our newsletter and get every update delivered to your inbox! Raiders need to stop the carousel and learn to develop players. Should any of this talk gain any traction, might I suggest, to Mark Davis, an option, or two, to afford Gruden. He is one of the NFLs best right tackles when hes healthy. Then who replaces Carr in that scenario? Cap space rankings for all 32 teams after announcement of $182.5M salary cap in 2021. The Raiders first-round pick Tyree Wilson, drafted with the seventh pick overall, speaks to the Las Vegas media on Friday. Cap Space: $296,100; Calculated Market Values . No matter their experience level they agree GTAHomeGuy is THE only choice. Recently, there has been some talk of John Gruden replacing Jack Del Rio as the Raiders head coach. My family and friends always made me feel like I was the best quarterback in the world even when I wasnt, Aidan OConnell said. CB Keisean Nixon, RFA Best of NFL Nation Everything you need to know for the draft But the Raiders should have somewhere in the range of $20 million to $30 million in cap space to spend and the ability to create more by making further cuts, restructures or contract extensions. The fact is the Raiders need O-line help after a rough year from the group last season. There is a ton of talent out there for trades ie Trent Brown for Quinn Willians and a second round pick; Gabe Jackson for a late first round or early second round pick; incognito needs to retire, trade Zay Jones and Littleton. Las Vegas Raiders 2023 NFL draft picks, depth chart, analysis, Round 2 mock draft: Predicting the best landing spot for Will Levis, other top available prospects, The NFL's highest-paid players at every position: Here's who makes the most money, from QB to punter, Kiper's new and improved NFL mock draft: Predictions for all of tonight's picks, with five QB landing spots. Let me show you why my clients always refer me to their loved ones. And should they trade or cut QB Marcus Mariota, that would free up another $11.35 million, which would bring their cap room to just under $42 million sixth-most in the NFL. NFL Network reported that the Raiders arent closing the door on bringing him back, but Ingold posted what looked like a goodbye Thursday on Instagram. The free-agent defensive line market is strong and deep. Its unclear how the staff views Morrow and Wright, but theyre both solid veterans who could help fill out a thin linebacker corps. The Raiders still have a game left on the 2020 schedule, but for all intents and purposes the organization should be looking ahead to 2021. Raiders 2021 Cap Totals . Thats $17.622 million in cap space they will need. Sure, these days you can find anything you want online with just the click of a button. This time around, no one was released. All that said, the Colts are currently among the leaders in salary-cap space entering free agency, which gives them the freedom to make any moves they want. The NFL salary cap will be $224.8 million in 2023, up from $208.2 million in 2022. A look at post-draft needs, Raiders sign 9 undrafted free agents, including former UNLV lineman, Meet the Raiders 9 draft picks, from No. Mariota will be seeking a starting job, but Peterman could return as a backup. Quarterback Derek Carr: Due $19.525 million The salary cap for the 2022 season has been set at $208.2 million but figuring out how much cap space a team has is always an inexact science. Here's where NFL.com ranked Colts GM Chris Ballard. Either way, it figures to be an interesting offseason for the Raiders. Junior seems to love owning the team and the limelight of hobnobbing with other owners more than doing his homework on the best managers and coaches to actually run the team. Made all the adjustments at the line and that defense kicked ass because Wade knows how to adjust to what players do best, not trying to force scheme on players. I hear what everybody is saying but the name that I dont hear is Derek Carr , every game we play the other team has the better Quarterback. But hes played just 16 games in the past two seasons, including four starts in 2020. Las Vegas has 30 players set to hit free agency. Without question, the Raiders will spend every resource possible to address the defense, but as of now they project to be very limited in terms of salary cap space. While the Raiders could find a trade partner willing to give up a late or conditional draft pick for Mariota, it seems more likely he will be released. Raider woes start with the owner, as always. In 2022, Jones appeared in 15 games for the Raiders and recorded 38 tackles, four and a half sacks, and one forced fumble. With that number now official, the Colts are expected to have $46,681,614 in salary-cap space, according to Over The Cap, which is fourth-most in the NFL. He later agreed to Again, the secret of Super Bowl winners isnt lumbering behemoths, its speed and versatility. Kwiatkoski: Would free up $3.24 million in cap space but come with $5 million in dead money. LB K.J. G Jordan Simmons, UFA In all your ways acknowledge Him,, Raiders Have Cap Problems in 2021, But Plenty Of Options To Clear Money From the Books, Panthers 24 Year-Old Playmaker Would Be The Perfect Offseason Addition For The Raiders Offense, Raiders Have a Big Decision Coming On Nelson Agholor, Who Has Become Their Most Productive Wide Receiver . The Joyner situation could be predicated on the Raiders confidence in second-year cornerback Amik Robertson taking over the slot corner position Joyner plays, or their ability to find a cheaper option. But this much is true -- the 5-foot-8 Joyner has no interceptions and just eight passes defensed since coming to the Raiders in 2019. Good players like Gabe and Trent, as well as Marriotts can be traded for valuable draft picks and young talent. Tonys only problem was that his body had become brittle but mentally he knows the game and could be beneficial to Carrs growth. G Richie Incognito, UFA Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Instead, both contracts with linebackers Cory Littleton The 49ers restructured the contract of RB Christian McCaffrey to create $8.576M in salary cap space. Arizona franchise-tagged Jones before signing him to a five-year, $82.5 million deal. Teamer was a bit better on defense, but wasnt a difference-maker, either, and could walk. Grudens experience far exceeds that of anyone presently on the Raiders staff, management included. Where could the Las Vegas Raiders go to find salary cap relief? The Raiders moved around some money and created salary cap space to make the Wright deal work. When healthy, hes the best right tackle in the NFL, but only when healthy. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on Twitter. The Raiders have seven picks on the final day of the NFL draft and still have several holes to fill on the roster, including a developmental quarterback. So, on one hand, what's the hurry? Got it? Wilber, Onwuasor and Lee are all purely special teamers and are probably gone. If he isnt healthy next year, go ahead and add Richie Incognito ($6.35 million) to the list. With the Williams release official and set to save the Raiders $11.6 million against the cap with no dead money to account for, Las Vegas is closer to the magic number it needs to reach. J.C. Jackson stands above the rest, but there are cheaper options who could also get the job done. Trades and restructured contracts are also a tool they will use. Now we're cooking with gas. Brandon Talbot | Sales Representative for Cityscape Real Estate Brokerage, Brandon Talbot | Over 15 Years In Real Estate. Team Salary Cap Cap Space; 2023: $234,151,668: 2024: $256,000,000: 2025: $282,000,000: 2026: $308,000,000 The Raiders interior defensive line played pretty well last season, and bringing back guys like Hankins, Jefferson, Thomas and Philon should be on the table, but it must be noted that the new coaching staff could view the group differently. 1 after a Reddit post claimed he told his friends and family the Panthers had informed him hed be the top pick. 7 to 231, From 9th on Purdue depth chart, QB rises to 4th round Raiders pick, Raiders, Josh Jacobs remain in contract holding pattern, Free agency breakdown: 9 former Raiders with new homes, Raiders havent ruled out QB in 1st round of NFL draft, Josh Jacobs shows NFLs running back pay dilemma must be addressed, Josh Jacobs no-show for 1st day of Raiders offseason program. The Raiders seemed to draft his heir apparent in Amik Robertson, but he only played in eight games as a rookie and saw most of his time on special teams. Everybody else can take a hike, and maybe some of those duds on defense can be traded elsewhere for a fresh start. They will need $10 million in cap space to sign next years rookie class. Hayward is the most important free agent to retain considering his positional value and level of play in 2021, but he could follow former defensive coordinator Gus Bradley to the Colts. Running back Jalen Richard, safety Jeff Heath and defensive end Carl Nassib were rotational players last season, but they represent a combined $10.4 million in cap savings should they be released. LB Marquel Lee, UFA But keep this in mind -- Carr is not the problem, but is he the answer? Fact: We may have 7 players worth keeping on our entire team. In terms of actual cash spending, the Raiders will save $6 million as only $3.05 million of his 2021 salary was guaranteed as of last month. My clients come from a diverse background, some are new to the process and others are well seasoned. Why Lions GM is getting high praise Assessing recent #1 overall picks based on merit & financials, including a projection for 2023. Are you sure youre using the best strategy to net more and decrease stress? Nobody on that list that shouldnt be cut or salary restructured if they bring any enduring benefits to to Raiders. By continuing to browse or by clicking I Accept Cookies you agree to the storing of first-party and third-party cookies on your device and consent to the disclosure of your personal information to our third party service providers or advertising partners to optimize your experience, analyze traffic and personalize content. To capitalize, though, they first need to create salary-cap relief. 3 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft to select quarterback Trey Plus, the Raiders are carrying over $3.6 million in cap space from last year, according to the NFLPA, so that's $15.2 million to apply to the estimated $17-$22 million That talk has suggested that Mark Davis could possibly pay John Gruden as much as 10 million dollars a year and offer Gruden part ownership in the franchise. It is basically a foregone conclusion that Williams and his $11.6 cap number will be gone next year. CB Desmond Trufant, UFA If the Raiders cut all three players, theyd free up about $10.5 million in immediate cap space. NFL 2021 Salary Cap: $182.5 million Raiders adjusted salary cap: $186.1 million The NFL salary cap is $2.5 million more than previously projected, but still a
raiders salary cap space 2021