2018 Free Agency Preview: Oakland Raiders

What you need to know

Tagging the Oakland Raiders’ 2017 campaign solely as a disappointment would be an understatement. Oakland’s brass awarded lucrative contract extensions to quarterback Derek Carr, guard Gabe Jackson and (former) head coach Jack Del Rio and brought hometown hero Marshawn Lynch out of retirement following their 12-win season in 2016, building anticipation for what many considered could be a deep playoff run in 2017. However, the Raiders’ reign as Super Bowl favorites was short lived, as the team’s previously adored heroes fell fall far short of expectations due to a combination of injuries, coaching decisions and alleged locker room instability.

Raiders owner Mark Davis was quick to cut the cord on the team’s underwhelming season, firing Del Rio just minutes after the team’s Week 17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers and announcing former ESPN broadcaster and longtime family friend Jon Gruden as the new head coach just six days later. Gruden, accompanied by a slew of new coordinators and position coaches, aims to strap the capes back onto Oakland’s heroes (Carr, Jackson, Amari Cooper) and join general manager Reggie McKenzie in revamping the roster to meet, if not exceed, the previous year’s expectations.

NaVorro Bowman, Oakland Raiders

Salary cap room

$19,951,213 (21st in the NFL, as of 02/23/18)

Biggest Needs

Edge defender
Cornerback
Linebacker
Defensive interior
Tackle

Notable free agents

NaVorro Bowman, LB, 84.8 overall grade
T.J. Carrie, CB, 84.3 overall grade
Justin Ellis, DI, 80.6 overall grade
Denico Autry, DI, 78.6 overall grade

Must re-sign

NaVorro Bowman, LB, 84.8 overall grade

After being released by the San Francisco 49ers prior to Week 6, eight-year veteran linebacker NaVorro Bowman didn’t have to wait long before returning to work, signing with Raiders just three days after his release. He then started for the Silver & Black three days later in the team’s Week 7 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday Night Football and never looked back.

Bowman brought a level of play Oakland hasn’t experienced at the linebacker position in quite some time, earning an 84.8 overall grade, which ranked 11th among qualifying linebackers in 2017. Split between his time in San Francisco (six games) and Oakland (10 games), Bowman recorded 33 run stops, tied for seventh among all NFL linebackers, leading to his 17th-ranked 85.4 run-defense grade.

Though Oakland does have some promising youngsters at linebacker, Bowman’s veteran presence can’t be replaced by any of the team’s in-house talent nor via free agency, as Bowman remains PFF’s top-ranked linebacker among all unrestricted free agents.

Dream splash signing

Kyle Fuller, CB, 84.3 overall grade

The Raiders have sought out a long-term solution at cornerback ever since eight-year Oakland cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha left via free agency following the 2010 season. And despite investing both significant cap space and high draft capital into the position in recent years, the return has been minimal if not negative. Four-year veteran cornerback Kyle Fuller, a former first-round pick by the Chicago Bears, will require McKenzie & Co. to dive deep into their pockets yet again to bring him to Oakland, but Fuller’s recent efforts give reason to believe he’s worth the payout.

PFF’s third-ranked cornerback among unrestricted free agents this offseason, Fuller led the league in pass breakups (17) and allowed just 51.3 percent of his targets to be completed, 17th among qualifying cornerbacks this past season. He also earned a career-high 84.3 overall grade. At just 26 years old, Fuller has built a strong foundation with his performance in 2017 and still has room to grow as he continues to gain experience.

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2018 free agent prospects

Nigel Bradham, LB, Philadelphia Eagles

If Oakland is unable to tie down Bowman to another contract, linebacker Nigel Bradham should be the team’s No. 2 target in free agency. The six-year veteran has revitalized his career since leaving the Buffalo Bills in 2015 to take his talents to the City of Brotherly Love, earning 85.8 and 80.6 overall grades in 2016 and 2017, respectively. As part of the Eagles’ Super Bowl run this past season, Bradham was at his best in coverage, earning the sixth-ranked coverage grade (86.5) among qualifying linebackers.

It’s no secret that the Raiders’ defense has lacked quality coverage ability across the board, perhaps most notably at the linebacker position. While a transition from Bowman to Bradham would be a downgrade in terms of run defense, Bradham’s positives in coverage may outweigh his cons against the run if utilized effectively.

Sheldon Richardson, DI, Seattle Seahawks

Raiders interior defenders Justin Ellis and Denico Autry are in line to become cap casualties this offseason, leaving the team’s trenches ravaged of talent and depth. As such, Oakland may look to dip their toes in the free agent waters to add five-year veteran Sheldon Richardson to their interior arsenal.

The former first-round pick put together a strong two-year stretch to start his career with the New York Jets during the 2013 and 2014 seasons. However, suspensions ultimately derailed a Richardson train that appeared on track for a star-level career, as he has failed to near his career-high 89.8 overall grade in 2014 in each of his past three seasons.

Fortunately for Richardson, his drop-off from his years as a game-wrecker hasn’t casted him into the depths of the league, as he has still proven to be a quality starter with potential for sporadic stretches of big plays. He has yet to allow his overall grade to dip below 81.6 in his career, and he has amassed at least 33 total pressures and 20 defensive stops every season he’s suited up.