Blistering In From Sea.

[Soapy]

A Khalil Mack reunion? A swap of Jimmy G for Kirk Cousins? Examining potential Raiders free agency targets
The Las Vegas Raiders will enter free agency in a few hours with the third most cap room in the NFL at $89.7 million with the chance to augment that by $28.5 million with the release of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

For now, Garoppolo is a member of the Raiders but his contract allows the Raiders the flexibility to look at a multitude of options at quarterback, whether in the draft or free agency. A few moves that would make sense for the Raiders as free agency begins:

Lighten the load on Maxx Crosby, Tyree Wilson by singing Khalil Mack
It's unclear what the market will be for Mack at 33, coming off a ten sack season that was his first since 2018. Even at his advanced age, Mack could command upwards of $15 million per year and while that would be a high number for a 'non starter', he would help keep Crosby and Wilson fresh, doing some of the dirty work on earlier downs and allowing Crosby and Wilson to pin their ears on obvious passing downs.

The Raiders and Mack didn't end on the best of terms when he was traded to Chicago but nearly a decade remove, time should heal all wounds and so will guaranteed dollars which is something the Raiders can offer as a borderline playoff team while others can't.

Kick the tires on a potential Kirk Cousins - Jimmy Garoppolo swap
It won't be an official trade since Cousins is a free agent but the Raiders could essentially cut Garoppolo, free up $28.5 million and offer that to Cousins, which is what he's projected to sign at.

Cousins doesn't have a ton of suitors, especially in a quarterback laden draft, and trading Garoppolo is going to be nearly impossible so the Raiders could improve at the position without having to spend anything -- no new money and no draft capital.

Damien Harris and Kendrick Bourne make a lot of sense in this offense
Two former Patriots that had their best years when Josh McDaniels was the offensive coordinator.

Bourne had 55 catches for 800 yards and five touchdowns in his first season with New England while Harris rushed for 929 yards and fifteen touchdowns in his first season as a starter in New England in 2021, McDaniels' last year.

Neither are going to break the bank and would help establish a nice floor for the Raiders at the position as they could look to improve on it in the draft while also not risking head into training camp with below starter level players at the position.

Plenty of available offensive linemen
Tyron Smith and Taylor Lewan might be looking for better situations in terms of being able to win a championship but the Raiders, like with Mack, can sweeten the deal with more guaranteed money up front.

If the Raiders want a more long term solution at the position without having to wait for the draft, Jonah Williams is just 26 and could be an option at right tackle while on the inside, it's plenty of players that would be an upgrade from last season in Damien Lewis Jonah Jackson, Dalton Risner, Cesar Ruiz and others.

[Baze]

Josh Jacobs gone

Zeus got next.

[Soapy]

Josh Jacobs gone

Zeus got next.

he gonna have to show me something next season, wasn't impressed tbh

[Soapy]

Raiders front office reportedly 'fell in love' with Colorado's Shedeur Sanders during Combine interview
The most important part of the NFL Combine is the part that NFL fans don't get to watch and that's when the draft's top prospects get a chance to sit down and meet with NFL front offices and coaching staffs. With Tom Brady as his mentor and Deion Sanders as his father, it's no wonder that Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders reportedly 'blew away' teams during the interview process and that the Raiders front office 'fell in love' with the quarterback following their formal sit down according to Pro Football Network's Mike Florio.

Brady is a minority owner of the Raiders and was coached by Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels for over decade so it should come to no surprise that Sanders would have the inside track on impressing McDaniels and Co.

The Raiders pick at 18 and 28 in the upcoming draft and will likely need to trade up if they want a chance to select Sanders who is currently projected by NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah to the Los Angeles Rams at pick number ten. Sanders reportedly met with the Washington Commanders (No. 1 pick), Denver Broncos (5th), the Rams, New England (16th) and the Raiders.

Following an impressive showing at the combine, Sanders has leapfrogged Michael Penix Jr. in many mock drafts as the third quarterback off the board behind Caleb Williams and Drake Maye. The Raiders reportedly did not interview Penix Jr. or Williams but have met with Maye, Quinn Ewers, Devin Leary, K.J. Jefferson and J.J. McCarthy.

[Baze]

Teasing.

[Soapy]

Teasing.

[Soapy]

Raiders sign interior trinity of Cesar Ruiz, Jon Runyan and Jonah Jackson in first hours of free agency
The Las Vegas Raiders have signed interior offensive linemen Cesar Ruiz, Jon Runyan and Jonah Jackson as their first moves of free agency.

Ruiz, who the team signed to play center after being an Pro Bowl guard with the New Orleans Saints, is getting a four year, $32 million deal while Jackson comes in at three year, $39.9 million and Runyan is an affordable two year, $14 million signing to help revamp the Raiders offensive line.

Runyan and Ruiz were teammates at Michigan where Ruiz started at center and Runyan played offensive tackle, providing the Raiders some positional flexibility.

In other free agency news, former Raiders cornerback David Long Jr. has signed a two-year deal with Carolina. The Raiders are reportedly in the market for a cornerback and were interested in Chidobe Awuzie who ultimately signed with the Chicago Bears on a one-year deal. The Bears also signed Jeremy Chinn to a three-year deal, locking up two of the best available corners in the market.

The Raiders have been in contact with Marcus Peters and continue to discuss a possible return for the veteran cornerback.

Notable NFL Transactions
TE Mike Gesicky (4yr/$30.7m)
CB Chidobe Awuzie (1yr/$12.6m)
CB Kristian Fulton (2yr/$8.02m)
WR Sterling Shepard (2yr/$19.1m)
LB Jordyn Brooks (4yr/$30.7m)
CB Jeremy Chinn (3yr/$21.3m)

[Soapy]

Former Chargers CB Michael Davis crosses divisional lines, inks one-year deal with Raiders
Free agent cornerback Michael Davis has signed a one-year, $7.1 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders

The California native spent the first seven years of his career with the Los Angeles Chargers after being undrafted out of BYU. Davis finished last season with 66 tackles and seven tackles for loss but failed to intercept a pass for the first time in the last five seasons. He was credited with two pass breakups, a dip from fifteen in 2022.

Davis joins a lonely cornerback room that currently consists of just Nate Hobbs and Jakorian Bennett who started at nickel as a rookie and went through some growing pains. The Raiders have reportedly shown interest in a few other veterans at the position such as Desmond King II, Byron Jones and potentially bringing back Marcus Peters who played for the Raiders last year.

The Raiders also signed linebacker Jayon Brown on a one-year, $1.7 million deal.

Notable NFL Transactions
LB Joey Jewell (4yr/$30.7m)
WR Mike Williams (4yr/$60.3m)
IDL Christian Wilkins (3yr/$59.7m)
DE Clelin Ferrell (2yr/$10.9m)

[Soapy]

Raiders add former high draft picks CB Jeff Okudah, WR K.J. Hamler
Former number three overall draft pick cornerback Jeff Okudah and former second round pick K.J. Hamler have signed with the Las Vegas Raiders. Former Raiders center Andre James signed a two-year, $10.3 million deal with Carolina.

Okudah joins the Raiders on a one year, $5.5 million deal as he looks to jump start what has been an uneven start to his career after coming into the league as one of the top cornerback prospects in recent years. Okudah dealt with multiple injuries in Detroit before being traded to the Atlanta Falcons last season in exchange for a fifth round pick.

Okudah had 49 tackles and 6 pass breakups with the Falcons and gives the Raiders another cornerback capable of playing press coverage in the slot and on the outside, something Jakorian Bennett struggled with last season.

For Hamler, it's a two-year, $9 million contract as he'll compete for the fourth receiver spot behind Davante Adams, Tre Tucker and Jakobi Meyers. After catching 30 passes as a rookie with Denver, Hamler also struggled with injuries, playing just ten games in 2021 and 2022 before being released by the Broncos with a non-football illness designation after he was diagnosed with a heart condition.

Hamler returned to play in 2023 with Philadelphia, catching 22 passes for 252 yards as he showed flashes of his former Penn State days.

Notable NFL Transactions
DT Michael Pierce (1yr/$14.5m)
LB Bobby Wagner (1yr/$10m)
WR Marquise Brown (4yr/$53.8m)
T Tyron Smith (1yr/$18.5m)
WR Keenan Allen (3yr/$48.5m)
CB Desmond King II (1yr/$6.22m)
DE Chandler Jones (1yr/$8.43m)
G Kevin Zeitler (1yr/$8.29m)
OLB Khalil Mack (2yr/$28.8m)

[Soapy]

Baker Mayfield signs with the Vikings as first quarterback domino falls
The Minnesota Vikings have signed quarterback Baker Mayfield on a three year, $25.9 million deal to replace free agent Kirk Cousins as the team's starting quarterback.

It's noteworthy that the total value of Mayfield's deal is less than what Cousins' cap hit this season would have been had the team signed him to the $28 million per year that he was looking for.

By signing Mayfield on a discounted deal, the Vikings were able to also sign free agent receiver Marquise Brown, safety Deshon Elliott, offensive linemen Damien Lewis and also picked up the fifth-year option of left tackle Christian Darrisaw who is set to make $18.1 million.

There hasn't been too much of a market for Cousins, who visited with the Washington Commanders, his former team, who also hold the number one pick and are expected to draft quarterback Caleb Williams.

With Mayfield off the board and Cousins still on it, it remains to be seen what the Raiders ultimately do with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo who is set to make $28.5 million this season and next, none of it guaranteed. The Raiders could save $28.5 million in cap space by releasing Garoppolo or try to find a suitor for him elsewhere.

Notable NFL Transactions
WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (3yr/$20.2m)
CB C.J. Henderson (2yr/$6.5m)
G Trai Turner (1yr/$3.95m)
HB Devin Singletary (2yr/$10.2m)
LB Zaire Franklin (2yr/$4.5m)
S Jordan Whitehead (3yr/$19.9m)
WR Chase Claypool (3yr/$18.2m)