GM Mayock shares offseason plans
Las Vegas Raiders general manager Mike Mayock calls it a jigsaw puzzle, and right now there are seemingly as many pieces strewn about the table as those that have found a spot in the finished product.
The only free agents the Raiders have brought back are defensive end David Irving and quarterback Nathan Peterman, and relying heavily on either player at this point would be an indication that something went terribly wrong in the 2021 offseason.
Guard Gabe Jackson is reportedly on his way out, although the Raiders have yet to file his release with the NFL. One, that will definitely occur is the release of guard Richie Incognito, which was reported by NFL Media and confirmed by a team source.
Right tackle Trent Brown may or may not be cut or traded.
The Raiders have maneuverability under the $180.5 million salary cap floor. Factoring in Jackson’s departure, Overthecap.com and Spotrac.com have the Raiders in the black. A reported carryover from the 2020 cap according to ESPN’S Field Yates of $7.7 million means the Raiders can be players in the free-agent game.
There are plenty of holes to fill and recent years are proof there are as many misses as there are hits. Mayock, coach Jon Gruden and salary cap manager/negotiator Tom Delaney will operate within the financial boundaries set by owner Mark Davis.
Four things gleaned from Mayock’s league-mandated availability:
PASS RUSH PRIORITY >> While it’s speculated the Raiders will “pick a rusher, any rusher” at No. 17 to put pressure on the quarterback in 2021, the reality could be different given the depth of the position as it pertains to first-round possibilities.
There simply isn’t a Khalil Mack, Myles Garrett, Chase Young or a Bosa brother worth moving up for. Mayock seemed to echo the thoughts of longtime draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. in that the value at pass rusher would be on the second and third day of the draft.
OUT OF THE DB MARKET? >> Gruden had a public flirtation with Richard Sherman, who reciprocated on a podcast with host Cris Collinsworth a month ago. Mel Kiper Jr. has the Raiders taking a safety at No. 1 overall in Trevon Moehrig of TCU.
And while there undoubtedly will be a new defensive back or three on the roster in 2021, the Raiders’ direction may be to simply count on previous additions to go from victims to playmakers rather than use free agent or draft capital on another corner or safety.
That means you Johnathan Abram. And Damon Arnette. And Amik Robertson.
“We’ve expended some resources in our secondary,” Mayock said. “Really, what we need more than anything is for those players to take it up a notch or two. I’m talking about commitment to the game, work ethic perseverance, being in the locker room working with your brothers . . . all of them need to take a collective step forward.”
A ‘NORMAL’ OFFSEASON >> An important part of getting players such as Abram and Arnette up to speed will be the presence of an offseason as opposed to last year’s distance learning through zoom due to the pandemic.
Mayock is cautiously optimistic there will be something approaching normalcy in 2021. The Raiders are scheduled to begin their offseason conditioning on April 19, 10 days before the NFL draft.