Raiders free agents: re-sign or exit?

By: Dylan Bishop

The Raiders are now looking forward to the offseason after finishing with an 8-8 record this past season. They do have a superb roster, especially on offense. Nonetheless, this offseason is critical for Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden’s team, as they are looking to add pieces to the roster to hopefully solidify the Raiders as a playoff team for next season and the seasons to come. 

One of the first things to look at this offseason is the Raider’s own impending free agents to see if we should resign them or let them go. Here’s how I believe it should go. 

QB Nathan Peterman: Sign

Jon Gruden really likes Peterman as a QB. The Raiders do need depth so it’s a no brainer to bring him back on a cheap deal. 

HB Devontae Booker: Sign 

Booker played well as he was brought in to put less weight on the shoulders of Josh Jacobs. He did score three touchdowns this season, two of them in Week 10 against Denver. Expect him to be back as he won’t fetch a big price tag. 

HB Theo Riddick: Walk

Riddick rarely saw the field as the Raiders already have a solid third down receiving back in Jalen Richard. We just don’t need him. 

WR Nelson Agholor: Sign

Aghlolor was brought over last offseason from Philly on a prove it deal. He sure did prove it as he had a career year as he was one of Carr’s top targets as he almost had 900 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns. 

Especially with Ruggs being less productive, they need his stability. Bringing Agholor back should be one of the Raiders priorities this offseason as he will likely have a bigger price tag due to his breakout year. But a deal around seven mil/year would be totally worth it. 

WR Zay Jones: Walk

Zay Jones fell back in the depth chart after the additions at the WR position last offseason. The Raiders would likely let him go to give Ruggs, Agholor, Renfrow and Edwards more touches. 

TE Jason Witten: Walk

Witten was brought over from Dallas on a one year, four million dollar deal last season. He’ll likely retire as he should be a future hall of famer. But the Raiders can save a few million dollars and give more snaps to Foster Moreau if Witten leaves this offseason. 

TE Derek Carrier: Sign

Carrier is seldom used, but he’s a good enough tight end to bring back behind Waller and Moreau for our third stringer at the position. 

OL Denzelle Good: Sign 

Good played really well at both guard and tackle in place of the injuries sustained on the offensive line. He’s good enough to start but it would be a no brainer to bring him back. 

OL Sam Young: Walk

Young also had to play a lot, mostly at RT due to Trent Brown missing time. But he is 33 years old so the Raiders should let him walk and find someone younger to play backup on the offensive line. 

DE Takkarist McKinley: Keep

Gruden did say in an interview that McKinley would be part of the Raiders future plans on defense. Seems like they’re intending to keep him around.

DT Jonathan Hankins: Keep

Hankins is a big body guy to plug holes and to stop the run, as he played modest last season. The Raiders should bring him back on a short deal to compete for a roster spot. 

DT Maliek Collins: Walk

Collins followed Rod Marinelli over to Vegas to see if he could bolster the interior of the defensive line. He did miss time but when he was in, he played awful. It should be an easy decision to move on from Collins to find someone better. 

DT Kendal Vickers: Keep

Vickers came in and played well occasionally. He won’t be expensive and he’s young so it’s an easy decision to resign him. 

LB Raekweon McMillan: Walk

McMillan came over from Miami via trade. He didn’t see the field much as the Raiders have better LBs on the roster (Morrow, Kwaitkowski, Littleton). He’ll likely go somewhere else to compete for a spot. 

LB Nicholas Morrow: Keep

Morrow had a career year last offseason and he did it in the right time, his contract year. He earned it after his good play at linebacker. He was second on the team in sacks and was arguably one of the best coverage linebackers we had last season. 

LB Kyle Wilber: Keep

Wilber is a captain on the team and is a great special teamer. He will be back. 

CB Nevin Lawson: Walk

The Raiders have plenty of youth at corner needing playing time, as Lawson did not play well back there this season. Let him go. 

CB Daryl Worley: Walk

All of the reasons to let Worley go are the same for Lawson. Let the young guys get the playing time. 

S Erik Harris: Walk

Harris was one of the main problems on Vegas’s back end as he could not cover a single opposing receiver. Harris needs to walk for this defense to improve. He doesn’t deserve seeing the field. 

S Dallin Leavitt: Keep

Leavitt is mainly a special teams guy as he also played safety some towards the end of the year due to injury. It’s important to keep good special teamers around. He stays. 

K Daniel Carlson: Keep

Carlson had a great year, he broke Janikowski’s single season record of points scored and was named AFC special teams player of December. He deserves a new deal. 

LS Trent Sieg: Keep

Every team needs a long snapper. Sieg does the job.