Raiders Must Have Successful Rest of Free Agency

The Las Vegas Raiders are in the midst of a critical offseason in their franchise's history. With the NFL draft approaching, the Raiders must continue to search for gems in free agency, even with a successful draft haul.

The Las Vegas Raiders started free agency with one of the most notable signings in the league when they agreed to terms with defensive lineman Christian Wilkins. They re-signed two free agents in quieter moves that should still benefit the team this upcoming season when they retained center Andre James and running back Ameer Abdullah. 

They also brought in veteran running back Alexander Mattison. The Raiders have done the best they could have in free agency so far while still spending responsibly. General Manager Tom Telesco has found great value for nearly all Las Vegas’ free agent signings this offseason. 

As the Raiders and the rest of the league inch closer to the NFL Draft, the excitement around who Las Vegas will draft has continued to grow. The Raiders are rumored to be interested in multiple options on draft day. They currently sit with the No.13 pick and have many options, leading to constant speculation about what the Raiders will do. 

They could trade up in the draft for Jayden Daniels, which has been speculated for much of this offseason. They could keep their pick and draft a cornerback, an offensive lineman, or a quarterback. There are legitimate arguments for the Raiders drafting all three of those positions, and with the Raiders selecting just outside of the top 10, there is almost guaranteed talent that will fall to their lap at a position of need without them having to trade up. 

The good news for the Raiders is that the moves they made earlier in the offseason have made their draft day choice a little easier, as they now have fewer positions that actually need to be filled with starting-caliber players. They can use their draft pick any way they like, or trade back and have even more options for players to add. 

There is a ton of buzz surrounding the Raiders and the draft day decisions ahead of them. However, the Raiders have more holes remaining on their team, specifically the offensive line, than one successful draft haul will be able to fix immediately. With all of the excitement surrounding their draft plans, it would be wise for the Raiders to watch for veteran players who they could still sign later in free agency to add to what they expect will be a productive draft class.

The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently have the No. 13 overall pick.

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