Potential Raiders' Free Agent Targets: Kaleb McGary
In this story:
As the off-season is in full swing for the Las Vegas Raiders, General Manager Dave Ziegler and company have been doing homework on the available free agents around the league.
Today we’ll look at a player who could be available for the Raiders when the new league year begins on March 15: Atlanta Falcons right tackle Kaleb McGary.
The Falcons declined McGary’s fifth-year option in May of 2022, so he will be an unrestricted free agent in March, assuming they don’t re-sign him before that time.
The Raiders are likely going to be in need of an upgrade at right tackle, as incumbent starter Jermaine Eluemenor is also an impending free agent. Let’s look at McGary’s career thus far and see if he would be a good fit in the Silver and Black.
Atlanta traded back into the first round to select McGary at No. 31 in the 2019 NFL Draft. Since then, he has started 62 possible 63 games at right tackle for the Falcons. He had an inconsistent start to his career, as he allowed the most sacks of any right tackle in the league in his rookie season with 13, according to Pro Football Focus. He allowed a total of 13 sacks over the next two seasons.
The 2022 season was the best of McGary’s career, as he was a major contributor to the Falcons’ improved running game under Coach Arthur Smith. Often, players will play their best football in a contract year, but for McGary, his improvements did not appear motivated by getting a new contract.
As the Raiders look to improve their team in as many ways possible, it’s likely Ziegler will take a serious look at McGary as a long-term right tackle after his most recent season. McGary will probably demand a big contract, but he’s still a few years out from being 30 years old and has never been injured in his career.
The Raiders have the No. 7 overall pick in this year’s draft, but if they don’t draft a tackle, McGary could be a player they decide to spend money on.
The NFL Scouting Combine is Feb. 28-March 6, 2023, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. March 7, 2023, before 4 p.m. EST, is the club's deadline to designate Franchise or Transition Players.
March 13-15 is the free agent negotiation period. During that time, starting at 12 p.m. EST on March 13 and ending at 3:59:59 p.m. EST on March 15, clubs are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2022 Player Contracts at 4 p.m EST on March 15.
The 2023 NFL Year and Free Agency period begins at 4 p.m. EST on March 15. The Raiders are expected to be significant players in the free-agent market this season.
Please tell us your thoughts when you like our Facebook Page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.
