Tom Telesco Already Making His Impact Felt
It was evident that the Las Vegas Raiders planned on entering next season with an improved team. After solidifying their front office and coaching staff, the Raiders have started to do the same with their roster on the field.
General Manager Tom Telesco was hired to improve Las Vegas' roster and has already begun doing so. So far, Telesco has signed defensive lineman Christian Wilkins, an immediate impact player.
Telesco and the Raiders were aggressive enough to give Wilkins a major payday, but wise enough to give such a payday to do so with a player who is all but sure to be successful in the situation he's now in with the Raiders.
It is a well-calculated risk for a team with a defense on the brink of becoming one of the best in the National Football League.
The Raiders signing of Wilkins to such a deal shows they are willing to pay what it will take to get the top free agents when it makes sense. This will be noticed by other top free agents looking for new teams this season and beyond.
Telesco is making a splash like Wilkinson, signing this early in his tenure with the team, which sets the tone for his future moves in free agency.
So Telesco is playing the long game.
The new Las Vegas Raiders general manager, Tom Telesco, has been rebuilding the roster.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Telesco and the Raiders also kept some of their free agents. They signed running back Ameer Abdullah and center Andre James. These two moves show Telesco's appreciation for value.
Keeping both players allows the Raiders to fill other holes on the team while still getting serviceable production for team-friendly costs, which only helps improve the team.
Knowing which free agents to sign is as important as knowing which of your free agents to keep and let go. Signing Abdullah and James was critical.
Letting running back Josh Jacobs and defensive tackle Jerry Tillery go was equally important. The Raiders were not in the position to give Jacobs the type of contract he received from the Green Bay Packers, and letting Tillery go benefited the Raiders in multiple ways, mainly by creating financial room and an open spot on the roster to sign Wilkins.
So far, Telesco is strategically making his impact felt on the Raiders' roster with intelligent moves in the free agent market, which will all but assuredly tie in seamlessly with the team's plans in the NFL Draft.
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