Raiders Can Still Find Quality Players in Free Agency

Now that the first two weeks of the free agency period have come and gone, most big, splashy free agent signings have already taken place, as they often do early on.

The Raiders made one of those moves, adding quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo as their starter. They also added multiple players who are familiar with General Manager Dave Ziegler and Coach Josh McDaniels, who can quickly gel with each other and be in a system that fits them.

Not only did they make those moves, they also added a number of pass-catching options for Garoppolo and added a number of defensive backs to Patrick Graham’s defense. Ziegler knew what the Raiders needed to improve during the offseason and made moves to do just that.

He can still fill some holes, however, as the team still needs to address the trenches. The Raiders need to find long-term answers on the interior of their defensive line and long-term answers and depth on the offensive line. Both of these can be easily addressed in the NFL Draft, though, and that’s likely what the team will do.

In between now and then, however, the Raiders can pass the time by adding some of the remaining free agents who are still unsigned, and since they’ve been waiting so long, those players might be had for cheaper prices than originally expected.

Some players are still available because they are holding out for a contract they feel they are worth, and some are still out there because their markets are not what they expected. For example, left the Tampa Bay Buccaneers just recently cut tackle Donovan Smith, but he has been one of the most consistent left tackles in the league for a long time.

Also, Dalton Risner, one of the better young interior offensive linemen in the league, is still unsigned. Quality interior defensive linemen are still on the market, like Jordan Phillips and Poona Ford.

At this point in the free agency period, the Raiders can go bargain hunting for quality short-term free agents at cheap prices, and whatever positions they don’t address in that way, they can address in the draft.

The 2023 NFL Draft will go from April 27-29 and be held at Union Station in Kansas City, Mo. The 2023 NFL Year and Free Agency period began at 4 p.m. EDT on March 15.

The Raiders are expected to be significant players in the free-agent market this offseason.

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