Free Agency thread for Raiders and league-wide

[RunOverByHubbard]

Free agency opens March 11. CBS Sports has their top 50 ranking. No Raiders on the list. I am surprised at a couple rated high - Aaron Rodgers and Daniel Jones. Lots of wide receivers

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/earl ... ng-top-50/

[chucker]

Do any of you actually care if we win any games with a backup or bridge QB if they are needed in a game this year? I know that I definitely don't care, because I think 2026 is a throwaway year in terms of wins and losses. I wouldn't pay a dime extra to a backup for his ability on the field.

For what I want on the field, O'Connell is more than enough - and please don't take that as a ringing endorsement for O'Connell as an NFL QB. He's a good team guy and will support Mendoza off the field and is likely to lose most games if he has to play. I'm good with that. The only upgrade I'd want is if there's another guy who can better support Mendoza in development and game prep.

If it looks like we're ready to be competitive in 2027, that would be the time to invest in a backup who could win you a game.

[NoClapsPlease]

Not for a first year QB. The game is far too fast for a first year QB to be looking to the wings. He needs an outlet receiver, but only on a very limited basis. His bread and butter is the RBs and TEs/slot receiver. Thornton is fine for his first year. What we do need is a vastly better line in both run blocking and pass blocking. That should be the focus this off season. And no, that is not just my opinion.

I don’t necessarily disagree with this. I still think a WR1 should be top of priority

As for the Oline, it’s hard to tell just how far away we are since PC refused to let the rookies play. We could honestly just be a guard or two away after putting jpj back at center where he belongs

I don’t want to put my chips in for Thornton, at least not until I start seeing him play like he’s actually 6’5. Right now he plays like he’s 5’9

[NewEraX25]

I don’t necessarily disagree with this. I still think a WR1 should be top of priority

As for the Oline, it’s hard to tell just how far away we are since PC refused to let the rookies play. We could honestly just be a guard or two away after putting jpj back at center where he belongs

I don’t want to put my chips in for Thornton, at least not until I start seeing him play like he’s actually 6’5. Right now he plays like he’s 5’9

Do you really want a concussion prone dude who seems to struggle grasping a playbook to be the figurehead of the line? I'm not so sure.

[WNYRAIDER]

We have options on the team we know next to nothing about. Will we add a receiver? It is almost certain we will. Is it a priority? I think adding another RB and a bunch of OL is far more important. But we will get a receiver

....much like the kids and our o line, we do have investments at wr that we know little about due to that mess that was last season. ....the good news is that they at least have a year under their belt, and the bad is that we don't really know a whole lot about them..... Thornton wasn't going to be great out of the box anyway, and it will be interesting to see what kubiak might be able to do with him. ...either way, at least I feel confident that he will have a chance to make it happen, or not, ....with Bech, I think that he can be a solid contributor, at least, with a competent staff.
....and while no one seems to talk about mayer, he was a 2nd round picks and really seemed solid when he was in last year, after his lost personal year the one prior....

[chucker]

It feels like it's time that free agency discussion went into a free agency thread...... and maybe someone could start an assistant coach thread for all that chatter to live now that Kubiak has confirmed he's the new HC?

[chucker]

I don't want us to pursue a so-called #1 WR, but I'd be quite happy with signing Shaheed. I think there's a good chance that he stays with the Seahawks because they have quite a bit of cap space, but I'd say we're the next most likely destination with Kubiak on board.

[NoThanksSir]

It's a rough year to need a WR. Shaheed might be the only guy I'm comfortable spending money on, and that's only because his price should be more reasonable than a lot of the other guys. There are plenty of quality options at OL though so I think you have to focus there. In all likelihood we're gonna wait a year and try to find our #1 in the 2027 draft.

[chucker]

It's a rough year to need a WR. Shaheed might be the only guy I'm comfortable spending money on, and that's only because his price should be more reasonable than a lot of the other guys. There are plenty of quality options at OL though so I think you have to focus there. In all likelihood we're gonna wait a year and try to find our #1 in the 2027 draft.

I don't ever want to spend on a top WR in FA. I'm comfortable with Shaheed because he won't cost elite money and because Kubiak obviously knows him so well. I also want to give Bech, Tucker and Thornton a little more runway for development - especially after our awful development "plan" for the rookies last season.

[Raidernation1979]

Nothing on the list of free agent WRs is exciting. Shaheed for Kubiak and his return abilities is about it.

[BotesBoats]

I know Kubiak's focus and our team strength will be on offense, and fixing the O-line is obviously top priority, but I'm surprised I haven't seen any opinions on the dire need for defense.

I think a hard argument could be made that Seattle won in large part because their defense just stifled NE over the first 3 quarters. IF we lose Maxx, our defense could very well be bottom of the barrel, especially if our draft is focused on QB, big time WR or O-line in the first 3 rounds.

Then again, there are quite a lot of D-lineman names up for grabs this free agency. But Other than Mendoza, Kubiak and maybe 1 offensive playmaker addition, I'd like to see the O-line and Defense be the biggest offseason priorities this offseason. We just have way too many unknowns, not proven, mediocre names on our defense.

[Attyla]

Do any of you actually care if we win any games with a backup or bridge QB if they are needed in a game this year? I know that I definitely don't care, because I think 2026 is a throwaway year in terms of wins and losses. I wouldn't pay a dime extra to a backup for his ability on the field.

For what I want on the field, O'Connell is more than enough - and please don't take that as a ringing endorsement for O'Connell as an NFL QB. He's a good team guy and will support Mendoza off the field and is likely to lose most games if he has to play. I'm good with that. The only upgrade I'd want is if there's another guy who can better support Mendoza in development and game prep.

If it looks like we're ready to be competitive in 2027, that would be the time to invest in a backup who could win you a game.

No, I don't give one bit of care for what the backup brings on the field. I want a guy who can sit on the sidelines and look at the screen with the QB to see what he sees so Mendoza can learn faster. It is exactly why I want Trubisky. He has been with Allen on two different occasions and that to me is his unique value.

[Rabidraider]

WR1 and backup QB's are finishing touch moves. The team has too many other areas that need to be repaired.

Get Mendoza a good QB coach, he wont need a QB2 to nurse him.
Try to find a WR1 project with a mid to low draft pick.

Fix the lines and then work out...

[chucker]

WR1 and backup QB's are finishing touch moves. The team has too many other areas that need to be repaired.

Get Mendoza a good QB coach, he wont need a QB2 to nurse him.
Try to find a WR1 project with a mid to low draft pick.

Fix the lines and then work out...

The reason for a QB2 who can help him is that the amount of time Mendoza can spend with coaches is limited. The amount of time he can spend with a teammate is unlimited. With an obsessive personality like Mendoza, I want to give him as much time as possible to work with someone on his craft. I don't think mentors are terribly important in other position groups, but it's really helpful for a QB. That mentor can come from an unexpected source too - who knew that Davis Webb was a QB whisperer at the time that he was a relatively unknown backup QB?

#1 priority in FA is still the offensive line. It's also #2 priority.

[rhumbob]

I'm in the camp that AOC is fine as QB2. There are too many other needs. I also think he will do better with a sturdier offensive line and an offensive gameplan that puts him in a position to succeed.

If we can find an experienced QB for reasonable dollars, who is familiar with the system Kubiak is running, then I take that all back!

[RaiderFan1]

I still think a WR1 should be top of priority

apparently you did not learn from the Super Bowl. What did we see ? The trenches decided the game , the Dline and Oline decided the game. Diggs is one of the best WR1's. And what did he do for his team yesterday? Nothing because the DL and Olines negated his ability to be affective. We are fine on the offensive weapons for now, build the trenches first then you can add weapons later