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/

[NoThanksSir]

The problem is now you have to have two Centers who are special because it's almost a guarantee that JPJ is going to go down with at least 1 concussion. If he does have the chops though, he should be wearing the balloon on his helmet and have every piece of protective gear possible.

Agreed it's a difficult situation to navigate. Will be interesting to see how things shake out now that Spytek is in control

[Nor_Cal_Raider]

If we don't get a top center in fa, hopefully a stud is there with our 2nd pick

[GoodTimeCharlie]

If we don't get a top center in fa, hopefully a stud is there with our 2nd pick

I’ve had my eye on Jake Slaughter C Florida. Looking like a 2nd rounder now (since the Senior Bowl). Was previously projected to go in the 3rd. Stuff I’ve read have pegged him as a “football nerd”. Which I think matches up perfectly with Mendo.

”This is a late first or early second round center who should start from day one. His floor is an immediate quality starter who handles pass protection at a high level, and the ceiling includes Pro Bowl selections if he develops the run game to match his pass blocking. Teams that value pass protection and intelligence over pure run blocking power will have him in the late first round conversation. The Senior Bowl showed he can compete against other draft-eligible prospects and his consistency over three years as Florida's starter matters. He might not be Creed Humphrey or Jason Kelce, but he's a safe pick who should anchor the position for a decade if he stays healthy. That's worth a PREMIUM pick for teams looking to upgrade the center position with a plug-and-play starter.”

[FLORIDARAYDAH]

The problem is now you have to have two Centers who are special because it's almost a guarantee that JPJ is going to go down with at least 1 concussion. If he does have the chops though, he should be wearing the balloon on his helmet and have every piece of protective gear possible.

And that's why he should not be our center. It's a major disruption when a new center goes in. Not so much for a guard. You can't have a center who can't stay healthy. I think it would be a disaster to have JPJ as our starting center

[BoJacksonRules]

I see Conner Lew as the number 1 Center on many draft sites. I’ve never tried to evaluate either, is one clearly better than the other or a better pick because of Kubiak’s scheme?

[GoodTimeCharlie]

I see Conner Lew as the number 1 Center on many draft sites. I’ve never tried to evaluate either, is one clearly better than the other or a better pick because of Kubiak’s scheme?

Popped it into “Chat”.

Prospect Comparison

1. Jake Slaughter — Florida
• Skill Set: Smart, technically clean blocker with excellent footwork and run‑blocking ability; fits well in zone schemes because he moves well at the second level and makes pre‑snap calls.
• Strengths:
• Good athleticism and coordination for reach blocks
• Very effective in zone concepts and pulling/trap plays
• Strong run‑block grades and film against SEC defenders 
• Weaknesses:
• Lacks elite size and anchor power versus true bull rushers
• Maybe less ideal in power‑gap schemes but very suited to motion‑based zone runs

Fit: Excellent — Slaughter’s mobility and technical prowess in space align very well with Kubiak’s zone‑run scheme.

⸻

2. Sam Hecht — Kansas State
• Skill Set: Fundamentally sound, solid run blocker with good hand placement and consistency; agile enough to sustain blocks and work in space.
• Strengths:
• Good mirror ability and balance to stay with defenders
• Strong fundamentals help in movement‑based schemes
• Less flashy but reliable and steady at the point of attack
• Weaknesses:
• Not a top movement‑specialist compared with Slaughter
• Might lack elite power when asked to drive defenders off the ball continually

Fit: Good — Hecht projects as a solid starter who can handle zone runs; perhaps a slightly lesser athlete compared to Slaughter but still scheme‑compatible.

⸻

3. Connor Lew — Auburn
• Skill Set: Well‑rounded blocker (strong run/pass), but currently limited by injury (ACL) at this stage of evaluation. 
• Strengths:
• Good leverage and power when healthy
• Strong down‑to‑down run blocker and pass protector
• Weaknesses:
• Injury concern clouds immediate impact and timing
• If not fully recovered, explosive movement and zone blocking effectiveness could be limited

Fit: Potentially good when healthy — Lew’s balanced game could fit, but injury and recovery timetable make him a less certain choice for a scheme that relies on athleticism and timing early on.


Verdict — Best Fit for Kubiak’s Zone‑Based Run Offense

Jake Slaughter (Florida) — Best overall fit
• Strong zone run blocker
• Excellent movement and second‑level play
• Proven against high‑level competition

Sam Hecht (Kansas State) — Solid scheme match
• Fundamentally reliable
• Agile enough for zone schemes
• Slightly lower athletic upside but still a good fit

Connor Lew (Auburn) — High potential, but injury risk currently tempers fit
• Could be excellent if fully healthy
• But has a recovery question mark that might impact early scheme integration

[BoJacksonRules]

Damn Charlie are you that good, or are you effectively using AI?

Edit: Ask AI if they can block Tart or Jones? I think we might need a Center thats around 6’3 and weighs 315+

[GoodTimeCharlie]

Damn Charlie are you that good, or are you effectively using AI?

Edit: Ask AI if they can block Tart or Jones? I think we might need a Center thats around 6’3 and weighs 315+

I popped it into ChatGPT. I’ll write it out completely from now on. Hell, besides the trophy emoji, I didn’t even know those other ones existed.

[BoJacksonRules]

I popped it into ChatGPT. I’ll write it out completely from now on. Hell, besides the trophy emoji, I didn’t even know those other ones existed.

No worries, that’s a pretty cool answer it spit out. I use it as well, just keep in mind it’s wrong a lot of the time

[GoodTimeCharlie]

No worries, that’s a pretty cool answer it spit out. I use it as well, just keep in mind it’s wrong a lot of the time

Yeah, definitely a learning curve. A terrible tool if you ask it to think. A great tool if you treat it like an advanced “search bar”.

[NewEraX25]

And that's why he should not be our center. It's a major disruption when a new center goes in. Not so much for a guard. You can't have a center who can't stay healthy. I think it would be a disaster to have JPJ as our starting center

I agree completely.

[Coach dd 11]

Popped it into “Chat”.

Prospect Comparison

1. Jake Slaughter — Florida
• Skill Set: Smart, technically clean blocker with excellent footwork and run‑blocking ability; fits well in zone schemes because he moves well at the second level and makes pre‑snap calls.
• Strengths:
• Good athleticism and coordination for reach blocks
• Very effective in zone concepts and pulling/trap plays
• Strong run‑block grades and film against SEC defenders 
• Weaknesses:
• Lacks elite size and anchor power versus true bull rushers
• Maybe less ideal in power‑gap schemes but very suited to motion‑based zone runs

Fit: Excellent — Slaughter’s mobility and technical prowess in space align very well with Kubiak’s zone‑run scheme.

⸻

2. Sam Hecht — Kansas State
• Skill Set: Fundamentally sound, solid run blocker with good hand placement and consistency; agile enough to sustain blocks and work in space.
• Strengths:
• Good mirror ability and balance to stay with defenders
• Strong fundamentals help in movement‑based schemes
• Less flashy but reliable and steady at the point of attack
• Weaknesses:
• Not a top movement‑specialist compared with Slaughter
• Might lack elite power when asked to drive defenders off the ball continually

Fit: Good — Hecht projects as a solid starter who can handle zone runs; perhaps a slightly lesser athlete compared to Slaughter but still scheme‑compatible.

⸻

3. Connor Lew — Auburn
• Skill Set: Well‑rounded blocker (strong run/pass), but currently limited by injury (ACL) at this stage of evaluation. 
• Strengths:
• Good leverage and power when healthy
• Strong down‑to‑down run blocker and pass protector
• Weaknesses:
• Injury concern clouds immediate impact and timing
• If not fully recovered, explosive movement and zone blocking effectiveness could be limited

Fit: Potentially good when healthy — Lew’s balanced game could fit, but injury and recovery timetable make him a less certain choice for a scheme that relies on athleticism and timing early on.


Verdict — Best Fit for Kubiak’s Zone‑Based Run Offense

Jake Slaughter (Florida) — Best overall fit
• Strong zone run blocker
• Excellent movement and second‑level play
• Proven against high‑level competition

Sam Hecht (Kansas State) — Solid scheme match
• Fundamentally reliable
• Agile enough for zone schemes
• Slightly lower athletic upside but still a good fit

Connor Lew (Auburn) — High potential, but injury risk currently tempers fit
• Could be excellent if fully healthy
• But has a recovery question mark that might impact early scheme integration

Just curious as I heard them speaking one night about the Shrine Bowl players, but what would Brian Parker II look like? They were saying he will be a OC at the next level.

[GoodTimeCharlie]

Just curious as I heard them speaking one night about the Shrine Bowl players, but what would Brian Parker II look like? They were saying he will be a OC at the next level.

ChatGPT:

How Parker Fits into Kubiak’s System

Fits Well Because:

✔ Zone‑blocking compatible: Parker’s run‑blocking traits — movement, pad level, and physicality — line up with outside/wide zone demands.
✔ Versatility: Ability to slide inside to center or guard suits a scheme that may value mismatched OL and mid‑level play‑action uses.
✔ Football intelligence: His technique and ability to diagnose stunts align with Kubiak’s pre‑snap motion and blocking adjustments.

⚠ Considerations/Challenges

⚠ Transition to interior: While athletic, mastering center snapping and interior combo blocks — especially in a fast‑paced zone scheme — takes refinement.
⚠ Not a pure tackle for dropping back: Teams running Kubiak’s scheme may prioritize interior OL who can move laterally quickly; Parker’s success will hinge on how well his athleticism translates from tackle to center/guard.

⸻

Summary

Brian Parker II is a technically sound, athletic offensive lineman with a strong run‑blocking base and interior potential. Scouts see him likely as a center/guard at the NFL level — a projection that actually plays well into Klint Kubiak’s zone‑blocking, multiple‑formation offense given the need for agile, intelligent interior linemen who can execute lateral movement and communication on combo blocks.

[HesterLayes]

I’d say Josh Jones is a lock to come here..might overpay a little for him,but he is huge and athletic and filled in excellently when their starting left tackle went down. Seattle media speaks highly of him..under 30,huge,pretty athletic and makes too much sense

[Attyla]

Slaughter will probably go in the first. Lew on the other hand might be there for us, actually should be there. Good size and he can pull and moves very well in space which is an aspect of the Kubiak scheme.