NFL Free Agency 2019: Predicting the Oakland Raiders biggest moves
Before the start of the new NFL calendar year, we’ll take a look at five significant free-agent predictions for the Oakland Raiders. What’s the team’s plan?
The NFL opens the legal tampering period on Monday, March 11 — teams can negotiate with players and their representatives without a violation. The Oakland Raiders reportedly agreed to acquire wideout Antonio Brown in exchange for a third- and a fifth-round pick Saturday, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, general manager Mike Mayock and head coach Jon Gruden still have work to do if they plan to pose as a fierce competitor in the upcoming season.
The Raiders were embarrassed multiple times on the field last year; Gruden, known to move in haste at times, probably isn’t thinking about taking baby steps toward a 7-9, 8-8 season despite going into the second term of his 10-year deal. It’s evident with the move to acquire Brown. All of the sudden, business is booming in Oakland.
Gruden will sell this squad as a group ready for a strong bounce-back 2019 season. The Raiders must take big swings during free agency to improve a 4-12 roster. Now, with a star wide receiver onboard for three years, team brass can use the remaining cash to fill immediate holes with veteran talent.
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Which positions should team brass look to upgrade in the coming days? With less cash to toss around, the Raiders will need to spread their investments wisely and leave the rest for the upcoming draft. There are obvious spots to consider, and we’ll dive into a few.
How will the Raiders approach the market? We’ll go through five of the biggest free-agent predictions. Who’s likely to sign with the Silver and Black?