NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

3 Players the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders gave up on way too early

By Brendan Danaher

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 02: Amari Cooper #19 of the Dallas Cowboys runs off of the field against the New Orleans Saints during an NFL game at Caesars Superdome on December 02, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 02: Amari Cooper #19 of the Dallas Cowboys runs off of the field against the New Orleans Saints during an NFL game at Caesars Superdome on December 02, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next

It’s a classic tale. An NFL team signs a player that doesn’t exactly live up to the expectations set by the franchise and is either traded or released. That same player is signed by another team and inexplicably that player ends up excelling in their new environment. Sometimes it is a simple environment change, other times it is the scheme or the personnel they are surrounded with.

Either way, the team that let them go and did not reap the rewards of their investment has to see that they made a mistake in letting that player go prematurely. Here are three players the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders gave up on too early.

3 players the Raiders gave up on way too early

2023 NFL Free Agency
2023 NFL Free Agency; Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Arden Key (49) against the Los Angeles Chargers during a wild card playoff game at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Player no. 3: Arden Key, Defensive End

Defensive end Arden Key was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Key spent two seasons in Oakland and moved with the team to Las Vegas for the 2020 season. Key only played a full season in his rookie year and then became a rotating player logging three sacks over three seasons.

Key, along with fellow Raiders defensive tackle Mo Hurst, went to the San Francisco 49ers for the 2021 season, and then in 2022 Key was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Key hit a career-high 6.5 sacks with the 49ers and then 4.5 with the Jaguars. After his performance with the Jaguars Key was rewarded in 2023 with a 3-year contract with the Tennessee Titans worth up to $21 million. Key also played in the playoffs with both the Jaguars and the 49ers. Key never participated in the offseason with the Raiders.

If it wasn’t already clear, Key recorded double the sacks in one year with the 49ers compared to three total seasons in Oakland/Las Vegas. Key thrived under Kyle Shanahan and his defense led by Demeco Ryans, now head coach of the Houston Texans. Key was not surrounded by much defensive talent in Oakland/Las Vegas, especially after the release of Khalil Mack.

Key was not too upset when he was released by the Raiders citing that it was “the best thing that could have happened.” Based on his production and new contract he may not be wrong. The Raiders certainly missed a step along the way and Key was able to thrive in every other environment he found himself in after being released.

Home/NFL