Raiders Review: New Deals Signify Shift Change

Whether the fanbase likes it or not, the Raiders and their braintrust continue to remake the franchise on the fly, without apology.

Yesterday, Las Vegas made a significant trade and signed two important pieces to their roster. In Tuesday’s fast and furious day of wheeling and dealing, the Raiders believe that they solved a couple of problems. Now, these signings and trades may not be popular, but it shows a semblance of a plan. For the first time in a couple of years, the Raiders do not seem like they’ve thrown things at a wall, hoping they stick.

The Trade

In sending Darren Waller to the New York Giants, the Raiders closed another door to their recent past. New York receives a player turning thirty-two during the season. Waller, when healthy is a matchup nightmare, a tight end, capable of winning down the seam or splitting wide to torture much smaller defensive backs. The Raiders received a third-round pick in return, to the chagrin of some that felt the return didn’t match the gravity of the trade. Yet, a third is the going rate for a non-quarterback, especially a player with just seventeen starts over the past two seasons. The move clears eleven million dollars in cap space. Meaning, the team could spend a little bit more on free agents, which they did. Meanwhile, the 2023 NFL Draft is loaded with quality tight ends.

New (England) Receivers

With a move that surprised absolutely no one, Vegas inked receivers Jakobi Meyers and Phillip Dorsett. While Dorsett adds a speed aspect to the roster, the key acquisition is Meyers. Although he may not blur by cornerbacks, Meyers’ worth is found in the ability to run crisp routes and occasionally elevate to make the tough grab. Also, that calls into question the future of Hunter Renfrow. Meyers presents a strong second option. With that said, you cannot pay three receivers that much money. As a result, don’t be surprised if Third and Renfow is extending drives in another location.

Mood Of The Team

These drafts prove one major point. The Raiders and their management want the franchise to resemble their vision. They do not care about loyalty to past players, nor should they. McDaniels and Ziegler want this team to align with their vision. No articles, no podcasts, and zero amounts of fan anger will dissuade them. Regardless of what happens with these moves, the braintrust will own them, unlike the deflections of the past.