Raiders' Top Players to Prioritize in 2023 NFL Free Agency

The Las Vegas Raiders found themselves in the headlines a lot during the 2022 offseason. Between signing Chandler Jones and trading for Davante Adams, they had one of the biggest offseasons in the NFL.

It didn't lead to much success, but you can't say new general manager Dave Ziegler wasn't trying to make major moves.

This year, they've already jump-started their efforts to make changes to a roster that went 6-11 last year. They released longtime starting quarterback Derek Carr and franchise-tagged Josh Jacobs, moving on at one key position and ensuring one of their best players doesn't leave the building.

There are plenty of important decisions to be made now, though. The team has $39.7 million in salary-cap space to work with, according to Spotrac. It's among the top five budgets in the league.

As last year's offseason showed, though, it isn't about going out and getting the biggest names; it's about conscientious roster-building.

That being said, here are the top players they should prioritize in free agency.

OT Jermaine Eluemunor

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 06: Las Vegas Raiders guard Jermaine Eluemunor (72) during the game between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Jacksonville Jaguars on November 6, 2022 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

External free agents are always nice to build optimism for the future, but identifying which players are worth bringing back is important when it comes to roster construction as well.

By the end of the 2022 season, Jermaine Eluemunor proved he's one of those worth retaining.

The Raiders have tried a multitude of right tackle options over the last two seasons. Alex Leatherwood, Brandon Parker and Thayer Munford have all taken snaps there, but Eluemunor is the one who has played best.

His season got off to a rough start. According to Sports Info Solutions, the 28-year-old had eight blown blocks in the first three games. From Week 4 on, he only had one game with three blown blocks and posted six games without one.

The Texas A&M product might not be the prototypical tackle at 6'4", 345 pounds, but he's capable. Las Vegas has learned that "capable" is worth a lot when it comes to tackle play.

The Raiders can keep looking for a right tackle with more upside, but Eluemunor is a quality offensive lineman who can also shift inside to guard. They shouldn't let him walk, especially at his projected $5.6 million per year salary.

DT Javon Hargrave

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 27: Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (97) exits the field after the National Football League game between the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles on November 27, 2022 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA (Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Maxx Crosby needs some help. The Raiders signed Chandler Jones to give them a dynamic pass-rushing duo on the outside.

Unfortunately, his first season in Vegas wasn't great. He only posted 4.5 sacks and three of them came in a game against the Chargers, so he registered 1.5 sacks across 14 other games.

Getting in on the Javon Hargrave pursuit could work to not only help Crosby but also perhaps make the most out of Jones' time with the Raiders as well.

Hargrave is one of the game's best interior pass-rushers. He racked up 11 sacks with the Eagles last season and is consistently among the leaders in pass rush win rate at defensive tackle.

The sad thing about the Las Vegas pass rush was that Jones' 4.5 sacks was still second on the team. Clelin Ferrell was the only other player with two or more sacks on the season.

Hargrave could be a transformative addition to the defensive front.

QB Jimmy Garoppolo

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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 27: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers passes the ball against the New Orleans Saints at Levi's Stadium on November 27, 2022 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

It's not wise to move on from a quarterback of Derek Carr's caliber without a clear plan. If at all possible, that plan should include a multi-pronged approach to finding the next signal-caller.

In this case, Las Vegas is in a good position to aggressively utilize free agency and the draft to find its next quarterback.

Signing Jimmy Garoppolo in free agency would give the Raiders the flexibility to get the decision right. He isn't the most physically gifted quarterback, but he brings a baseline of play the Raiders can win with. It doesn't hurt that he should be familiar with head coach Josh McDaniels and his system from their time in New England.

More importantly, it buys the Raiders time to find and develop a young quarterback. Whether they draft Anthony Richardson or Will Levis with the No. 7 pick, opt for a mid-round QB or hold off until next year, they will be in a position to slow-play their development with Garoppolo at the helm.

The Raiders have a lot of surrounding talent for a quarterback to work with. Most passers would love to be handing off to Josh Jacobs with Davante Adams and Darren Waller to throw to.

Garoppolo gives the unit a high floor with a ceiling high enough to win some playoff games.