Raiders' Top Players to Avoid in 2024 NFL Free Agency
The Las Vegas Raiders are carrying plenty of momentum into the offseason. They finished the 2023 season with a 5-4 run, one impressive enough for interim head coach Antonio Pierce to be given the full-time job.
Las Vegas also hired former Los Angeles Chargers general manager Tom Telesco for the same position. Telesco did an admirable job of identifying talent in the draft, helping the Chargers land stars like Joey Bosa, Derwi James, Justin Herbert and Rashawn Slater.
Now, the Raiders will look to build on that momentum by improving their roster. With $43.4 million in projected cap space, they should be able to get a head start when free agency opens on March 13.
Of course, the Raiders can't afford to simply hand out cash with reckless abandon. Below, we'll identify three impending free agents that Las Vegas should avoid.
Edge Chase Young
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Defensively, the Raiders should be interested in adding another pass-rusher to their rotation. Maxx Crosby is a top-tier sack artist, and 2023 first-round pick Tyree Wilson should develop. However, Crosby recorded 14.5 of Las Vegas' 46 sacks, and Malcolm Koonce was the only other player with more than five sacks.
Another playmaker on the edge could help transform an improving defensive front into a great one.
Targeting another young edge-rusher in the draft would make a lot of sense. Like several other teams, though, Las Vegas could be tempted to take a flier on 2020 second overall pick Chase Young. It shouldn't.
Young was the Defensive Rookie of the Year in his first season but really hasn't shown improvement since. A torn ACL limited him in 2021 and 2022, and he was traded to the San Francisco 49ers this past season.
In San Francisco, Young has failed to make a significant impact. He recorded just seven quarterback pressures in eight regular-season games despite playing opposite Nick Bosa.
Young still has a ton of potential, but with a projected market value of $13 million annually, the Raiders shouldn't be willing to gamble on upside alone.
WR Darnell Mooney
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Chicago Bears wide receiver Darnell Mooney represents a far safer investment than Young does. He battled an ankle injury in 2022 and had an underwhelming 414-yard, one-touchdown season in 2023—albeit as an ancillary option behind new addition D.J. Moore.
Mooney was a 1,000-yard receiver in 2021, though, and has shown that he can be a fine complementary receiver.
With former Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy taking the same job in Las Vegas, the Raiders may eye a couple of Getsy's former players. The problem is that there isn't a clear role for Mooney in the Raiders offense.
Las Vegas has a solid trio in Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker. A dependable fourth receiver would help, but Mooney's skill set overlaps too much with that of Tucker. Both are speedy but undersized pass-catchers best suited for the slot.
With Tucker in the fold and on a rookie contract, Mooney would be redundant. Yes, he would bring some schematic familiarity, but players like tight end Robert Tonyan Jr. and running back D'Onta Foreman would make much more sense for Las Vegas.
With a projected market value of $10.4 million annually, Mooney should provide a decent free-agent value—for some other team.
QB Kirk Cousins
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Aidan O'Connell flashed promise as a rookie, but it would be a surprise if the Raiders don't at least bring in quarterback competition this offseason. Minnesota Vikings signal-caller Kirk Cousins projects as the top quarterback on the market, assuming he does depart Minnesota, which isn't guaranteed.
"Let's just see what happens," Cousins said, per ProFootballTalk's Josh Alper.
Even if Cousins becomes available, the Raiders shouldn't be interested. He's a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback, but he's also 35 and coming off a torn Achilles.
The Raiders just signed an older quarterback coming off a season-ending injury last offseason, and now Jimmy Garoppolo is a potential cap casualty. Releasing Garoppolo with a post-June 1 designation would save $12.1 million in cap space.
Las Vegas shouldn't be looking to repeat last year's mistake. Cousins is a much better quarterback than Garoppolo, but with a projected market value of $39.3 million annually, he'll also be more expensive.
The Raiders may be a playoff team in 2024, but their window is just opening. They should be far more interested in a rookie or a younger vet like Baker Mayfield than Cousins.
*Cap, contract and market information via Spotrac. Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference.
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