Free Agents Raiders Should Pursue After 2024 NFL Draft
The Las Vegas Raiders had an interesting 2024 draft that saw them, perhaps, prioritize value over need.
Las Vegas' first selection, Georgia tight end Brock Bowers, for example, won't fill a massive void. Dallas used a second-round pick on tight end Michael Mayer last year. However, Bowers, the second-overall prospect on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's big board, was too good to pass up in Round 1.
Of course, general manager Tom Telesco did plenty of hole-filling prior to the draft, adding the likes of quarterback Gardner Minshew, defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and running back Alexander Mattison.
Telesco went back to work after the draft, adding veteran tight end Michael Gallup. With roughly $21.9 million in cap space remaining, the Raiders may not be done adding to the roster.
Here, we'll examine three veterans who remain unsigned and who should be firmly on Las Vegas' post-draft radar.
Edge Yannick Ngakoue
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The Raiders added a few pieces in the draft who should improve the roster sooner than later. Bowers, for example, is already Las Vegas' top receiving tight end. Jackson Powers-Johnson and Delmar Glaze should both compete for roles along the offensive line.
What the Raiders didn't add was a high-end pass-rusher who can complement Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce. Las Vegas recorded a solid 46 sacks in 2023, but Crosby and Koonce were the only edge players to record more than 3.5 quarterback takedowns.
2023 first-round pick Tyree Wilson (3.5 sacks) showed some flashes but remains a work in progress.
Bringing back Yannick Ngakoue, who was on the roster in 2021, would make plenty of sense. The 29-year-old only had four sacks with the Chicago Bears in 2023 but has been consistently productive in just about every other stop. He had 10 sacks during his lone season in Las Vegas and had 9.5 with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022.
Ngakoue can be inconsistent as a run defenders, but as a situational sack artist, he's one of the top options still available. He's already familiar with some of the Raiders' personnel, and he'd provide another veteran presence on the edge.
RB Jerick McKinnon
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Telesco did snag a running back in the draft, taking New Hampshire's Dylan Laube in the sixth round. While Laube might not be a particularly seasoned ball carrier, he's a versatile pass-catcher who should vie for an early third-down role.
"Most of Laube's value is in the receiving game.," Derrik Klassen of the Bleacher Report Scouting Department wrote. "Thanks to his quick feet and short-area burst, Laube is a lethal receiver underneath."
Las Vegas will likely utilize a committee approach this year after leaning on Josh Jacobs as an every-down option for the last five. It wouldn't hurt to carry another back into a camp competition that will feature Laube, presumed starter Zamir White, Alexander Mattison and Ameer Abdullah.
Jerick McKinnon would be a logical candidate for a couple of reasons. He's spent the last three seasons with the rival Kansas City Chiefs and would bring some divisional familiarity to the proverbial table. He also thrived in a pass-catching role in Kansas City (94 receptions in three years).
Adding McKinnon would give Las Vegas another option for the third-down role and a little insurance in case Laube isn't ready to contribute right away.
CB Adoree' Jackson
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The Raiders also added another cornerback in the draft, taking Mississippi State's Decamerion Richardson in the fourth round. Depth at the position is still questionable, though, and a team with playoff aspirations can never have too much secondary help.
Adoree' Jackson would make a lot of sense as a post-draft addition. He spent a year under defensive coordinator Patrick Graham when both were with the New York Giants. He's also an experienced starter who can upgrade the level of camp competition.
Jackson started 36 games over the last three seasons and did not allow an opposing passer rating above 100.0 during that span. He might not walk in and take a starting job, but he could push players like Richardson and second-year man Jakorian Bennett.
At only 28 years old, Jackson could be more than just a one-year stopgap for the rebuilding Raiders if everything goes well. Though he hasn't played special teams extensively since 2019, he could give Las Vegas another return option for the new-look kickoffs that will go into effect this season.
*Cap information via Spotrac. Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference.
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