Bargain Free-Agents Raiders Must Target

Las Vegas Raiders fans should be thrilled to know that football is almost back. Training camp is well underway, and Las Vegas' August 10 preseason opener is right around the corner.

Based on what we saw late last season under then-interim coach Antonio Pierce, fans should expect to see a very competitive Raiders squad in 2024. The team quickly gelled following the firing of Josh McDaniels and showed that it knows how to win games in the AFC West.

New additions like Christian Wilkins and rookie tight end Brock Bowers should further elevate a roster seeking its first playoff win since 2002. And by signing Gardner Minshew—whether he ultimately unseats Aidan O'Connell or not—showed that Las Vegas is indeed serious about winning now.

Adding another quality contributor ahead of Week 1 could further help the cause, and the Raiders have $33 million in cap space available. Big names like Justin Simmons and Stephon Gilmore are still out there, but here, we'll examine three more budget-friendly free agents for the Raiders to consider.

Edge Yannick Ngakoue

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CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 09: Yannick Ngakoue #91 of the Chicago Bears runs off of the field during an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers at Soldier Field on November 9, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

By adding Wilkins to a defensive front that already included Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce, the Raiders may already be staring down an elite pass rush in 2024. In a division with Patrick Mahomes, though, Las Vegas couldn't possibly have too many sack artists.

And depth along the edge is still a question mark for the Raiders. Crosby and Koonce were both terrific last season, but they were the only Raiders to top five sacks in 2023. Bringing back Yannick Ngakoue would give Las Vegas a reliable third edge option.

Ngakoue is coming off his worst season as a pro, due in large part to a broken ankle that ended his campaign. Before 2023, however, Ngakoue recorded at least eight sacks in every pro campaign—he had 10 with the Raiders in 2021—and he's eager to return to form.

"The only thing I've been thinking about is taking that grass again and re-establishing myself on the field as one of the fiercest competitors in the game today," Ngakoue told SiriusXM NFL Radio (h/t NFL.com's Kevin Patra) in May.

Ngakoue doesn't offer a ton as a run defender, but as a situational pass-rusher, he could provide a lot of value. He played on a one-year, $10 million contract last season, but may take a much more team-friendly salary if it means an opportunity to reestablish himself.

CB Rashad Fenton

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KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 10: Rashad Fenton #27 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates against the Las Vegas Raiders at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on October 10, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

While the Raiders secondary was mostly reliable last season—Las Vegas ranked 12th in passing yards allowed—it doesn't feature nearly as much star power as the defensive front. The Raiders could change that by targeting a cornerback like Xavien Howard or Stephon Gilmore in free agency.

If Las Vegas would prefer a more budget-friendly cornerback, it should consider former division rival Rashad Fenton.

Fenton, a 2016 sixth-round pick, was surprisingly efficient early in his career with the Kansas City Chiefs. He wasn't a full-time starter, but he allowed an opposing passer rating below 93.0 in each of his first three campaigns. In his last full season with Kansas City, he allowed an opposing passer rating of only 84.0.

In 2022, Fenton's efficiency dipped while he battled a hamstring injury, and he was eventually traded to the Atlanta Falcons. He spent last season on injured reserve.

There would be a risk-reward element to signing Fenton, but there's a lot to like. He has experience in the division, he's played in two Super Bowls, and he won't turn 28 until February.

Fenton is young enough to be a long-term piece of the puzzle, and he should be available at or close to the league minimum.

OL Billy Turner

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INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 25: Billy Turner #57 of the Denver Broncos leaves the field in the fourth quarter against the game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on December 25, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

The drafting of Jackson Powers-Johnson and Delmar Glaze might help the Raiders solidify their offensive line this season. Powers-Johnson is widely expected to start at left guard, while Glaze is battling with Thayer Munford Jr. at right tackle.

Glaze has been getting a fair amount of first-team reps in training camp, according to Levi Damien of Raiders Wire.

While Las Vegas may not need to add a staring-caliber lineman to the mix at this point in the offseason, depth never hurts. Free agent Billy Turner, who has started games at both tackle and guard, could provide it if he's willing to play in 2024.

The former Miami Dolphin, Green Bay Packer, Denver Bronco and New York Jet did hint at considering retirement early in the offseason.

"Ten years is a long time in this league," Turner said in March, per Jeff Kolpack of The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead.

Convincing Turner to play in Las Vegas may be difficult, but he's one of the most experienced veterans still available and would provide depth at multiple positions. After playing on a one-year, $1.7 million deal last season, he should also be amenable to a team-friendly contract.

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*Cap and contract information via Spotrac. Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference.