NFL News: Alex Cappa, Raiders Agree to $11M Contract After Bengals Release

The Las Vegas Raiders agreed to a contract with free-agent offensive guard Alex Cappa on Wednesday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Cappa's representatives confirmed he landed a two-year, $11 million deal with the Raiders.

While the legal negotiating window for NFL free agency does not open until March 10, Cappa was already eligible to be signed since he was released by the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday.

Cappa, 30, spent the past three seasons with the Bengals following a four-year run with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Originally a third-round draft pick out of Humboldt State in 2018, Cappa started 46 of the 52 games he appeared in during his four seasons in Tampa.

When the Bucs won the Super Bowl in 2020 following the arrival of legendary quarterback Tom Brady, Cappa started 16 regular-season games and one playoff game before suffering a fractured ankle.

Cappa returned to start all 17 games for the Buccaneers in 2021, and he parlayed that into a four-year, $35 million deal with the Bengals in free agency.

Over his three seasons in Cincinnati, Cappa did not miss a single game, starting all 50 games he played in at right guard.

While Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow enjoyed a spectacular statistical season in 2024, he was sacked 48 times, which was the fourth most in the league.

Along with poor defensive play, the offensive line's performance played a role in the Bengals going a disappointing 9-8 and missing the playoffs.

That may have factored into the decision to cut Cappa, as did the Bengals' reported desire to sign wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson to new deals this offseason.

The Raiders' decision to sign Cappa may allow them to move standout interior offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson from guard to center.

Powers-Johnson, who was a second-round pick out of Oregon last year, primarily played left guard as a rookie, but the path is now clear for a move to center, which was his main position in college.

Cappa and 2022 third-round pick Dylan Parham would potentially be the starting guards in that scenario with Andre James, who was the starting center last season, moving into a utility role.