NFL Rumors: Raiders Aren't 'Cash-Rich' Despite Cap Space Ahead of Vegas Move
March 11, 2019
The Oakland Raiders have been among the big spenders early this offseason, but it appears as though that may be over.
On Monday, ESPN's Chris Mortensen (via NFL reporter Dov Kleiman) said he believes the Raiders will not actively pursue free-agent running back Le'Veon Bell because they are not a "cash-rich team."
Mortensen said the team "has no real revenue stream" from a stadium deal as it awaits its move to Las Vegas in 2020, and Raiders owner Mark Davis reportedly isn't flush with outside revenue.
The Raiders have already handed out two massive contracts this offseason, agreeing to pay Antonio Brown up to $54.1 million with $30.1 million in guarantees and signing offensive tackle Trent Brown to a four-year, $66 million contract with $36.8 million guaranteed, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
While the Raiders have ample cap space to continue pursuing elite free agents, Davis' financial situation apparently makes that difficult. NFL teams do not disclose their finances publicly, so it's unclear how much cash Davis has on hand.
Davis has a net worth of only $250 million, which pales in comparison to the majority of NFL owners. Most owners were billionaires before they purchased an NFL franchise, which allows them to have more cash on hand for things like signing bonuses, facilities, etc.
Davis, the son of late Raiders owner Al Davis, inherited the franchise from his father. Al Davis, a football lifer who coached the franchise before serving as commissioner of the American Football League and general manager of the Raiders, owned a majority share of the Raiders from 1972 until his death in 2011.
