Raider Nation Resources

The Las Vegas Raiders signed quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to a $67.5 million contract in free agency this offseason. It has now come to light that the deal has a clause titled “Addendum G,” according to Pro Football Talk. Raiders Quarterback Options Beyond Jimmy Garoppolo This stipulation was included in the contract because Garoppolo was likely to fail his physical due to a broken foot sustained last year. His injury gave Brock Purdy a chance to start at quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers in 2022. Garoppolo underwent surgery to repair his foot back in March. However, the addendum includes a void in the quarterback’s contract, provided he cannot pass a physical by opening day. Although it is May, there are less than 100 days until the opening kickoff for the 2023 regular season. Training camps typically begin in late July or early August, and Garoppolo already missed OTA’s. The new Raiders quarterback missing this much time does not bode well for team chemistry heading into the season. In the meantime, Las Vegas drafted Aidan O’Connell out of Purdue. he could get some repetitions with the starters. Additionally, the team has the long-standing Josh McDaniels backup quarterback option, Brian Hoyer. However, there is one other man worth mentioning who is not a member of the quarterback room but is part of the Raiders organization. Could Tom Brady Replace Jimmy Garoppolo At Quarterback? The answer to the question, “what will Tom Brady do in retirement” was somewhat simple. Brady would remain a part of the NFL. Brady had a deal with Fox Sports lined up for when he eventually hung up his cleats. However, he decided to take a year off before joining the team in any capacity. The former player decided to buy a minority share of the Raiders. With everything coming to light about quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and his contract, the Raiders could be in need of a new starting quarterback. Although he is not under contract with the team, Brady would be in the building if the NFL owners accept his bid for the Raiders. The future first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterback could be what Las Vegas needs to stay steady in 2023. Even though he has not played under McDaniels offensive scheme since 2019, he is the quarterback most accustomed to it. Since coming into the league, McDaniels has worked with three different teams. However, he was the offensive coordinator of the Patriots for 13 seasons, all but two of which were with Brady at the helm. Brady, therefore, is the quarterback who knows this scheme the most. He certainly has the success to prove as much, if his Super Bowl rings in New England are anything to go by. https://twitter.com/teabee_szn/status/1417964387319500800?s=20 Other Free Agent Quarterbacks Matt Ryan joined CBS as a broadcaster this offseason. However, he made a point of saying he is not retiring just yet. If needed, the Raiders could call the former MVP and offer him another chance at NFL glory after his 2022 campaign went off the rails with the Indianapolis Colts. Speaking of giving people additional opportunities, Carson Wentz is an option at this point in the offseason. The former MVP candidate is looking for any kind of work. Perhaps the Raiders could get something out of Wentz that the Washington Commanders were unable to last year. A final candidate for the job is Teddy Bridgewater. He is not a flashy guy by any means but has shown that, with a solid running game and a passing attack predicated on the short game, he could get the job done. Bridgewater won’t put up big numbers. However, he is a steady hand for the Raiders if Garoppolo fails his physical and the team needs a starting quarterback. Main Photo: Candice Ward – USA Today Sports The post Raiders Plans Beyond Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.

As teams wait for the June 1st rule to jiggle their rosters around, a number of big-name free agents remain in NFL purgatory. Dead cap space incurred by cutting or trading a player after that date is split between 2023 and 2024. As a result, players are left biding their time in the free agency market waiting for teams.   The Big Name Free Agent Marketplace Kwon Alexander  Lineback Alexander will be 29 at the start of the 2023 season, so he’s far from past it. He started 12 games for the Jets last season, playing 559 snaps. That’s 24 more than he played in New Orleans in 2021. He made 69 tackles, six tackles for a loss and forced a fumble last season. Alexander was also credited with half a sack and defended a pass.  Alexander had attracted attention from the Steelers, but Pittsburgh instead opted to sign pass rusher Markus Golden. It seems the Jets would like to re-sign him, but health concerns appear to be putting GM’s off. There are several linebackers in the big name free agent marketplace, one or two may miss out. Ideal Team Fits: Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints Teddy Bridgewater  Not many of the big-name free agents are quarterbacks. It might seem like Bridgewater has been around forever but he’s only 30, so a mere whippersnapper by quarterback standards. Add to that the fact that he’s only played more than 12 games three times in his eight-year career and it’s difficult to imagine he hasn’t got plenty of years ahead of him.  He’s won 33 of his 65 starts too, so he’s one of the better backup quarterbacks. His career completion rate is 66.4%, that’s 3.9% better than Andy Dalton’s. Dalton is also five years older than Bridgewater, but he just signed a two-year deal in Carolina.  Draftsharks rate Bridgewater’s risk of injury in 2023 as low, but NFL teams don’t appear to agree. The three concussions he’s suffered since October 2021 might be concerning GM’s. All three of the Dolphins quarterbacks suffered injuries last season though, if a team can protect Bridgewater, he’d be very useful. A number of teams lack an experienced backup, so it seems unlikely he’ll still be on the market when the season begins.  Ideal Team Fits: Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins Marcus Peters  Not many big name free agents have a resume as impressive as Peters. When he’s not being fined by the NFL (11 times since 2015 according to Spotrac) Peters is an elite defender. In 2015 he was named Defensive Rookie of the Year. He has also been named to three Pro Bowls in his eight years in the league. Peters has made 346 tackles in the 103 games he has started in the NFL. He has led the league in interception yards on three separate occasions. In his rookie season, he made eight interceptions and racked up 280 yards, scoring two touchdowns in the process. In 2017, he recorded 137 yards from five interceptions, and in 2019 he hauled in five for 210 yards and three touchdowns.  Peters is also a part of the ownership group for an indoor football team who play in the “Fan Controlled Football League”. He owns a share of the FCF Beasts alongside Marshawn Lynch and Todd Gurley amongst others.  It seemed as though 30-year-old Peters would re-sign with the Ravens who he was traded to in 2019. The Lamar Jackson contract negotiation meant 10 former Ravens were left in limbo., amongst them Justin Houston and Jason Pierre-Paul. The Ravens signed 20 undrafted free agents, so according to Spotrac they have 89 active players. That leaves them with just one preseason roster spot available and they already have 11 cornerbacks on that roster.   Ideal Team Fits: Baltimore Ravens, Jacksonville Jaguars, Carolina Panthers Frank Clark  Frank Clark seems to really come alive in the playoffs. He is averaging .048 sacks per game in the regular season and 0.8 per game in the playoffs. Clark has made 303 tackles in his 137 games in the league, so he’d be a valuable contributor for any team. There’s speculation he’ll re-sign with the Seahawks as the Chiefs don’t seem to be able to afford him, but Chiefs nation would love to have him back. Clark will be 30 by September but he’s got the postseason sack record firmly in his sights, so it’ll be surprising if he isn’t playing somewhere.  Ideal Team Fits: Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers Ezekiel Elliott “Zeke the freak” will be 28 when the season begins, which is generally when running back production starts to seriously decline. And Elliott is a bigger-bodied back, so his knees and ankles have taken more punishment than most. However, a 2010 study from Bryn Mawr College suggests that the major factor in running back production is the 2,500-touch mark. Elliot has only racked up 2,186 touches in his seven-year career so far, so he’s got at least another productive season in him.  Elliott has scored 70 touchdowns in 108 total games and averages over four yards per touch, so he definitely still has plenty to offer. The major obstacle will be how much of a pay cut he’s willing to take. His last contract earned him $50 million and average out at $15 million per season. It would be pretty surprising if a team offered him that much for a single season. If the Vikings don’t trade Dalvin Cook Elliott may not be the only running back available in the big name free agent market place so his value could take a dip. Ideal Team Fits: Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals Myles Jack   Myles Jack was released by Jacksonville in March 2022 to clear $8.35 million of cap space. He spent last year in Pittsburgh. Jack led the Steelers with 108 tackles in 2022, but they released him in March to clear $8 million of cap space. He will turn 28 on the 3rd of September, so he’s in the prime of his career (C.J Mosely is 30) and there aren’t many weaknesses to his game. He’s made 617 tackles in a seven-year career. Jack really lives up to his “Jack of all trades” nickname too. He’s also recorded 18 QB hits, defended 18 passes, made three interceptions and scored two touchdowns.  Yannick Ngakoue  Another 28-year-old former Jaguar is currently floating around NFL purgatory. Yannick Ngakoue underwent a throat procedure that prematurely ended his season in December.  Since his contract dispute with Jacksonville back in 2019, Ngakoue has played for four different teams in three seasons.  He’s recorded 66 sacks in 116 career games, and he’s forced 22 fumbles during an eight-year career. Ngakoue has also made two interceptions, recovered three fumbles and scored two touchdowns.  There is speculation that he could wind up in Chicago. That would make sense for Ngakoue. His most productive season came in 2017 when the Jaguars ran a 4-3 defense similar to Matt Eberflus’ scheme.  Main Photo: Joe Rondone – USA Today Sports The post Big Name Free Agents Who Are Still Available appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson recently became the richest player in NFL history, and the latest rumors suggest that the former first-round pick will be throwing a lot more in 2023. In other news, Kansas City Chiefs left tackle Donovan Smith is ready to bounce back from a disappointing campaign, while former Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Damon Arnette pled not guilty to felony assault charges. NFL Rumors: Lamar Jackson, Donovan Smith, Damon Arnette Lamar Jackson: New Offense Will Be About “Throwing the Ball Down the Field” The Baltimore Ravens underwent quite a few changes over the past few months, but perhaps the most important change was at offensive coordinator. The team hired Todd Monken to replace Greg Roman as offensive coordinator, and the latest rumors imply that Lamar Jackson is happy with this change. Speaking to reporters, Jackson addressed the differences between Roman’s offense and Monken’s, and made it clear that this new scheme features “less running and more throwing.” Jackson wasn’t done there, as he also talked about the new talent at wide receiver will make it easier to move the ball through the air. “Especially with the receivers we have…just being able to throw the ball down the field. Running can only take you so far. I feel like with this new era of teams and offenses in the league, I feel like we need that, and coach Todd Monken, what I’m seeing in this offense so far, is tremendous.” This should be music to the ears of every Ravens fan out there. While Roman excelled at scheming up run plays, he never showed much creativity in the passing game. If Monken is able to draw up some creative plays for Odell Beckham, Zay Flowers, and Mark Andrews, then perhaps they can finally make a deep playoff push. Or, if they still feel like they need more help, then perhaps they go for a DeAndre Hopkins trade. https://twitter.com/rhormes_/status/1661713793720758272?s=20 Donovan Smith ‘Feeling Good’ With Kansas City Chiefs After spending the entirety of his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, left tackle Donovan Smith jumped ship from Tom Brady to Patrick Mahomes. The one-time Super Bowl champion did not have a good year last year, but he’s confident that he can turn it around in 2023. “It was a little frustrating. Obviously I played with a lot more injuries than I probably should have (in 2022). But, it’s just something that we do. We go out there, we sacrifice our bodies to go out there for the greater good of the team…New beginning, new journey. I’m healthy, fresh, and feeling real good.” Donovan Smith is no superstar, but he has proved over the past few years that he can be a serviceable starter when healthy. Tom Brady’s quick release and unmatched pocket awareness makes every offensive lineman look better than they actually are, so Smith might have a difficult time adjusting to Mahomes’ more wild and improvisational style of play. That being said, the Chiefs don’t need a superstar at left tackle, they just need someone that won’t give a free path to the quarterback on every single snap. Damon Arnette Pleads Not Guilty to Assault Charges It is not a good time to be a Raiders first-round pick from the 2020 class. After Henry Ruggs recently received a 3-10 year prison sentence for his role in a DUI resulting in death, fellow first-rounder Damon Arnette has pled not guilty to felony charges for assault with a deadly weapon. According to police reports, Arnette pulled out a gun at a concierge desk when he couldn’t find the valet ticket for his car. The former cornerback reportedly took his keys and drove off. Arnette, meanwhile, rejects this accusation, with his defense lawyer saying that Arnette “never brandished a gun. He never pointed a gun.” For the time being, Damon Arnette is a free man, but he will stand trail starting in October. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison. Main Photo: Brent Skeen – USA Today Sports The post NFL Rumors: Lamar Jackson, Donovan Smith, Damon Arnette appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.

Even though the NFL is in the midst of the offseason, we could see a few cuts and trades starting after June 1st. Thanks to NFL rules, any player cut or traded after June 1st can have their cap hit spread over two seasons, which is obviously appealing for teams worried about the upcoming season. While nothing is certain, don’t be surprised if these five players find new homes in the coming weeks. Note: All salary cap numbers are provided via OverTheCap.  5 Post-June 1st Cuts, Trades, and Team Fits Joe Mixon Honestly, it’s a little surprising that Joe Mixon is still a member of the Cincinnati Bengals. The 27-year-old running back carries a $12.8 million cap hit, started to show signs of slowing down last year, and is staring down some legal troubles. Perhaps the Bengals are hoping that the running back market starts heating up, but that doesn’t seem particularly likely. The Bengals can save $10.04 million in cap space but cutting him or finding a trade partner after June 1st, and this feels like a no-brainer for the organization. Ideal Team Fits: Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys DeAndre Hopkins DeAndre Hopkins trade rumors have been floating around throughout the offseason, and he will likely find a new home after June 1st. The Arizona Cardinals are sure to be one of the worst teams in the league next year, and a 31-year-old Hopkins won’t want to waste his twilight years in the midst of a rebuild. The former first-round pick might not be the elite player he once was, but he can still be a valuable part of a passing attack, especially for a team that needs to find a reliable threat on the perimeter. Additionally, the Cardinals have $19.45 million reasons to seek out a trade after June 1st. Ideal Team Fits: Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Chargers (if Mike Williams is seriously injured) https://twitter.com/MySportsUpdate/status/1660703286842802176?s=20 Dalvin Cook The Minnesota Vikings are strapped for cash and need to free up the cap space to pay Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson. The most likely post-June 1st cut or trade candidate is star running back Dalvin Cook. Entering his age-28 season, the running back can still play, but he’s not worth his $14.1 million cap hit. The team signed Alexander Mattison in free agency, and Minnesota can clear $11 million in cap space by parting ways with the three-time Pro Bowler. Ideal Team Fits: Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos Hunter Renfrow Rumors of a Hunter Renfrow trade started circulating a few days ago, and it would make sense for the Raiders to move on after June 1st. The team spent big money on wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, and both he and Renfrow have similar skillsets. The Raiders will save $11.29 million by parting ways with the former fifth-round pick, and perhaps they could reunite him with old friend Derek Carr down in New Orleans. Ideal Team Fits: New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans Ryan Tannehill Any June 1st trade involving Ryan Tannehill will probably depend on two things: an injury to another team’s starter, and how Will Levis performs in the offseason. Tannehill is definitely starting to slow down, but he’s still a decent starter that could succeed in the right environment. That environment will probably not be in Tennessee, as the team parted ways with a lot of their young older talent as they embrace a rebuild. It Will Levis looks like he’s ready to handle starting duties, don’t be surprised if the Titans clear $27 million by orchestrating a post-June 1st trade for their longtime starter: Team Fit: Whichever starting quarterback gets hurt Main Photo: Michael Chow – USA Today Sports The post 5 Potential Post-June 1st Trades, Team Fits appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.

The NFL has seen an increase in team helmet and logo designs these past few seasons. Alternate looks and uniforms have become a new revenue stream as fans rush to get new team gear. But nothing beats the original look for teams’ fans grew up with. Logos are the first thing fans identify with when they find their favorite team. The colors, the design, and how your favorite player looks in it. It is the single greatest identifier fans associate with.  The Greatest Logos in NFL History 5 – Oakland/Los Angeles/Las Vegas Raiders “The Autumn Wind is a Raider”. For fans of the Silver and Black, that singular phrase is the Battle Hymn of Raider Nation. The helmet and those colors are easily one of the most iconic in the NFL.  In 1960, as a charter member of the AFL, the Oakland Raiders originally wore a black helmet with a gold stripe. The gold logo still featured the pirate and swords. From there, the more recognizable silver helmet with a black pirate logo on both sides has been worn to this day. Great players to wear the Raiders helmet include Jim Otto, Marcus Allen, Ken Stabler, Charles Woodson, and Tom Flores. https://twitter.com/Ol_TimeFootball/status/1606338475661328384?s=20 4 – Pittsburgh Steelers NFL helmet logos first started to take off back in the 1950s. In Pittsburgh, the Steelers were originally wearing a gold helmet with player numbers on the side. In 1962, the organization decided to establish a logo that fans continue to know today. Owner Dan Rooney asked the Steelers’ equipment manager Jack Hart to put a logo on the right side of the helmet. Accordingly, Mr. Rooney did not specify if he wanted the logo on just one side. Pittsburgh would go on to a 9-5 season in 1962, the best in franchise history at the time. The logo would become a permanent part of the Steelers uniforms. The organization is one of the most revered in professional football. The legends to wear the black and gold include Terry Bradshaw, Joe Green, Lynn Swann, Franco Harris, and Ben Roethlisberger.  https://twitter.com/Ol_TimeFootball/status/1635110860413890565?s=20 3 – Los Angeles Rams The Rams did not use a logo until 1941 when they introduced a right-facing ram head with realistic features and blue horns for accent. With play suspended until 1944 due to World War II, the Rams would return to the field with a new stylized rams’ logo. It included blue on the face and white horns. In 1951, the team introduced yellow horns, a look that would last until 1970. That logo then had white horns on the blue helmet. The horns became such a recognizable feature that they became the organization’s primary logo.  The St. Louis edition had adopted a navy blue and champagne gold color scheme. It wasn’t until the move back to Los Angeles that the team would go back to its roots, sort of. From 2016 until their most recent change, LA wore three different helmets. They began their return to the West Coast with the navy blue and champagne gold helmets. They would also wear the navy helmets with white horns, and the navy helmet with yellow horns, a fan favorite.  Their latest look is close to that favorite color scheme. Though the yellow horns have been “modernized”, it is still familiar to Rams fans in LA. Prominent names to wear the horns are Eric Dickerson, Tory Holt, Merlin Olson, Aaron Donald, and Kurt Warner. https://twitter.com/Ol_TimeFootball/status/1564827965615403008?s=20 2 – Dallas Cowboys “America’s Team” has not been to a Super Bowl since January 28, 1996. The Cowboys beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-17 in Super Bowl XXX. The 27-year drought has seen the rise of other teams while Dallas has languished in the NFC East. That said, the Cowboys are one of the most iconic brands not just in football, but all sports across the globe. As for revenue, in the last five years, the brand has jumped from a value of $864 million in 2018, to $1.1 billion this past year. The blue star on the side of the Cowboys helmet is a valuable commodity bigger than any in all of sports.  The organization’s NFL logo dazzles in a navy blue and white color palette. The iconic emblem pays homage to Texas’ nickname: The Lone Star State. The logo, like the team, is either loved or hated. Their lofty perch from a revenue and recognizable standpoint is revered. And while winning championships have been nonexistent these last many years, the Dallas Cowboys are the single biggest draw in the NFL.  Famous players to wear the star are Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman, Bob Lilly, Drew Pearson, and Michael Irvin. https://twitter.com/Ol_TimeFootball/status/1368681933106860033?s=20 1 – New Orleans Saints  The New Orleans Saints began play in the NFL in 1967, playing their home games at Tulane Stadium. Black, along with gold and white, have always been the team colors since inception. The Saints’ logo and uniforms have remained the same since the club debuted in 1967, with the team’s fleur-de-lis logo. The fleur-de-lis is a French word that means lily flower in English. The simple, striking logo represents the city of New Orleans. It also has an illustrious history with France and other European countries.  The NFL logo has undergone changes since the team began play. The first update came in 2000. Then, three others would follow in 2002, 2012, and 2017. The logo itself represents many things, royalty, nobility, and high social status. Also, the Saints emblem represents honesty, justice, life, and wealth. While that may be subjective, the look the New Orleans Saints have worn throughout their existence is unmistakably recognizable. It remains strikingly simple while also attractive in its subtle design. Great players to wear the fleur-de-lis include Drew Brees, Archie Manning, Willie Roaf, Deuce McCallister, Jonathan Vilma, and Tyrann Mathieu. https://twitter.com/Saints/status/1657400306236260353?s=20 These five best logos representing the NFL also represent their city and fanbases. From the gritty East Bay of Oakland to the glitz and glam of Las Vegas. The hard-working middle class of the steel city in Pittsburgh to the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles. Cowboys who helped settle the dusty landscape of Dallas with their blood sweat and tears. And finally, to the Bayou of Louisiana where the Mississippi River meets the Gulf of Mexico, and here jazz fills the air with “When The Saints Go Marching In”. These franchises got it right, and the league is more recognizable for it. Main Photo: Stephen Lew – USA Today Sports The post The Top 5 Logos in the NFL appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.