Las Vegas Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders are interested in free-agent cornerback James Bradberry, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Vincent Bonsignore.

Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham coached Bradberry for two seasons with the Giants, which is a factor behind Las Vegas' interest.

"Bradberry’s familiarity with Graham’s system—and his established level of play—make him an attractive target for the Raiders," per Bonsignore.

The New York Giants announced Monday they had released Bradberry. The Athletic's Dan Duggan reported New York was unable to find a suitable trade, so it cut ties with the veteran defensive back altogether.

With the draft over and the biggest dominoes having fallen in free agency, former wide receiver Torrey Smith reflected how Bradberry might be in a difficult position:

The Raiders, for example, only have $5.6 million in available salary cap space. If he wanted to sign with Las Vegas right now, then Bradberry would have to take a steep pay cut from the $13.5 million he was due to earn from the Giants.

Bonsignore noted the Raiders will have more money to spend when the departures of Cory Littleton and Carl Nassib are official on June 2. They could offer Bradberry more money then, but that requires him to wait nearly a month before making a decision.

There's no question Vegas could use the 28-year-old, who finished with 47 tackles, four interceptions and 17 passes defended in 2021.

The Raiders had the NFL's fewest interceptions (six) and ranked 24th in opponent passer rating (96.4). Casey Hayward, who started all 17 games for the team, signed with the Atlanta Falcons, and Trayvon Mullen recently underwent surgery.

If general manager Dave Ziegler can make it happen, Bradberry would address a clear need for the organization ahead of the 2022 season.

The Las Vegas Raiders selected Georgia running back Zamir White with the No. 122 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft despite sporting a deep depth chart at the position.

However, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Monday that the Raiders may have been taking a long-term view at running back when adding White to the team:

Fourth-round running back Zamir White was an interesting selection (No. 122), given the Raiders' depth at the position with Josh Jacobs, Kenyan Drake, Brandon Bolden and Ameer Abdullah. But with Jacobs and Drake entering the final year of their contracts, the Raiders see a potential long-term solution in White. Here's what I'm told they like about his game: 'Speed, power, leadership, battling through adversity, comes from a winning program.'

Of note, the Raiders declined starting running back Josh Jacobs' fifth-year option, so the ex-Alabama star will be a free agent next offseason.

The only Raiders running backs currently under contract for 2023 are Brandon Bolden, a multi-talented 10-year veteran who had 631 scrimmage yards on 85 touches last year, and Sincere McCormick, an undrafted free agent out of UTSA the team signed on May 4.

Therefore, Las Vegas needs some long-term solutions, and White could be one of them.

The ex-Georgia star had 304 carries for 1,635 yards and 22 rushing touchdowns in his final two seasons. He and James Cook, who is now a Buffalo Bill, co-piloted the Georgia backfield in 2021 en route to a national title.

White only caught 17 passes over his three seasons in Georgia, so he doesn't appear to be much of a pass-catching threat at the next level. Still, he was a highly efficient runner who had 5.3 yards per carry during his time in Athens.

The B/R NFL Scouting Department gave White a fourth-round grade and ranked him ninth at his position.

"Zamir White has a good build and strong running style that gives him upside on first and second down and as a situational short-yardage bruiser," the department wrote.

White could potentially contribute in Vegas as a short-yardage runner when needed given his penchant to get tough yards.

For now, Jacobs and Drake lead the Raider backfield, with White awaiting his turn.

HEIGHT: 6'5 3/4"

WEIGHT: 328

HAND: 10 1/8"

ARM: 35 1/8"

WINGSPAN: 7'0 5/8"

40-YARD DASH: 5.39

3-CONE: DNP

SHUTTLE: DNP

VERTICAL: 22"

BROAD: 8'8"

POSITIVES

— Has good length to establish first meaningful contact on defenders with the grip strength to sustain once latched.

— Efficient puller with solid initial quickness to get on his track, close space on his target and kick out or log block depending on the defender's leverage.

— Solid play strength with the girth and length to cover up defenders in the run game, displace and be functional on drive and down blocks.

— Extensive time spent at several positions on the line, including left tackle, left guard and right tackle.

NEGATIVES

— Plays with a perpetual forward lean that results in overextending, reaching and falling off of blocks against shifty defenders.

— Hands tend to get wide in pass protection with a habit of catching rather than striking rushers, allowing easy access into his frame and a tardy anchor.

— Contact balance is shaky due to not gaining consistent control with hands and playing with either too wide or narrow of a base.

— Below average foot quickness to redirect against counter moves, providing easy access to his edges.

— Needs to stay inside in the NFL, lacking the range, quickness or technique to survive on an island.

2021 STATISTICS

— 12 starts (11 at left guard, one at left tackle).

— First-team All-Big Ten selection.

NOTES

— Former 4-star offensive tackle prospect out of Washington High School in Massillon, Ohio.

— 2019 second-team All-Big Ten selection and 2020 first-team All-Big Ten selection.

— 45 career starts between left tackle and left guard.

— Moved to left guard in 2021 after exclusively playing at tackle during his first three seasons.

OVERALL

Thayer Munford was a four-year starter with the bulk of his time spent at left tackle before switching to left guard in 2021. He had 45 career starts inside Ohio State's zone-heavy run scheme.

Munford has a large frame with good thickness in his lower half and above-average arm length. He excels in pass protection against tightly aligned defensive tackles that he can get his hands on quickly using his girth, length and grip strength to cover them up and keep them at his fingertips. Using the same traits in the run game, Munford generates solid displacement on angle-drive, down and combo blocks with enough quickness to obstruct linebackers at the second level when he releases off of combo blocks.

Munford does a nice job as a puller working inside out or 'logging' and pinning targets based on their leverage. While he has functional elements of his game, he plays with an inconsistent base and perpetual forward lean with his head in too many blocks, resulting in marginal contact balance. His hand carriage and placement are often low and wide, giving easy access to his frame and catching rather than striking at the point of attack.

Munford's adequate foot quickness will give him the best chance to succeed as a pro inside, but his experience makes him an option for a team to get out of a pinch at tackle if need be.

Overall, Munford's size, length, grip strength and experience at multiple positions make him a worthwhile developmental piece for an offensive line. Several bad habits in his game will need to be ironed out for him to have a chance at carving out a long-term role, though.

GRADE: 6.3 (High-Level Developmental Prospect - 5th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 193

POSITION RANK: IOL21

PRO COMPARISON: Colton McKivitz

Written by B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn

On the day that Derek Carr got a new contract from the Las Vegas Raiders, the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback spoke about his affection for the organization. 

During a press conference, Carr declared he has "only wanted to be a Raider" and would probably "be playing golf" if he wasn't with the team. 

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Carr's new deal is worth $121.5 million over three years and ties him to the Raiders through the 2025 season. 

There had been indications the Raiders wanted to get a new deal done with their 31-year-old quarterback. 

Head coach Josh McDaniels told reporters last month the team was "trying to build around" Carr and addressed where the two sides were at in contract talks. 

"Derek's going to have to make decisions about what's best for him and we have to try to do what's right for the team," he said. "There will be a sweet spot in there hopefully for everybody."

The Raiders certainly went all-out this offseason to make Carr happy. They acquired Davante Adams, who played with the quarterback at Fresno State, in a blockbuster trade with the Green Bay Packers. 

Adams is joining a group of skill-position players that includes Hunter Renfrow, Darren Waller and Josh Jacobs. 

Playing in the AFC West certainly doesn't make things easy for the Raiders, but the organization has done everything to make sure the team is a playoff contender in 2022. 

The Raiders were able to navigate significant organizational dysfunction last season to make the playoffs. Head coach Jon Gruden resigned in October following a New York Times report that he used emails containing misogynistic and anti-gay language during a seven-year period. 

Carr has been very consistent in his eight-season career. The 31-year-old has thrown for at least 4,000 yards in each of the past four seasons. He averages 24 touchdown passes per season.     

In his first year at the helm, head coach Josh McDaniels isn't trying to turn the Las Vegas Raiders into the New England Patriots West.

Appearing on Good Morning Football on Wednesday, Raiders safety Duron Harmon commented on how McDaniels isn't trying to copy the Bill Belichick blueprint behind the scenes.

"He's trying to create a culture that is not the Patriot Way," Harmon said. "He's said it over and over."

Legendary coaches tend to have uneven coaching trees because their disciples leave and attempt to recreate whatever ecosystem they just left in the belief the structure is immediately transferable.

One reason the Patriot Way works in New England is players inevitably buy in when the head coach is a six-time Super Bowl champion. It also helps that Belichick is one of the greatest ever at what he does.

Attempting to copy the Belichick playbook is a little more difficult if you're, say, Matt Patricia.

Reporting for Bleacher Report in November 2020, Kalyn Kahler wrote how the Detroit Lions had become a mess behind the scenes under Patricia. And one reason was he was attempting to institute the Patriot Way in the Motor City.

While he attempted to distance himself from Belichick a bit, Joe Judge's attempt to turn the New York Giants into a version of the Patriots was similarly ineffective.

There's no doubt McDaniels will attempt to cherry-pick some of what he thinks to be the best tactics Belichick deployed. His brief time as head coach of the Denver Broncos—he went 11-17 over two years—might have helped him see how much he needs to forge an identity independent from his last stop, though.

Harmon, who spent seven seasons with the Patriots, is presumably aware of that as well. He joined Patricia in Detroit for the 2020 campaign and saw how that worked out.

McDaniels will ultimately be judged on how the Raiders perform on the field. For now, it looks like he's taking the right steps to set up the franchise for success.

The Las Vegas Raiders and quarterback Derek Carr reportedly agreed to a three-year, $121.5 million contract extension Wednesday.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the deal will be tacked on to the final season of Carr's current contract, keeping him with the Raiders through 2025. It also includes a no-trade clause, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.

Full terms of the extension weren't immediately announced, but it'll likely help Vegas open up more salary-cap space for 2022. It had just $5.1 million beforehand, per Spotrac.

Carr has spent the past eight years as the Raiders' starter after the franchise selected him in the second round of the 2014 draft.

The 31-year-old Fresno State product has endured an up-and-down career. He was seemingly on an upward trajectory in 2019 and 2020, posting a 48-17 touchdown-to-interception ratio over those two seasons, but he took a step back in 2021.

He completed 68.4 percent of his throws for 4,804 yards, which ranked fifth in the NFL, but he threw just 23 touchdowns in 17 games and tossed a career-high 14 picks. He rated 14th in ESPN's Total QBR (52.4).

Although there have been murmurs over the years that the Raiders could move on from Carr, including talk of a possible Aaron Rodgers blockbuster this offseason, a trade or free-agent signing to end his time as the team's No. 1 has never appeared to be close.

Instead the front office has committed to the three-time Pro Bowl selection as its starting quarterback for at least a handful more years.

In February, Carr said he was looking forward to the opportunity to use money from a contract extension for good causes.

"I'll do what I can to continue to bless my family and bless people all around the world," Carr told reporters. "I truly believe that God has allowed me to be in such a position with that stuff. I'm thankful that He can trust me to do the right thing with that money."

On the field, the Raiders will hope for a bounce-back season with numbers closer to what Carr posted during that 2019-20 stretch.

The addition of superstar wide receiver Davante Adams, Rodgers' longtime top target with the Green Bay Packers, to a pass-catching group that also features tight end Darren Waller and receivers Hunter Renfrow and Bryan Edwards should help in that quest.

Add in a rushing attack led by Josh Jacobs and Vegas should have the ingredients for a top-tier offense if Carr performs at a high level in 2022.

The Las Vegas Raiders are staying the course.

The team and quarterback Derek Carr have agreed to a three-year, $121.5 million contract that ties him to Las Vegas through 2025, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday.

Carr, 30, looked like a future star after excellent seasons in 2015 and 2016. He was a potential MVP candidate in 2016 before a broken leg in December of that season ended his campaign.

The Raiders made the playoffs that year but missed out on the postseason in the four seasons that followed. Carr often didn't resemble his former self, and with a lack of weapons in 2018, he threw for 4,049 yards, 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, completing 68.9 percent of his passes. His touchdowns were a career low, and his 73.2 grade at Pro Football Focus ranked just 21st among quarterbacks.

But he was better in 2019, throwing for 4,054 yards, 21 scores and eight interceptions, completing 70.4 percent of his passes. His former head coach, Jon Gruden, offered him a vote of confidence in February 2020.

"I really think Derek is a heck of a player and I got a lot of respect for what he has done with some tough circumstances," he told reporters. "So I'm not going to answer every media rumor out there. I just can't do it. I'm just going to listen to my Sirius Rock n' Roll classic vinyl [station] and keep working. But I love what Carr did, love what he brings to our team and anxious to continue to build around him."

Carr finished the 2020 season with 4,103 yards, 27 touchdowns and nine interceptions, arguably his best season since 2016. That performance wasn't good enough to lead the Raiders to the postseason, but he ended the drought in 2021 by guiding the team to a 10-7 record.

Carr threw for 4,804 yards, 23 touchdowns and 14 interceptions while completing 68.4 percent of his passes in a season that saw the team experience significant turmoil. Gruden resigned over the release of offensive emails he sent prior to taking over as Raiders head coach for the second time in 2018. Receiver Henry Ruggs III, one of the team's 2020 first-round picks, was released after he was charged with DUI resulting in the death of 23-year-old Tina Tintor. 

The team came up short in the Wild Card Round against the Cincinnati Bengals, but Carr's performance was a big reason they made it to the postseason.

Carr offers the Raiders and new head coach Josh McDaniels experience and a solid if unspectacular resume. If he maintains his level of play from the past two seasons, his extension will look very smart for the Raiders.

After an offseason trade for Davante Adams, his former college teammate, he'll have one of the best weapons in the NFL to throw to this season. Staying the course always made sense for both Carr and Las Vegas. 

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller is excited about his team's chances in 2022, as he told TMZ Sports:

"It feels like it has the makings of a special year," Waller said. "For sure."

The Raiders had a surprising 10-7 finish in 2021, reaching the playoffs for the first time in five years. The team then made big moves in the offseason, including a trade for star receiver Davante Adams and signing pass-rusher Chandler Jones.

It could be necessary to compete in the now-loaded AFC West, with the Denver Broncos adding Russell Wilson and the Los Angeles Chargers adding Khalil Mack to compete with the defending division-champion Kansas City Chiefs.

Though Waller wouldn't declare his team a favorite in the division, the Raiders will certainly be one to watch.

"We're going to be a really good team, that's all I know," he told TMZ.