Las Vegas Raiders

NFL teams reportedly believe the Las Vegas Raiders are willing to trade either Derek Carr or Marcus Mariota this offseason, according to Mike Garafolo, Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. 

The Raiders had previously been strongly against dealing Carr, who has been the starting quarterback for the past seven seasons, but the organization now appears "open to considering it in some form or fashion," per NFL Network.

The key for Las Vegas will be finding a replacement "on the same level."

Carr set career highs in 2020 with 4,103 passing yards and a 101.4 quarterback rating, while his 8.2 adjusted yards per attempt ranked eighth in the NFL.

It still wasn't enough to help the Raiders, who finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs for the fourth year in a row. The team has reached the postseason just once since Carr was taken in the second round of the 2014 draft.

The 29-year-old has a $22.1 million cap hit for 2021, but the Raiders would save $19.6 million if he is traded or released, per Spotrac. It could allow the organization to move on if it can find a good deal for the quarterback.

Meanwhile, Mariota signed a two-year, $17.6 million deal last offseason that made him one of the highest-paid backups in the league. His cap hit will be $10.7 million next season, but none of it is guaranteed. This could mean he'll only stay on the roster if he is the projected starter.

The former Tennessee Titans quarterback appeared in just one game in 2020 but showed his upside with 226 passing yards, 88 rushing yards and two total touchdowns off the bench. He threw 76 passing touchdowns with 44 interceptions across four-plus seasons as the starter in Tennessee before losing his job to Ryan Tannehill in 2019.

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller has a rational perspective if his name happens to come up in trade talks for Deshaun Watson. 

Waller told TMZ Sports that the NFL "is a business" when asked about possibly being dealt this offseason. 

"Crazier things have happened," he added. "I enjoy being where I'm at with the Raiders and that time will come to an end whether it's 10 years from now or it's by Monday. So, I just try to enjoy being here as much as I can."

Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported on Feb. 2 that people inside the NFL "expect the Raiders to field calls from teams inquiring about [Derek] Carr’s availability" 

Bonsignore noted the potential return in a Carr trade could give the Raiders enough to put together a package for the Houston Texans to acquire Watson. 

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Watson officially asked the Texans for a trade "weeks ago." Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio noted that Houston is telling opposing teams it won't trade the three-time Pro Bowler. 

Waller has posted back-to-back 1,100-yard seasons with the Raiders. The 28-year-old was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career in 2020. He led the team with 145 targets, 107 receptions, 1,196 yards and nine touchdowns. 

The Raiders have missed the playoffs in 17 of the past 18 seasons. They finished second in the AFC West with an 8-8 record in 2020.   

A casual conversation on The Cris Collinsworth Podcast could lead to a job opportunity for Richard Sherman.

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden appeared on an episode of the podcast (which features Sherman) and was open about his interest in the free-agent cornerback (h/t Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports).

Days later, Sherman said he's taking the comments seriously.

"All of this sports is just a big freakin' reality TV show, as you know," Sherman told NBC Sports Bay Area. "But I think there's legitimate interest. They have a good team. It's going to be a conversation. There will be a conversation with a few teams and I'll make the decision that's best for me and my family, and off we go."

"Richard Sherman, if you are a free agent, which there is a rumor you are, we are looking for an alpha presence in our secondary," Gruden said, via 49ersWebZone.com. "Somebody that could play this Hawk 3-press technique with the read step. If you're available and interested, maybe you and I can get together at some point off-air."

In speaking with NBC Sports, Sherman said he didn't think Gruden was tampering, but not everyone around the league holds that belief.

According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Gruden's comments violate the league's Anti-Tampering Policy, which states that "any public or private statement of interest, qualified or unqualified, in another club's player to that player's agent or representative, or to a member of the news media, is a violation of this Anti-Tampering Policy."

One NFL general manager told Florio the incident was "blatant tampering," but Florio said the league declined to comment. 

Either way, Sherman, who is his own agent, can't have any conversations with the Raiders until March 17. Until then, the 49ers will hang on to his negotiation rights.

Sherman, who is a month shy of his 33rd birthday, said in December that he wouldn't stick around "unless something miraculous happens," and he reaffirmed that belief in speaking to NBC Sports on Thursday. 

The five-time Pro Bowler played in just five games in 2020 due to injury, but he's aiming to return next season—just not in San Francisco. 

An NFL general manager accused Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden of "blatant tampering" following an interview Gruden gave to Cris Collinsworth and Richard Sherman, according to ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio.

Gruden was a guest on Collinsworth's podcast, which features Sherman as well. Although Collinsworth referenced the NFL's tampering rules, Gruden couldn't help but make a pitch to the three-time All-Pro cornerback (via Florio):

"Yes I have. I've been fined, I've been punished very, very harshly. Richard Sherman, if you are a free agent, which there is a rumor you are, we are looking for an alpha presence in our secondary. Somebody that could play this Hawk 3-press technique with the read step. If you're available and interested, maybe you and I can get together at some point off air."

Within the past few months, Gruden wore an "Oakland" Raiders hat and struggled to follow the NFL's COVID-19 protocols regarding face masks on the sideline. His situational awareness hasn't been great.

Florio noted it would be difficult for the NFL not to determine he ran afoul of the tampering rules.

Sherman's three-year, $27.2 million contract with the San Francisco 49ers is expiring. Until the NFL's 2021 league year begins March 17, though, Sherman is still officially a member of the 49ers.

Depending on how seriously the NFL takes the matter, Gruden and the Raiders could be looking at a significant punishment.

The league handed a $100,000 fine to the New York Jets in 2015 based on comments team owner Woody Johnson made about Darrelle Revis. The Kansas City Chiefs lost a third-round pick in 2016 and a 2017 sixth-rounder following a tampering investigation centered on Jeremy Maclin. Head coach Andy Reid ($75,000) and then-general manager John Dorsey ($25,000) also received fines.

The Raiders allowed 263.3 passing yards per game, seventh-most in the NFL. Assuming he doesn't return to San Francisco, Sherman would be a logical free agent to target to strengthen the secondary.

However, Gruden needs to exercise more discretion regarding veterans who might be on Las Vegas' radar.

The Las Vegas Raiders are expecting to hear from other teams about the availability of quarterback Derek Carr this offseason, according to Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, who cited several unnamed sources speaking on the state of the QB carousel. 

Bonsignore did not say whether the Raiders are actively shopping Carr. However, he noted the demand for the 29-year-old could lead to a three-team trade in which Houston Texans star Deshaun Watson heads to Las Vegas. 

"The only way you trade a quarterback the caliber of Carr is by having a replacement plan in place that ensures improvement," one source told Bonsignore.

Here's how that potential deal could look, according to Bonsignore:

"The Raiders would have to receive two first-round picks for Carr, which they would then package with their own first-rounders in 2021 and 2022 to present a compelling offer of four first-round picks to the Texans for Watson, who has reportedly asked be traded."

Bleacher Report's Kalyn Kahler reported earlier Tuesday that the Texans have been telling rival executives they are not moving Watson despite the quarterback's trade demand. 

"We've been told 'no' from them directly," one of the executives told Kahler. 

That doesn't mean teams won't go after Carr, though. Bonsignore mentioned the Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints and Washington Football team as potential suitors. 

The Fresno State product is coming off a year in which he threw for 4,103 yards, 27 touchdowns and nine interceptions to finish with a career-high passer rating of 101.4. Carr has two years left on his current deal and will make a base salary of at least $19.5 million each season. 

Las Vegas may be willing to listen to offers for him, but completing a trade will be much more difficult.

The Las Vegas Raiders started the 2020 campaign with a 6-3 record that included a victory over the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs and appeared to be well on their way to the playoffs before a late-season collapse left them at 8-8 and on the outside of the postseason picture.

That clearly did not sit well with wide receiver Nelson Agholor.

Vic Tafur of The Athletic detailed an incident in which Agholor "stormed into the locker room" and "started screaming" at his teammates following a 26-25 loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 16. 

The incident happened before head coach Jon Gruden even addressed the team, and some of the players described Agholor as "pissed."

Tafur noted the wide receiver called out the team for being selfish, having no accountability and having a lackluster work ethic. He even "told his teammates that they sucked."

Perhaps most notably, "there was silence" after he finished yelling, as not even Gruden addressed it.

That loss to the Dolphins was surely one of the most frustrating of the season for the Raiders. They were coming off an overtime defeat at the hands of the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers and appeared to be on the verge of bouncing back with a win when Ryan Fitzpatrick found Mack Hollins for a 34-yard pass with 19 seconds remaining.

Making matters worse was a roughing the passer call on Arden Key, which put the Dolphins into field-goal range.

Jason Sanders made it and sent the Raiders home with their third straight loss.

Whether Agholor returns to Las Vegas remains to be seen considering he is a free agent this offseason and will surely draw plenty of interest at 27 years old coming off a season where he put up career highs with 896 receiving yards and eight touchdown catches.

He also apparently isn't afraid to call out his teammates when he feels it is warranted.

Las Vegas Raiders general manager Mike Mayock said Wednesday he was "disappointed" by the production of rookies Henry Ruggs III and Damon Arnette, the team's first-round picks in the 2020 NFL draft.

Mayock explained on the Upon Further Review podcast (via Levi Edwards of Raiders.com) there were various factors in play that led to their lack of impact, but he added the onus is now on the players to have a strong offseason to set the stage for a better 2021 campaign:

"I was disappointed in the productivity of our rookies, I'll be the first person to admit that. You can make excuses, you can have a conversation why. Henry Ruggs, I think is who he is. I'm not disappointed in Henry; I think Henry has to get better. We knew how fast he is, but he has to get stronger, and he has to get in and out of his breaks better. You got to feel him coming out his breaks more for him to get to the next level, and I think he will, but we have a long-term view on Henry Ruggs.

"[Damon] Arnette was the other first-rounder. In training camp prior to injury, he was playing really well. We were really excited about Damon Arnette. He's instinctive, tough and fast, but concussions, a broken hand, COVID—he's got to take care of business in the offseason. Nutrition, strength coach, consistency of a day-to-day program."

Ruggs was one of six wide receivers taken in the first round of last year's draft. The Minnesota Vikings' Justin Jefferson was the standout with 1,400 receiving yards to earn a Pro Bowl selection.

The Raiders' rookie ranked last among that group with just 26 catches. He added 452 yards and two touchdowns across 13 appearances.

His lack of game-breaking plays came as a surprise after he turned heads with a lightning-quick 4.27-second run in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.

In November, Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Olson said Ruggs was still working on the finer points of the position.

"We love the speed factor; it's something you can't coach. But the route running and consistency, that we want to see him bring to the game," Olson told reporters. "He's another guy that's been out, just finished up outside here with him working the toe touches, the toe drags on the sidelines. So, it's experience for him and route running."

Meanwhile, Arnette struggled to make a consistent impact while working through the injuries and health issues Mayock mentioned. The cornerback finished the season with 25 total tackles, two passes defended and no interceptions in nine games.

His inability to become an immediate high-end contributor was made more frustrating by the Raiders finishing 26th in pass defense (263.3 yards allowed per game).

Las Vegas will hope both players bounce back in a major way in 2021 as it tries to chase down a playoff berth in the highly competitive AFC, which saw a 10-6 team miss the postseason with seven spots up for grabs.