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Indianapolis Colts WR Alec Pierce.
The Las Vegas Raiders already had a ton of salary cap space ahead of free agency, but they cleared even more by trading Maxx Crosby and cutting Alex Cappa and Geno Smith. The team is now set to be big spenders.
Offensive line will likely be a position group they target, but wide receiver is also high on the list of needs. With Fernando Mendoza likely coming in to play quarterback, the Raiders are going to want players for him to throw to.
This isn’t a great free agent class of wide receivers, but there are some capable deep threats. Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce is coming off a career year. He had 1,003 receiving yards and averaged 21.3 yards per reception.
He’s proven to be a major target down the field. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler expects the Raiders to make a run at Pierce in free agency.
“Expect negotiations between Alec Pierce and the Colts to go down to the wire as the team tries to keep him off Monday’s open market,” Fowler wrote.
“That’s going to be a challenge. Pierce appears poised to make at least $27 million per year on a new deal. The Patriots, Commanders, Raiders and Titans are among teams in the mix.”
Rashid Shaheed Also on Raiders’ Radar
Pierce could end up getting very expensive. $27 million a year for a wide receiver who has broken 1,000 receiving yards once is a steep price.
If the Raiders want another speedy deep threat who is going to be cheaper, head coach Klint Kubiak could push to reunite with Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed.
He’s definitely on the Raiders’ radar, per Fowler.
“I’m expecting the Raiders to make a run at Rashid Shaheed depending on how the dominoes in the receiver market fall and the price point,” Fowler wrote. “New coach Klint Kubiak loves him. But Vegas’ bigger need is the offensive line.”
Shaheed knows Kubiak’s system well and would be a logical fit. He should also cost nearly $10 million less a year than Pierce, so he might be the better choice in the long run.
Tyler Linderbaum Update
The price of free agency might be Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum. Players like him don’t often get to free agency, but he might just be too expensive for the Ravens to afford.
The Raiders have a massive need at center. Adding Linderbaum could fix a lot of problems for Las Vegas and make the offensive line need less pressing heading into the draft.
However, Fowler noted that the Ravens aren’t out of the mix yet, but the Raiders are expected to be involved if he hits free agency.
“Last year, the Ravens pulled off an extension with left tackle Ronnie Stanley two days before the tampering period,” Fowler wrote. “Can they pull off the same with center Tyler Linderbaum? He will have the center market cornered, so if he gets to Monday, he’ll be tough to keep. The Raiders, Giants and Titans could be involved to some extent. The number should easily surpass $20 million per year.”
Austin Boyd has covered the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Lakers for Heavy.com since 2019. A Los Angeles native now based in Las Vegas, his featured work at Heavy includes interviews with NFL stars Darren Waller and Joe Montana, and a behind-the-scenes look at “The Shop.” More about Austin Boyd
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