FSM Presents: Raiders Free Agency 2022

Photo Credit: Clutch Points

FSM Presents: Raiders Free Agency 2022

The NFL’s new year kicked off, and the Raiders made the biggest splash so far, signing one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers to a contract extension, adding another via free agency, and the cherry on top was trading for the NFL’s best wide receiver.

Franchise Sports Media will recap all the Raiders offseason moves during the NFL offseason.

Last Thursday, the Raiders pulled off one of the biggest trades in franchise history, trading their 2022 first and second-round draft picks to the Green Bay Packers for their All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams.

The former Fresno State product and NFL’s best receiver is coming off a Packers single-season franchise record in catches (123) and receiving yards (1,553) last season and became just the sixth player in NFL history with 120-plus catches, 1,500-plus yards, and 11-plus touchdown catches in the same season. Adams is also the only player in league history to author three seasons of 110-plus catches, 1,350-plus receiving yards, and 11-plus TD catches, doing it in 2018, 2020, and 2021.

“It is a dream to be a Raider, man,” Adams said at his press conference on Tuesday. “It’s a dream come true. In a third-grade yearbook, I said I wanted to be a, you know, an NFL star or an NBA star. And I was wearing a Charles Woodson jersey at the time. So, it’s been documented forever, so I guess you can say it was meant to be.”

The trade reunites him with his college quarterback, Derek Carr.

“Once we got to a point where (a potential trade) was something that was realistic now, it was not just a thought; we started trying to put a little bit of a plan together,” Adams allowed. “I was traded, so it wasn’t strictly on us.

“We (he and Carr) didn’t scheme this. We just kind of checked in on each other, football-wise. We check in on each other about family and the real stuff. But as far as football and getting together, you’re not being a great teammate to your current organization if that’s all you’re worried about.

“He had to worry about getting the ball to Hunter (Renfrow) and Darren (Waller) and those guys and being a great teammate over here. And I had to do what I could to try to get to a Super Bowl. That didn’t happen for either of us. So, once we got to a point where (a trade) was real, we started entertaining it.”

The Raiders also got defensive in free agency:

The Raiders landed All-Pro edge defender Chandler Jones on a four-year deal worth $17 million per year, first reported by the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, then immediately pulled the trigger on a deal to send pass-rusher Yannick Ngakoue to the Indianapolis Colts, which was reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

The Raiders received cornerback Rock Ya-Sin in the Ngakoue trade.

Jones is coming off a walk year with the Arizona Cardinals in which he posted 41 tackles, 26 QB hits, 12 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, and six forced fumbles, earning him a fourth career Pro Bowl nod. He ranks behind only Von Miller among active players in career sacks with 107.5.

When asked how the deal came together with the Raiders, Jones said, “Yeah, that was my agent, honestly. I spoke to my agent, we sat down, and we had a list, and obviously, the Raiders were on the list, but there were a lot of things that credited to my decision of coming to Las Vegas. Maxx Crosby. I mean, everyone’s speaking about Max Crosby. I’m speaking about Max Crosby. I’m a huge fan of him and just to have the opportunity to rush an opposite side of him is huge for me. I’m very familiar with the front office. I trust them like no other. I’ve known them since I came into the NFL. Dave Ziegler, Josh McDaniels, Pat Graham. Pat Graham was my position coach in New England when I first started playing my rookie year. So, he’s the d-coordinator. This is a great opportunity for me. I’m happy to be Raider. And like I said, I can’t wait to get on the field.”

Speaking of Maxx Crosby, he also got a much deserved new deal:

The Pro Bowl defensive end signed a four-year, $98.98 million contract extension with $53 million guaranteed with the Raiders. Crosby was set to hit free agency next year, but the Raiders locked in one of the NFL’s premier young pass rushers.

The news comes on the second anniversary of Crosby checking himself into an alcohol rehab center.

“It got to a point after my rookie year my life became unmanageable,” Crosby said. “Alcohol, partying, and all that shit became too much of a distraction in my life. It became just overwhelming. I’ve always had issues with drinking and partying throughout high school and college. I’ve been able to slip by and get by, but it became too much for me, and it’s always been that one crutch.” Crosby told ESPN.

“Alcoholism runs in my family, and I’m an alcoholic. So, for me, I knew it was something that was always a crutch. I always knew I had a problem. I knew I couldn’t just drink like everybody else. I got ahead of it. My first year of sobriety is always the hardest, and that was last year. I had a lot of ups and downs. Mentally it was really tough for me. But going in, I’m almost a year-and-a-half sober now, and life is great. I’m really enjoying every single day. I’m enjoying the work.”

In just three years, the edge rusher has earned every penny of his new contract, going from a fourth-round pick out of Eastern Michigan to a Pro Bowl edge rusher and Pro Bowl MVP.

Crosby’s relentless motor off the edge has made him a menace. He might have been credited with just eight sacks in 2021, but he caused far more havoc than that stat indicates. He generated 82 quarterback pressures and 53 quarterback hurries, both tops in the NFL last season, per Next Gen Stats.

“I want to be a Hall of Famer,” Crosby told ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez after the deal was announced. “You don’t get to the Hall of Fame with one Pro Bowl and one All-Pro…gotta continue to strive for my goals.”

Crosby is now one of the highest-paid defensive players in the NFL and the third highest-paid defensive end in NFL history.

Here is a rundown of the Raiders transactions so far in free agency:

Additions

Washington Commanders QB Garrett Gilbert

Carolina Panthers RB Ameer Abdullah

Green Bay Packers WR Davante Adams (via trade)

New England Patriots RB Brandon Bolden

New England Patriots FB Jakob Johnson (1 year)

Miami Dolphins WR Mack Hollins (1 year)

Jacksonville Jaguars TE Jacob Hollister (1 year)

Chicago Bears OL Alex Bars

Chicago Bears DT Bilal Nichols (2 years, $11 million)

Buffalo Bills DT Vernon Butler (1 year)

Arizona Cardinals DE/OLB Chandler Jones (3 years, $51 million)

Los Angeles Rams LB Micah Kiser

Los Angeles Chargers LB Kyler Fackrell (1 year)

Indianapolis Colts CB Rock Ya-Sin (via trade)

Baltimore Ravens CB Anthony Averett (1 year, $4.5 million)

Tenessee Titans DT Kyle Peko

Kansas City Chiefs WR Demarcus Robinson

Re-signed

DB Dallin Leavitt (1 year, $2.43 million)

OT Brandon Parker

The Raiders have gone from a team that hoped to make a playoff run to a Super Bowl contender with the addition of Davante Adams, Chandler Jones and resigning Maxx Crosby. The Silver and Black are not done re-working their roster and will continue to add more pieces during this offseason, and FSM will have you covered.

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-Joe Arrigo – Franchise Sports Media

Follow Joe on Twitter @JoeArrigo

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