Raiders Turned Down To Go Back To California Moments After Approval Due To Five Underrated Moves Of The NFL Offseason…

The Raiders moved around California a bit. They stayed in Oakland until 1981 when they ventured to Los Angeles. They moved back to Oakland after the 1994 season. Now, the Raiders have their sights set on Orange County.

The Las Vegas Raiders drafted star Georgia tight end Brock Bowers with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, it was apparently a really tough decision.

The Raiders were reportedly deciding between Bowers and Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold, who spoke about his draft day experience on the Next Round Live podcast.

Arnold was discussing how the Detroit Lions came to drafting him, and dropped a wild tidbit about the Raiders almost taking him — had a coin landed on its opposite side.

“Actually the Raiders coach, they called me after the draft, they were like, ‘We actually had a coin toss between you and Brock Bowers, it landed on him,'” Arnold said. “I was like, Oh wow.”

Arnold spoke about the conversation very casually and quickly, and it’s not 100 percent clear if the Raiders coach was joking when making that comment to make it clear how close it was between the two players. But if the Raiders literally flipped a coin to settle on their first-round pick — and informed the player they didn’t take that his fate was left to chance — it would constitute one of the crazier sequence of events in draft history.

The Raiders have a new regime this year led by general manager Tom Telesco, who was fired in Dec. 2023 by the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers. Telesco joins head coach Antonio Pierce, who shed his interim label this offseason after taking over for Josh McDaniels in the middle of last season. General manager David Ziegler was fired at the same time as McDaniels.

Pierce was promoted from his role as the team’s linebackers coach, and guided the team to a 5-4 record — including a 63-21 win over the Chargers and an upset win over the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.

With Pierce and Telesco in tow, the Raiders are ready to turn over a new leaf after their failed McDaniels tenure. However, if it’s true that they left their first-round draft choice up to chance, that’s not exactly a great endorsement for their new process.

In drafting Bowers, the Raiders grabbed one of the best weapons in this year’s class, even if they weren’t sure who to take. It’s possible the Raiders didn’t expect Bowers to fall and were focused on taking Arnold — who was expected to be there at No. 13. However, it’s generally better for a team to be sure about who they’re taking, especially with their first-round pick.

The Raiders didn’t exactly need Bowers, as they already have Michael Mayer at tight end and a bevy of weapons including Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers and Michael Gallup. However, the Raiders’ brass didn’t want to pass up on a chance to get one of the best players in the draft, so they took it. A coin took it for them, at least.

We’ve reached the point in the NFL offseason where most teams have completed their major roster additions and are preparing for the regular season.

It has been an action-packed offseason, with Philadelphia’s signing of Saquon Barkley and Houston’s trade for Stefon Diggs ranking among the most notable acquisitions. Many underrated moves, though, could be more impactful than you think.

Jets trade the No. 10 overall pick in 2024 NFL Draft to Vikings

The Jets likely never considered selecting a QB in the first round and ultimately capitalized on Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy’s mild draft-day slide by acquiring additional picks without giving up much. As part of the first trade of the draft, New York sent the 10th and 203rd selections for picks No. 11, 129 and 157.

The Jets spent the 11th pick on OT Olu Fashanu, the heir apparent to free-agent signee Tyron Smith, but the way they used the other selections from Minnesota made them one of the bigger winners of the draft.

New York later packaged the 157th pick in a deal with Carolina to select Malachi Corley, a receiver the Jets desperately tried to move up for in the second round, 65th overall.

Then, the Jets traded the 129th selection to San Francisco for picks 173 and 176, which New York used to draft RB Isaiah Davis and CB Qwan’tez Stiggers, respectively. Davis and Stiggers will probably only play special teams in the NFL, but Corley should have an important role on offense as a rookie. That’s quite a haul to get for essentially free.

Raiders sign quarterback Gardner Minshew II to two-year, $25M deal

He’ll have to beat out 2023 fourth-round pick Aidan O’Connell for the starting job, but Minshew is well-positioned to make an impact with the Raiders like Baker Mayfield made in Tampa Bay last season.

After Colts QB Anthony Richardson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury, Minshew posted a 7-6 record as a starter, keeping Indianapolis in playoff contention entering Week 18.

For Las Vegas, Minshew will throw to the best collection of pass-catchers he’s had in his career and have a defense behind him that allowed the fewest points per game (16) after Antonio Pierce’s promotion to interim HC. In the offseason, the defense added Pro Bowl DT Christian Wilkins, giving it another boost for 2024.

Minshew wouldn’t be a top-15 quarterback if we ranked players at the position, though he has proved to be a competent starter, which may be all Las Vegas needs to secure a playoff spot.

Across his 37 career starts, Minshew has thrown for 8,966 yards, 54 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. Only 11 active quarterbacks average more passing yards per game than Minshew’s 242.3-yard average as a starter.

Eagles sign edge-rusher Bryce Huff to three-year, $51.1M deal

Huff might not outperform Haason Reddick — the edge-rusher he’s taking over for — this season, but he was arguably the best and most realistic replacement Philadelphia could’ve hoped for. Regardless of how productive Reddick, a free agent after this season, had been with the Eagles, it wouldn’t have been easy to justify extending him since he turns 30 in September, so they signed Huff, 26.

Huff was one of the most underrated players in the NFL during his breakout 2023 season with the Jets, posting a career-high and team-leading 10 sacks and generating 33 pressures, the 17th most in the league.

The former undrafted free agent also tied Reddick for the sixth-highest pass rush win rate among edge-rushers (22%), according to ESPN Analytics.

As long as Philadelphia’s new-look secondary is more effective than last season’s group, the dropoff from Reddick (now a Jet) to Huff shouldn’t be too noticeable.

Colts draft UCLA edge-rusher Laiatu Latu

Latu, the first defender selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, isn’t an underrated player by any means. However, by this time next year, several teams will be left wondering how he fell to Indianapolis’ 15th overall pick, and those who passed on him will regret their decision.

Of course, a neck issue that forced Latu to medically retire from football while in college contributed to him sliding on draft day. Still, he has been healthy and extremely productive since transferring from Washington to UCLA, racking up 23.5 sacks and 34 tackles for losses over the past two seasons.

The Colts ranked fifth among teams in sacks last season (51), and it wouldn’t be all that surprising if they exceeded that total in 2024.

Although Indianapolis didn’t have a splashy offseason, the team is returning the majority of players from a roster that nearly reached the postseason in 2023 and has added talent at key positions.

If Richardson can take the next step in his development and, more importantly, stay healthy this season, the Colts could be dark-horse playoff contenders.

Titans sign center Lloyd Cushenberry III to four-year, $50M deal 

While he might not seem like the most exciting acquisition, the Titans made one of the biggest upgrades of the offseason by signing the former Bronco.

Rather than re-signing former starter Aaron Brewer, who is now with the Dolphins, Tennessee made Cushenberry a top priority in free agency, and for good reason. Not only did Brewer allow 34 pressures last season (which wasn’t even a career high), but he also surrendered the second-most sacks (six) and QB hits (seven) among centers.

Meanwhile, Cushenberry gave up just one sack, four QB hits and 14 total pressures for Denver in 2023.

Additionally, the 26-year-old earned the third-highest pass-blocking grade for a center (76.4) by Pro Football Focus, which is significant considering the Titans ranked 32nd in pass-blocking efficiency last season (74.5).

With Cushenberry and first-round pick JC Latham, a tackle, now on board, Titans QB Will Levis should have plenty of time in the pocket to help him connect with his revamped receiving corps.

For Las Vegas, Minshew will throw to the best collection of pass-catchers he’s had in his career and have a defense behind him that allowed the fewest points per game (16) after Antonio Pierce’s promotion to interim HC. In the offseason, the defense added Pro Bowl DT Christian Wilkins, giving it another boost for 2024.

Minshew wouldn’t be a top-15 quarterback if we ranked players at the position, though he has proved to be a competent starter, which may be all Las Vegas needs to secure a playoff spot.

Across his 37 career starts, Minshew has thrown for 8,966 yards, 54 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. Only 11 active quarterbacks average more passing yards per game than Minshew’s 242.3-yard average as a starter.

Eagles sign edge-rusher Bryce Huff to three-year, $51.1M deal

Huff might not outperform Haason Reddick — the edge-rusher he’s taking over for — this season, but he was arguably the best and most realistic replacement Philadelphia could’ve hoped for. Regardless of how productive Reddick, a free agent after this season, had been with the Eagles, it wouldn’t have been easy to justify extending him since he turns 30 in September, so they signed Huff, 26.

Huff was one of the most underrated players in the NFL during his breakout 2023 season with the Jets, posting a career-high and team-leading 10 sacks and generating 33 pressures, the 17th most in the league.

The former undrafted free agent also tied Reddick for the sixth-highest pass rush win rate among edge-rushers (22%), according to ESPN Analytics.

As long as Philadelphia’s new-look secondary is more effective than last season’s group, the dropoff from Reddick (now a Jet) to Huff shouldn’t be too noticeable.

Colts draft UCLA edge-rusher Laiatu Latu

Latu, the first defender selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, isn’t an underrated player by any means. However, by this time next year, several teams will be left wondering how he fell to Indianapolis’ 15th overall pick, and those who passed on him will regret their decision.

Of course, a neck issue that forced Latu to medically retire from football while in college contributed to him sliding on draft day. Still, he has been healthy and extremely productive since transferring from Washington to UCLA, racking up 23.5 sacks and 34 tackles for losses over the past two seasons.

The Colts ranked fifth among teams in sacks last season (51), and it wouldn’t be all that surprising if they exceeded that total in 2024.

Although Indianapolis didn’t have a splashy offseason, the team is returning the majority of players from a roster that nearly reached the postseason in 2023 and has added talent at key positions.

If Richardson can take the next step in his development and, more importantly, stay healthy this season, the Colts could be dark-horse playoff contenders.

Titans sign center Lloyd Cushenberry III to four-year, $50M deal 

While he might not seem like the most exciting acquisition, the Titans made one of the biggest upgrades of the offseason by signing the former Bronco.

Rather than re-signing former starter Aaron Brewer, who is now with the Dolphins, Tennessee made Cushenberry a top priority in free agency, and for good reason. Not only did Brewer allow 34 pressures last season (which wasn’t even a career high), but he also surrendered the second-most sacks (six) and QB hits (seven) among centers.

Meanwhile, Cushenberry gave up just one sack, four QB hits and 14 total pressures for Denver in 2023.

Additionally, the 26-year-old earned the third-highest pass-blocking grade for a center (76.4) by Pro Football Focus, which is significant considering the Titans ranked 32nd in pass-blocking efficiency last season (74.5).

With Cushenberry and first-round pick JC Latham, a tackle, now on board, Titans QB Will Levis should have plenty of time in the pocket to help him connect with his revamped receiving corps.