The ‘Landing Spot’ for Raiders to Steal the $120 million champion has been named.
The Raiders have primarily focused on possible fits at quarterback, but there are a few other holes on this team. The official start of the NFL season is just one week away, which means that free-agent contracts can finally be signed. One of them is the interior defensive line, and by making a significant acquisition in the form of signing Chris Jones, a free agent from the Chiefs, the Raiders defence may be able to deliver a double-whammy there.
The Chiefs decided against assigning Jones a franchise tag, but they are still trying to find a way to re-sign him. However, if the Raiders could persuade him to travel to Las Vegas and lead a defence that significantly improved
The Chiefs decided against assigning Jones a franchise tag, but they are still trying to find a way to re-sign him. However, the Raiders would not only increase their chances of winning the Super Bowl in 2024, but they would also seriously hurt the hopes of the reigning champions, if they could persuade him to come to Las Vegas and lead a defence that made significant progress during the previous season.
According to Pro Football Focus, Jones will have two “landing spots” (with the Bears) with the Raiders in free agency.
The Raiders defence was at its best in the second half of the season, but several important interior defensive line players are still unrestricted free agents. Maxx Crosby and Chris Jones together would quickly become
“On a Tear,” Raiders Defence Closed
Jones is in high demand. Pro Football Focus, CBS Sports, and The 33rd Team rank him as the best free agent available this year, an unusual ranking for an interior defensive lineman. But at 29 years old, Jones still possesses the consistency and ability to control a game.
Although he won’t be an inexpensive addition, the Raiders have enough cap room to complete a deal. While Spotrac pegs his contract at three years and $85.5 million, or $28.8 million, PFF believes he is worth a four-year contract worth of $120 million, or $30 million annually.
Although Crosby and fellow end Malcolm Koonce finished the season as a formidable team, the Raiders struggled on the inside. The only defensive lineman with a PFF grade higher than 70 was the erroneous Jerry Tillery, who ranked 40th out of 130 D-linemen in the NFL with a grade of 68.8.
For the past seven seasons, Jones has been among the league’s Top 7 defensive linemen with a grade of 83 or higher.
Chris Jones during the Super Bowl praised LVR Facilities
It’s uncommon for a player of Jones’ calibre to achieve unrestricted free agency, according to PFF’s assessment of the free agent. Jones is among the greatest interior pass-rushers in the history of the game, not just the best available right now. In addition, he has the ability to line up outside of tackles as a 5-technique, bend around the edge, and make a play.
The Raiders need a playmaker just like that on the line.
It’s also noteworthy that when Jones was in Las Vegas for the Super Bowl last month—where he took home his third ring—he didn’t exactly sound against going back. Jones had a conversation regarding the Raiders with Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
