Although the Las Vegas Raiders have emphasized fortifying their defense this offseason, they are doing what they can to avoid further turnover on offense.
The Raiders ushered in a full-on fire sale up front by trading offensive lineman Trent Brown, Rodney Hudson, and Gabe Jackson. They have since managed to alleviate it by re-signing guard Denzelle Good and bringing back guard Richie Incognito following his brief release.
Las Vegas had a notable void to fill with the retirement of tight end Jason Witten. Fortunately, they did not have to look very far for his replacement.
According to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, the Raiders have re-signed tight end Derek Carrier to a one-year deal:
The #Raiders and veteran TE Derek Carrier have agreed to terms on a 1-year deal, source said, as Las Vegas keeps one of its own and Carrier is set for his fourth season with the silver and black.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 18, 2021
ESPN’s Field Yates reports that Las Vegas also shored up some depth in the backfield by bringing back Theo Riddick.
The Raiders are re-signing RB Theo Riddick to a one-year deal that includes $50K guaranteed. Kenyan Drake signed today, Theo Riddick retained.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 18, 2021
The Raiders made a splash by signing former Arizona Cardinals running back Kenyan Drake to a two-year deal worth up to $14.5 million. It is safe to say that this quite an investment for a team that already has a bona fide workhorse in Josh Jacobs.
The move indicates that Las Vegas is looking to establish a lethal one-two punch in the backfield between Jacobs and Drake moving forward. Although the one-year deal worth $1.175 million hardly guarantees a roster spot for Riddick, his skill set as a viable pass-catcher could garner some opportunities for snaps on third down.
Meanwhile, Carrier is slated to provide some quality depth at the tight end position behind Darren Waller and Foster Moreau. Aside from his role as a blocker in the run game, he also finished the 2020 campaign with the second-most tackles on special teams.
While the Raiders will surely do what they can to shore up more firepower on offense, maintaining some continuity should help pay dividends in the 2021 NFL season.
