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Las Vegas Raiders: 2021 is Gruden’s chance to finish the rebuild

By Ian Higgins

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - SEPTEMBER 29: Head coach Jon Gruden of the Oakland Raiders talks to Derek Carr #4 during a timeout in the fourth quarter of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 29, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - SEPTEMBER 29: Head coach Jon Gruden of the Oakland Raiders talks to Derek Carr #4 during a timeout in the fourth quarter of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 29, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 04: Seats are empty as video screens display a touchdown message after tight end Jason Witten #82 of the Las Vegas Raiders caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Derek Carr #4 against the Buffalo Bills in the first half of the NFL game at Allegiant Stadium on October 4, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NFL games at the stadium will be played without fans in attendance because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Bills defeated the Raiders 30-23. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 04: Seats are empty as video screens display a touchdown message after tight end Jason Witten #82 of the Las Vegas Raiders caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Derek Carr #4 against the Buffalo Bills in the first half of the NFL game at Allegiant Stadium on October 4, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NFL games at the stadium will be played without fans in attendance because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Bills defeated the Raiders 30-23. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

With a small free agency class, the Las Vegas Raiders have the golden opportunity to fill out their roster with the best talent available in 2021.

The 2021 offseason is going to be an offseason highlighted by frugal spending and working around the potentially lower salary cap. While many organizations will flounder to retain their star talent with the little money they have, the Las Vegas Raiders will be facing a different set of issues for their developing roster.

Head coach Jon Gruden and GM Mike Mayock will need to find value through rookies to lighten the books. Vegas is already pushing the boundaries of the salary cap and will become one of many teams attempting to dump salary to meet the potential $175 million cap.

Thankfully, none of their upcoming free agents will be demanding exorbitant contract extensions. The Raiders 2021 free agents are as follows:

Each of these players has had their role within the gameplan, but they can also be supplemented with cap-friendly rookies. Wide receivers Zay Jones and Nelson Agholor have each received a chance at redemption with Las Vegas, and will likely be pursuing new contracts elsewhere come the end of the season.

The final major question mark surrounding this collection of free agents is the status of Daniel Carlson. Carlson has been one of the leading kickers in the NFL amid the league’s own multi-year pandemic of placekicker scouting and overall quality.

It will be interesting to see Gruden’s approach to Carlson with the cap constraints in place.

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