Las Vegas Raiders sign Damarious Randall: Grade, reaction and more
By John Buhler
Former Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers safety Damarious Randall is joining the Las Vegas Raiders in his free agency. Here are the contract details.
After two years with the Cleveland Browns, former first-round pick Damarious Randall will be joining his third NFL team. Randall was originally drafted No. 30 overall in the 2015 NFL Draft out of Arizona State University by the Green Bay Packers. He was traded to Cleveland mid-way through his rookie contract. Now, he’ll suit up for the Silver and Black in Las Vegas.
ESPN’s Josina Anderson reported on Thursday night Randall will be joining the Las Vegas Raiders on a one-year deal. The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Friday morning it will be a one-year contract worth $3.25 million to pry Randall out of the Dawg Pound and into the Black Hole.
It’s a short-team deal that helps round out the Raiders’ much-improved secondary. This deal came together shortly after the one the Raiders had in place with former New Orleans Saints cornerback Eli Apple fell through. Apple’s deal wasn’t the first deal to fall apart in this free agency period, and it may very well not be the last.
Here are the contract details, the national reaction and a grade for Randall going to the Raiders.
Contract Details
Per Rapoport, it is a one-year deal worth $3.25 million. For a former first-round pick still on the good side of 30-years-old, there is a lot to like about this from the Raiders’ standpoint. Last year’s first-rounder Johnathan Abram showed a ton of promise coming out of Mississippi State, but had his rookie season ended prematurely in early September. Randall’s deal is tremendous value.
National Reaction
Former #Browns & #Packers free agent S Damarious Randall just texted me he is going to the Las Vegas #Raiders on a 1-year deal.
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) April 3, 2020
For the #Raiders and Damarious Randall, it’s a 1-year deal worth up to $3.25 million, source said. https://t.co/lfd1Soemyk
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 3, 2020
#Raiders get their versatile DB in Damarious Randall. Love the move.
— Moe Moton (@MoeMoton) April 3, 2020
The Raiders agreeing to terms on a 1-year contract with free-agent S Damarious Randall hours after the team's agreement with CB Eli Apple fell through gives Las Vegas depth and experience in the secondary. Especially since Randall began his career in... https://t.co/l4hYJVYODi
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) April 3, 2020
A little surprised the #Giants passed on safety Damarious Randall at $3.25M. Nice upside play for #Raiders
— Dan Schneier (@DanSchneierNFL) April 3, 2020
Could mean: They project Julian Love at free safety + are comfortable with him in single-high
Could mean: They like this safety class a lot
I would guess it's a bit of both.
Overall, Raider Nation loves this deal. The Silver and Black know they have a pass rush with promising youngsters in Clelin Ferrell and Maxx Crosby. The linebacking corps remains a work in progress, but a revamped secondary will go a long way in the Raiders contending for a playoff spot again in the deep AFC West. Randall’s versatility as a defensive back makes this deal even better.
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Ultimately, the Raiders got a mulligan on Apple and got a player who is more consistent in the back-end of the defense on a very reasonable deal. Randall is being underpaid, here, but keep in mind he’s going to a team that plays in a state with no income tax. This is a great under-the-radar move that should make the Raiders a better football team in 2020.