Las Vegas Raiders free agency 2021: Top 5 targets

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 06: Melvin Ingram #54 of the Los Angeles Chargers celebrates after sacking Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens during the third quarter in the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 06, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 04: Head coach Jon Gruden of the Las Vegas Raiders looks on during the second half of the NFL game against the Buffalo Bills at Allegiant Stadium on October 4, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bills defeated the Raiders 30-23. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

The Raiders need to add some veteran talent to their young roster. Here are five free agents Jon Gruden should target this offseason.

This is the perfect offseason for the Raiders to go out and add some established veterans to supplement their young core. The trick for Las Vegas will be choosing which free agents deserve substantial contracts. Handing out a big-money deal to the wrong guy could doom the team to mediocrity again in 2021.

Jon Gruden’s roster does have several high-profile vacancies to fill heading into the offseason. The team is still searching for a No. 1 edge rusher that can really wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks. This year’s draft class isn’t chocked full of high-profile edge rushers which means free agency needs to be the avenue the Raiders choose to fill their biggest void.

Elsewhere, the team could use strengthening in the secondary and on the interior of their offensive line. It’s impossible for Las Vegas to fill all of their needs in free agency, but signing any of the following five players would represent an excellent start.

5. Joe Thuney

The Raiders could use an upgrade at guard to give their ground game a much-needed boost. Thuney might be outside the team’s price range, but he’d certainly represent an upgrade over the players Las Vegas deployed at either guard spot in 2020.

He’s not a classic mauler, but he’s got the ability to create leverage with his outstanding technique. Throw in his ability to keep Derek Carr upright more often and it’s easy to see why the Raiders would be interested in the outstanding guard. Whether or not they can create enough cap space to sign him is a different matter.

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