3 surprise cuts the Raiders could make this offseason
1. Marcus Mariota
Gruden brought Mariota in as a relatively high-priced insurance policy behind Derek Carr at the quarterback position last offseason. To Carr’s credit, he responded by posting a really good regular-season. His head coach still isn’t married to him by any stretch of the imagination, but he clearly beat out Mariota.
If the Raiders had money committed to Mariota for another season it’s very likely they’d keep him around. However, the team can cut him without absorbing a single dollar of dead salary cap charges. It’s very likely Las Vegas will choose to spend the $10.725 million they’d need to pay Mariota to stick around in 2021 elsewhere.
Jettisoning him will force the Raiders to acquire a new backup quarterback, but that’s a process that will excite Gruden rather than intimidate him. He could look to the draft to find a young prospect he can mold into Carr’s long-term successor. It’s also conceivable he could acquire a veteran like Jacoby Brissett to protect them against an injury at the quarterback position.
Next. Las Vegas Raiders 7-round mock draft. dark
No matter what, Mariota seems destined to be headed towards free agency once again. He’ll attract plenty of interest on the open market, but he’ll be hard-pressed to make the same money he could have if he stayed with the Raiders. It may finally be time for him to be paid like a backup.