3 Players the Raiders Must Avoid Signing in Free Agency

The Las Vegas Raiders are preparing to make a big splash in free agency as the team settles down in its new home. Mike Mayock and Co. will be looking to bring some big names to Vegas to join the organization ahead of the franchise's debut, but they have to be wary about throwing cash at the wrong guys. If the Raiders want to best prepare themselves for the future, they should avoid signing these three star free agents.

3. Joe Schobert

Joe Schobert is no slouch at linebacker, but the Raiders may be better off addressing the position via the draft, rather than throwing more than $10 million per season at the former Brown. There may be cheaper options available in free agency, too, that the Raiders should pursue instead. The team certainly has a need at linebacker, but Schobert could prove a bit too pricey, and come with a lot of competition.

2. Sammy Watkins

Sammy Watkins is not expected to return to the Chiefs this offseason, putting the Super Bowl hero back on the open market. While the former first-round pick is an intriguing talent, the Raiders need to avoid him at all costs due to his injury history. While receiver remains a position of need for Jon Gruden's squad, Watkins isn't reliable enough to justify the contract he's expected to be seeking.

1. Tom Brady

We get it, Tom Brady as the face of the franchise in Las Vegas is a very intriguing idea. But throwing upwards of $30 million per year at a 42-year-old QB is a recipe for disaster for a franchise looking to enter its new era mistake-free. Derek Carr doesn't do much to move the needle, but he's far from the reason the Raiders missed out on the playoffs for the third straight year in 2019. Brady may have a couple of seasons left in him, but backing up the brinks truck for him is a bad call.