Raiders Defense Will Be Unrecognizable Next Season After Countless Offseason Moves
By Adam Weinrib
No matter what you think of Jon Gruden's roster-building strategy, he's certainly put his full imprint on the Raiders before Year 3.
Well, on one side of the ball, at least.
Though Derek Carr is still his embedded signal caller, Gruden has entirely remade the defense in his third offseason of tinkering, both via savvy free agent moves and the draft.
A busy Raiders offseason on defense:
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) May 13, 2020
Signed: LB Cory Littleton, LB Nick Kwiatkoski, DE Carl Nassib, DT Maliek Collins, S Damarious Randall, CB Prince Amukamara, S Jeff Heath.
Drafted: CB Damon Arnette, LB Tanner Muse, CB Amik Robertson.
Yeah, things are going to look different in the big, black Roomba in the desert next year.
Littleton's three-year, $36 million deal is the centerpiece of Gruden's offseason strategy, bringing an experienced and underrated linebacker in to captain the defense. Damarious Randall and the recently-added Prince Amukamara also contribute to the team's ethos of redemption stories. This isn't even to mention the Eli Apple signing, scrapped due to unsound medicals.
Raiders GM Mike Mayock: 'I liked Damon Arnette as much as Jeffrey Okudah' https://t.co/C3Nm3e2XCM
— Raiders Wire (@TheRaidersWire) May 12, 2020
Many viewed the Damon Arnette pick as a reach in April, but he's certainly surrounded by veteran talent in an entirely new-look secondary, at this point.
Say what you will about the identity and fits, but it's undeniably Gruden. This isn't the Oakland Raiders anymore, by any means.