Grading the signing: Las Vegas Raiders get their first edge rusher since trading Maxx Crosby
The Raiders have their starting edge rusher.
The Las Vegas Raiders have addressed major roster needs on day one of the negotiating window, signing center Linderbaum, wide receiver Jalen Nailor, and now adding an edge rusher after trading Maxx Crosby to the Ravens.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Raiders have agreed to terms with former Indianapolis Colts edge rusher Kwity Paye on a three-year, $48 million deal, with $32 million guaranteed. There’s no replacing Crosby, but they have their first edge rusher since the trade.
So, let’s grade the signing, shall we?
Grading the Raiders’ signing of edge rusher Kwity Paye
Grade: C+
The Raiders have just three edge rushers after trading Crosby, and only two—Tyree Wilson and Charles Snowden—have played significant snaps in the league. They needed an edge rusher in free agency, since they couldn’t draft many. Maybe just one who can contribute immediately.
However, the lower-ish grade comes from the fact that there may have been opportunities out there to get better edge rushers like Boye Mafe or Odafe Oweh. Then again, Oweh got $25 million a year. This means Malcolm Koonce could get anywhere from $10 million to $20 million, given how teams are paying these players.
Paye had a down year last season, but he has been very good before that. He’s still young, and there’s time to tap into some untapped potential. However, he won’t be a game wrecker on the edge for you in Year 1.
A to Z Indianapolis’ Destin Adams broke down the signing a bit more from a Colts standpoint:
“The Colts drafted Kwity Paye in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft with the goal of him developing into their top edge rusher. That goal never came to fruition, as it became pretty clear early on that his ceiling as a pass rusher was lower than the team had hoped. That doesn’t mean he’s a bad player, though, despite his coming off his worst season since his rookie year. Las Vegas is getting an excellent run defender who sets the edge impressively. He’s also better suited to be the second fiddle as a pass rusher and should have more success in that regard, with him not expected to be the top pass rusher with the Raiders. The Colts didn’t have much interest in paying Paye this offseason, given that other free agents came off better seasons, and his fit in Anarumo’s defense was questionable at best.”
Las Vegas Raiders News
Grading the signing: Raiders grab the cheaper option of what most thought Vegas would go after
The Raiders nailed it with Nailor.
