Raiders 2024 free agency tracker: Offseason moves, signings
Here’s a breakdown of every 2024 NFL free agent signing by the Las Vegas Raiders and how each will impact the upcoming season:
The Raiders will re-sign Abdullah, who served as a backup running back and key special-teamer. Terms were not disclosed.
What it means: Third-and-Abdullah isn’t just an ironic and trendy hashtag, plus, the Raiders value his versatility. Because while his stats last season — 15 carries for 89 yards, 19 catches for 131 yards — don’t jump off the page, he is one of only 10 Raiders to play in all 34 games the last two seasons combined. And his value on special teams, both as a returner (he returned 26 kickoffs for 543 yards in 2022) and as a gunner (20 combined tackles the past two season) is, well, invaluable.
What’s the risk: None, unless the Raiders plan on making the 5-foot-9, 203-pounder who turns 31 on June 13, a feature back. And that’s not gonna happen, no matter what goes down with Josh Jacobs. Abdullah is a key special teams and solid locker room guy who dabbles in catching passes out of backfield by necessity. So unless the Raiders have designs on a different role for him and his “Tekken” double-kick/twirl kick TD celebration, which earned him a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty for making contact with an opposing player at Seattle two years ago, there is little to no risk in bringing Abdullah back.
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The Raiders re-signed James, who has been their starting center for the past three seasons, to a contract. Terms were undisclosed.
What it means: The Raiders like what they have in James, a converted tackle who signed a two-year, $8.65 million extension with $4 million guaranteed in 2022. He has been as intriguing as he has been solid since replacing three-time Pro Bowler Rodney Hudson in 2021. James has started 48 of 51 games since — he missed two games last season with an ankle injury, one with a concussion in 2022 — and his return also means three of the Raiders’ five starting O-linemen are under contract, with left tackle Kolton Miller and left guard Dylan Parham signed and right guard Greg Van Roten and right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor still unsigned.
What’s the risk: Little, if the goal is to maintain continuity. Consider: James played 929 snaps last season and was flagged for just two penalties, a hold and a false start, while boasting a 96.5% pass block win rate in getting charged with seven sacks surrendered. James also had a 70.1% run block win rate.