Raiders reach terms with free agent QB Marcus Mariota

Intent on addressing a defense filled with holes on all three levels and armed with about $55 million in cap space, the Raiders went big-game hunting Monday on the first day of free agency.

By the end of the day, they had secured a starting middle linebacker in Chicago Bears free agent Nick Kwiatkoski, encountered a market for top-tier free agents that clashed with their intent to remain disciplined in how they allocate their money and, finally, came to terms with former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Marcus Mariota to back up Derek Carr.

As opening days go, it was quite the frenzy.

The headliner, obviously, is Mariota, the second overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft who had an inconsistent career with the Tennessee Titans before losing his job to Ryan Tannehill last season. Mariota’s best seasons were in 2016 and 2017 when he threw for a combined 6,658 yards and 39 touchdowns, albeit with 24 interceptions.

But a broken leg suffered in Week 16 in 2016, combined with constant coaching change in which he played under three head coaches and five offensive coordinators, stunted his development. It all came to a head last season when Tannehill, a castoff from the Miami Dolphins, pushed him out of a job and led the Titans to the AFC championship game.

But much like the fresh start Tennessee represented for Tannehill, who was rewarded Sunday by the Titans with a four-year contract worth $118 million and $62 million fully guaranteed, Las Vegas could provide the same for Mariota.

The initial plan is for the former Oregon star to back up Carr, but Mariota is a longtime favorite of Raiders general manager Mike Mayock, and his skill set is a fit in coach Jon Gruden’s offense. At worst, the Raiders have coverage in case of an injury to Carr. At best, Mariota provides training camp competition and pushes Carr throughout the season.

The Raiders started the day by coming to terms with Kwiatkoski, 26, on a three-year contract. An emerging player who flourished after taking over at middle linebacker last season for the injured Danny Trevathan, Kwiatkoski fills a critical need as an active, run-stopping linebacker who has shown proficiency in pass coverage.

The Raiders have been looking for a true defensive leader for some time, and Kwiatkoski’s ability to diagnose offenses, make defensive calls and get teammates lined up correctly was a huge factor in the team’s interest.

Kwiatkoski, a 2016 fourth-round pick out of West Virginia, played mostly in reserve in his first three seasons. He made the most of his starting opportunity in the final seven games of last season, finishing with 76 tackles, three sacks and eight tackles for losses. He was Pro Football Focus’s 15th-ranked linebacker.

The Raiders remained aggressive throughout the day while taking some bold swings trying to close other holes. But a mandate to remain disciplined resulted in at least one target escaping their reach.

Dallas Cowboys free agent cornerback Byron Jones, whom the Raiders made a priority at the outset of the two-day legal tampering period, agreed with the Miami Dolphins to a reported five-year, $82.5 million deal that includes $57 million guaranteed — $40 million of which he gets in the first two seasons.

The Raiders remain interested in Denver Broncos free agent cornerback Chris Harris, who isn’t expected to command nearly the same money as Jones. Signing Harris would mean a No. 1 caliber cornerback lining up opposite promising second-year corner Trayvon Mullen.

The Raiders also are in the running for Rams linebacker Cory Littleton, whom they have been connected to throughout the offseason. He would fit nicely at the WILL linebacker spot alongside Kwiatkoski in their 4-3 scheme. But Littleton is seeking a deal with an annual average salary of $14 million to $15 million, according to sources. That might be too steep for a Raiders team that has multiple holes to fill.

Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on Twitter.