The Las Vegas Raiders have made strong moves this offseason under the new leadership of head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Spytek, with Tom Brady as a minority owner. The franchise has secured extensions for key pieces like defensive end Maxx Crosby, as well as the addition of quarterback Geno Smith.
A solid offensive line is a top priority, and within that, the left tackle position has drawn special attention, it protects the quarterback and anchors the run game. With Smith‘s arrival setting the tone, the Raiders got to work.
Brady has spoken more than once about the importance of building a long-term player core. Despite his role, he is not involved in daily team operations or decision-making. Instead, he serves as a strategic advisor and mentor. In line with that vision, Carroll and the Raiders locked in a key protector who signed a big-money extension after a tense standoff.
The Las Vegas defender who signed a new deal
The Las Vegas player who agreed to a contract extension is none other than left tackle Kolton Miller, who signed a three-year, $66 million deal that includes $42.5 million guaranteed, according to NFL.com. The 29-year-old veteran is expected to rejoin the team’s practices after skipping the voluntary offseason program while pushing for a new contract.
Kolton Miller #74 of the Las Vegas Raiders attends a news conference after a practice during the team’s training camp at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters
After missing the April phase of the offseason program, Miller returned for OTAs and mandatory minicamp. That step helped move negotiations forward and added pressure on the Raiders’ front office, of which Brady is part, since Miller was set to earn $12.2 million in base salary with no guarantees in the final year of his previous deal.
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Situation resolved in Las Vegas
The Raiders managed to diffuse a tense situation, and now Smith and Carroll will count on a reliable veteran protector. Miller, a first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, has appeared in 109 games for Las Vegas, starting in 107 of them.
