The Las Vegas Raiders are parting ways with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and wide receiver Hunter Renfrow.
The 2024 NFL new league year is officially upon us.
Both of these moves were expected, and the Raiders will save more than $19 million as a result.
Jimmy Garoppolo signed a three-year, $72.75 million contract ($34 million guaranteed) with Vegas almost one year ago to this day (March 17, 2023).
He played in seven games last season and finished with just 1,205 yards, nine touchdowns, and nine interceptions. He was eventually benched after suffering several injuries and enduring a coaching change.
And now he’s gone.
Raider Nation, thank you for welcoming me and my family in the last 5 years. From Oakland to Vegas it felt like home.
I wouldn’t be the person I am today without my teammates and coaches inspiring me every single day. 5 years went by quick…… “Once a Raider Always a Raider” pic.twitter.com/GZ4cHUnlby— Hunter Renfrow (@renfrowhunter) March 13, 2024
Hunter Renfrow signed a two-year, $32 million contract ($21 million guaranteed) with the Raiders on June 10, 2022. It came after a 2021 campaign that saw him rack up 103 catches for 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns.
In the 27 games since, he has just 51 catches for 585 yards and two touchdowns (none last season). He still has the talent, but Vegas wasn’t utilizing him to his fullest potential.
And now he’s gone.
Raiders Also Releasing Jerry Tillery and Brian Hoyer
The Raiders informed Jerry Tillery of his release on March 9, but it became official today. The move saves Vegas $2.3 million as they continue to build out a competitive roster.
It marks the second time general manager Tom Telesco has released Tillery. Telesco drafted Tillery in the 2019 NFL Draft, but waived him halfway through the 2022 season.
Las Vegas picked him up several days later and he signed a two-year, $6.8 million contract last March.
But now he’s gone.
We have released the following players:
QB Jimmy Garoppolo
QB Brian Hoyer
WR Hunter Renfrow
DT Jerry Tillery pic.twitter.com/v5dFwP1C9k— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) March 13, 2024
And last, but not least, we have Brian Hoyer.
The Raiders signed him to a two-year deal in April 2023 with the intention of backing up Jimmy Garoppolo under then-coach Josh McDaniels.
They fired McDaniels, hired Antonio Pierce, benched Jimmy G, and promoted Aidan O’Connell. Hoyer quickly became an afterthought and is now being pushed out of Vegas.
Raiders Have Plenty of Cap Space to Work With
The Raiders entered free agency with more than $50 million to spend.
While they’ve already spent some of that money — we’re looking at you, Christian Wilkins and Gardner Minshew — the Raiders are gaining most of it back by releasing Garoppolo and Renfrow.
In total, the Raiders are saving $21,871,500 in cap space with the releases of Garoppolo, Renfrow, Tillery, and Hoyer, according to The Athletic’s Tashan Reed.
I expect the Raiders to make several splashes over the next few weeks. They have a lot of money to spend, and they’re looking to stay aggressive — much like they were with Wilkins.
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