The Las Vegas Raiders suffered a major blow in free agency as three of their top players have signed with the New England Patriots, reuniting with former Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels. The exodus comes as a gut punch to Raiders fans, who are now watching key contributors leave for a team led by the coach they once blamed for their franchise’s struggles.
According to multiple reports, edge rusher Malcolm Koonce, wide receiver Hunter Renfrow, and cornerback Amik Robertson have all inked deals with the Patriots. McDaniels, who was fired by the Raiders midway through the 2023 season, has wasted no time plucking talent from his former team.
Koonce, who had a breakout season with 9.5 sacks, signed a four-year, $72 million deal with New England. Renfrow, known for his elite route running, agreed to a three-year, $36 million contract, while Robertson, a rising cornerback, landed a two-year, $18 million deal.
The moves have left Raiders fans furious, as they see McDaniels’ raid of their roster as adding insult to injury. After enduring a disappointing tenure under McDaniels, which included a fractured locker room and poor results, losing key free agents to him feels like a betrayal.
“First, McDaniels wrecks our team, and now he’s poaching our best players. This is disgusting,” one fan vented on X (formerly Twitter).
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Vikings are keeping a close eye on the situation. With the Raiders weakened by the departures, the Vikings could potentially swoop in and poach some of Las Vegas’ remaining free agents or explore trade opportunities. The fallout could create openings for teams like Minnesota to upgrade their roster.
As free agency continues, the Raiders must now regroup and find replacements for their departing stars. Meanwhile, the Patriots, under McDaniels’ influence, are quietly building a Raiders-infused roster in Foxborough.
For the Raiders, losing three key free agents to their former coach is nothing short of a free agency tragedy — one that could haunt them in the seasons to come.
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