The Las Vegas Raiders made their big post-draft roster move with the recent signing of linebacker Germaine Pratt. It was one of their biggest remaining needs on defense, and now they’ve landed the top option on the free agent market.
However, the team had to make room on the roster spot to add him. The Raiders announced that they have waived third-year defensive back Jonathan Sutherland.
He hadn’t played a game before, but had some soft ties to head coach Pete Carroll after signing with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2023. Las Vegas signed him this offseason, but he didn’t get much time to earn a roster spot.
It was always going to be an uphill battle for Sutherland to keep a job in Las Vegas, but now he’ll be hoping to land on a team before the start of training camp.
Isaiah Pola-Mao Eyeing Starting Job
The Raiders lost both of their Week 1 starters at safety in free agency, with Tre’von Moehrig and Marcus Epps signing elsewhere in free agency. Part of the reason the team let them walk was because they were able to sign Isaian Pola-Mao to an extension before free agency.
That said, he knows he has to earn a starting job.
“I want to earn that starting role,” Pola-Mao said recently at a press conference. “Last year, I was kind of shoved into that role by default. … I want to earn the trust of the guys and the coaches. This is a new defense, so really, nothing last year matters. It’s a new start for me.”
Pola-Mao is going to be a favorite for one of the starting safety jobs, and Jeremy Chinn is his likely running mate. Pola-Mao has been impressed with Chinn early on.
“When his helmet comes on, he kind of flips that switch,” Pola-Mao said of Chinn. “He goes in that mode where he’s locked in. Having him on the field, it kind of puts me at ease because I know he’s locked in and knows what he’s doing.”
Pete Carroll Praises Offensive Coaches
The Raiders’ biggest key to success is going to be improved offensive line play. The team has a new offensive line coach in Brennan Carroll and offensive coordinator in Chip Kelly. Pete Carroll has been impressed with what his coaching staff has done so far.
“They’ve done a really solid job,” Carroll told reporters Thursday. “They’ve really worked on their technique. … BC’s done a really nice job of getting all these guys to look uniform. They step really well. The hand placement is really good. The communication seems to be sharp. Chip’s got a really in-depth, busy plan that we ask these guys to embrace.
“Fortunately, Geno (Smith) is kind of the run coordinator on the field, and he changes things and does the things that we need to do. All of that has worked together really well. So, it looks like a good, solid group. … It’s very competitive, and we feel like we have some depth. Going into (training) camp is really when we’ll know what’s happening.”
