The Raiders finally signed a defensive end.
They only had Arden Key under contract until signing Josh Mauro to a one-year, $1.4 million contract on Friday afternoon, the team announced.
While the Raiders can now fill every position on defense, one deep anyway, this addition doesn't eliminate a pressing need off the edge.
Mauro (6-foot-6, 290 pounds) doesn't provide much pass-rush ability, with just three sacks in five years. That's not really his thing. The former New York Giant, who previously worked with Raiders defensive line coach Brentson Buckner in Arizona, is a solid run player. That's also an important role, especially in the base defense.
Mauro can move all over the defensive line and will be a rotational piece. The Raiders were pushing to sign edge rusher Markus Golden in recent days, but he eventually went to the Giants.
Most edge rushers heading for free agency never made it to market, getting slapped with the franchise tag instead. Those who did got paid beaucoup bucks, well out of the Raiders comfort zone for the position, especially after receiver Antonio Brown was acquired in a trade.
[RELATED: Raiders sign J.J. Nelson to receiver corps]
Sports
The position's middle class also went quickly, leaving the Raiders left without many options. Justin Houston remains on the market without a clear sense of his market value. The Raiders' free-agent spending spree is believed to be winding down after four high-priced acquisitions, but a veteran pass rusher seems necessary even if the Raiders hone on that position early and often in the NFL draft.
Mauro is a Stanford product with 30 starts in five seasons. He also had a PED suspension in 2018 after testing positive for a banned substance he claimed was ingested with an over-the-counter pre-workout supplement.
