HENDERSON, Nev. — The Las Vegas Raiders launched quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and former Professional Bowl slot receiver Hunter Renfrow on Wednesday, the primary day of the NFL’s new league yr.
The strikes save the Raiders greater than $19 million in wage cap house underneath the brand new entrance workplace of basic supervisor Tom Telesco and coach Antonio Pierce.
Garoppolo signed a three-year, $72.75 million free agent contract with $33.75 million assured with Las Vegas final March, when Josh McDaniels was the coach and Dave Ziegler was GM. Whereas Garoppolo was due an $11.25 million roster bonus on Sunday, his $11.25 million base wage assure for the 2024 season can now even be voided because of a two-game suspension handed down by the league final month for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing medication coverage.
The violation was mentioned to be associated to Garoppolo utilizing a prescribed remedy with out having a legitimate therapeutic use exemption from the NFL, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Whereas he’s now free to signal with any group, Garoppolo shouldn’t be interesting the suspension and must sit out the primary two regular-season video games for his new group.
When Garoppolo signed with the Raiders, he wanted surgical procedure on his left foot — his contract didn’t grow to be viable till he handed a bodily. He suffered a concussion in addition to a again harm and completed final season with 1,205 passing yards, 7 landing passes and 9 interceptions, which have been main the league when he was benched by Pierce in favor of rookie Aidan O’Connell upon the Halloween night time firings of McDaniels and Ziegler. Garoppolo’s 65.1 completion proportion was a profession low for a season by which he performed a minimum of six video games, as have been his passer score (77.7) and QBR (34.2). His 5.3 interception proportion was additionally a profession excessive.
“I simply wish to get again to taking part in, truthfully,” Garoppolo mentioned the day after the season finale. “That is why I play this recreation. … I like to win. Actually, what I feel I am right here for is simply to go on the market and get wins. As a soccer participant, it is one thing you have to embrace. Not everybody needs that. Some folks simply need statistics and issues like that. I actually simply wish to go on the market and win. I actually get pleasure from doing it. That is what we’re right here for.”
The Raiders added veteran quarterback Gardner Minshew in free company.
Renfrow, in the meantime, seemingly fell out of favor with McDaniels’ workers together with his game-turning fumble in time beyond regulation towards the Arizona Cardinals that was returned for a walk-off TD in Week 2 of the 2022 season. He was concussed on the play.
A yr earlier, Renfrow was a Professional Bowler with 103 catches — the third-most receptions in a single season in franchise historical past — for 1,038 yards and 9 TDs. In 2022 and 2023, although, Renfrow caught a mixed 61 passes for 585 yards and a pair of TDs.
The 2019 fifth-round draft choose signed a two-year, $32 million extension with $21 million assured coming into the 2022 season.
Renfrow took to social media to thank followers earlier Wednesday: “Raider Nation, thanks for welcoming me and my household within the final 5 years. From Oakland to Vegas it felt like dwelling. I would not be the individual I’m as we speak with out my teammates and coaches inspiring me each single day. 5 years glided by fast…… ‘As soon as a Raider At all times a Raider’.”
The Raiders additionally introduced the official releases of quarterback Brian Hoyer and defensive lineman Jerry Tillery on Wednesday.