The NFL offseason is in full swing as the Combine begins this week and the Draft is exactly two months away. Teams are also beginning to extend or re-sign players on their roster that they have deemed worthy of a contract, and new general manager John Spytek is making moves to keep some of the Las Vegas Raiders‘ best talent off the market.
The team made their first notable move of the offseason on Monday when they announced that they were re-signing safety Isaiah Pola-Mao. The contract, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, is a two-year deal worth up to $8.45 million.
Pola-Mao was the team’s starting safety for the final 14 games of the season in 2024 after starter Marcus Epps went down with a season-ending injury in Week 3. He recorded career highs in tackles, passes defended and forced fumbles last year in his expanded role.
He was also named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 16 last season after he forced two fumbles and collected 11 tackles in a win against the Jacksonville Jaguars. His re-signing could also mean that the writing is on the wall for other safeties on the roster, like Epps or Tre’Von Moehrig, both of whom are free agents this offseason.
Pola-Mao is the nephew of Hall of Fame safety Troy Polamalu, who won two Super Bowls and was a six-time All-Pro with the Pittsburgh Steelers. After signing with the organization as an undrafted free agent in 2022, Pola-Mao has carved out a nice career with the Raiders and will return for his fourth season.
