The Las Vegas Raiders cleaned house on the back half of their defense this offseason under the guidance of new general manager John Spytek and head coach Pete Carroll. The lone holdover of any significance was safety Isaiah Pola-Mao, a former undrafted free agent.
Pola-Mao blossomed last season, however, in the absence of starter Marcus Epps, who was sidelined for the season after getting injured in Week 3. Pola-Mao had a career year, and the new regime rewarded him with a two-year, $7.45 million deal, worth up to $8.45 million.
This vote of confidence paid dividends for Pola-Mao early, as he recorded a highlight-reel interception during the preseason and carried that momentum into a strong showing in Week 1 of the regular season against the New England Patriots.