John Spytek is continuing to replace pieces the Las Vegas Raiders have lost with cheaper and better players
The Las Vegas have lost a ton of players that they had last season, and maybe that's a good thing as seeing how they only had four wins in 2024. But, Pete Carroll wanted to retain all of the defensive players, and that didn't come close to happening. They have lost some players that they […]
The Las Vegas have lost a ton of players that they had last season, and maybe that's a good thing as seeing how they only had four wins in 2024. But, Pete Carroll wanted to retain all of the defensive players, and that didn't come close to happening.
They have lost some players that they really relied on last season, like Tre'von Moehrig, Robert Spillane, and Nate Hobbs. And so far, they have replaced a few of the guys they have lost, or aren't bringing back, with much cheaper options, and players that may very well be better for what the Raiders want to do in 2025. One of those guys is safety Jeremy Chinn, who played under Dan Quinn and the Washington Commanders last season.
He had a career year, and that's a defensive system that Pete Carroll will run. Chinn was cheaper and could very well be better than Moehrig. And then there is the only other signing they have made so far, in defensive back Lonnie Johnson — not a big signing, but one that they certainly will be happy with.
Raiders sign defensive back Lonnie Johnson Jr.
Johnson isn't necessarily replacing a starter, but had the Raiders decided to bring back Marcus Epps, who was coming off of an injury, Epps would have been a backup behind Chinn and Isaiah Pola-Mao. Being a backup means you're likely going to be a special teams ace, and that's exactly what Johnson is, and he is cheaper than pretty much anything else they would have to pay.
This is a way for the Raiders to provide depth, especially after last season, but also provide a guy who can make an immediate impact on special teams and not have to sit and wait for the safety ahead of him to go down to get in the field.
This is a string signing by the Raiders, and a cheap one at that. Johnson, the former Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans safety is a great pickup. Now, we wait for the details of the contract to be released.
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