Raiders could have little competition for one of the more elite players in free agency who could help fix their defense almost immediately
The Raiders will need to add a linebacker.
The Las Vegas Raiders face quite a list of needs to address as the offseason goes on. They need help at just about every position under the sun, besides maybe tight end and running back. Even then, adding better depth behind those guys wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Fortunately, the Raiders have nearly $90 million in cap space and several picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Their main focus before the draft is free agency, where they could spend around $80 million to pursue big-name players who might quickly help turn the team around.
One of those is Jacksonville Jaguars LB Devin Lloyd. Here at A to Z Sports, instead of doing another mock draft, we did a free agency draft, with the drafting order determined by who had the most cap space available, starting at the top. This isn’t realistic at all, but it’s fun and a good way to see what other teams may be targeting in the draft. On the clock at pick No. 2, I picked Lloyd.
Raiders select Devin Lloyd in free agency draft
“The Raiders haven’t had an elite linebacker in some time now. They haven’t had a good linebacker since Robert Spillane, who was on the New England Patriots this season. Their linebacker unit was one of the biggest reasons the defense performed poorly in coverage in 2025. They enter the offseason with just Tommy Eichenberg and Cody Lindenberg on their roster. Both guys have played a combined 167 defensive snaps in their careers, with Eichenberg having all of them. They need a linebacker, and Lloyd is elite, especially in pass coverage. Last season, he had five interceptions and one pick-six on Patrick Mahomes. His 81.1 pass coverage grade per PFF shows he’s one of the best coverage LBs in the league. Projected deal: Three years, $48 million, w/$35 million guaranteed.” – Justin Churchill, A to Z Las Vegas
Since the teams in the back of the draft don’t have much cap space, it’s a good way to see what other teams could even target Lloyd, given their needs and cap space. The next linebacker taken in this draft was No. 19 by the Carolina Panthers, who took Kaden Elliss.
He’s far off the linebacker Lloyd is, and pretty much every team after that that needs a linebacker could probably afford Lloyd, but likely wouldn’t be able to afford many other needs in free agency. So, it’s safe to say the Raiders could get an elite player without much competition, as the Jaguars, his former team, may not even be able to afford him.
Lloyd is elite and is maybe one of the best coverage linebackers in the league. The Raiders struggle in pass coverage, and Lloyd could be the type of star piece you can put next to Maxx Crosby to help elevate the defense and give them a head start in the rebuild.
Las Vegas Raiders News
Klint Kubiak and the Raiders could be closing in on hiring Fernando Mendoza’s potential right-hand man in Las Vegas
The Raiders will need a good quarterback coach.
