Las Vegas Raiders' first free agency moves are setting the tone for a team with the potential to have their floor raised
The Las Vegas Raiders have been active during the first two days of the legal tampering period. With the new league year actually set to kick off on Wednesday, the moves they have made can now be made official. Pen can be put to paper. In the process, the Raiders did, however, lose a few […]
The Las Vegas Raiders have been active during the first two days of the legal tampering period. With the new league year actually set to kick off on Wednesday, the moves they have made can now be made official. Pen can be put to paper.
In the process, the Raiders did, however, lose a few starters in the process — guys who played crucial roles on the defense last season. They will be missing those players, for sure. They were a huge reason the defense was as good as it was. But, the Raiders weren't going to overpay like the Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots, and Green Bay Packers did. Instead, they got replacements who fit this scheme better, and are cheaper.
So, now that the new league year has officially begun, we can go ahead and grade the Raiders’ moves. Unless something completely unforeseen happens, these deals will go through as agreed upon.
Grading Las Vegas Raiders' 2025 Free Agency moves so far
DT Adam Butler
The Las Vegas Raiders decided to retain one of their more underrated players on defense last year, and in return for his play, they gave him a pretty good contract — three years worth $16.5 million, with $11 million guaranteed, to be exact. This was really the first move, addition, or retention, that happened. And, it was a great way to kick start the Raiders' free agency, or legal tampering period, I should say.
The value he brings to the Raiders is pretty high, much higher than the fan base may think. He is undisputedly DT2, that is, unless the Raiders draft a DT early in the draft. He's the guy next to Christian Wilkins that does all of the dirty work, and to get him at that price, when he's gotten better the last two years, is a great move.
I give this move an A+
S Jeremy Chinn
This was really the Raiders' first addition in free agency, and it came just minutes after the Raiders were unable to retain linebacker Robert Spillane and safety Tre'von Moehrig. The former Washington Commanders safety is a much better fit for this defense than Moehrig is. Chinn has the size and versatility that Pete Carrol will be obsessed with.
But also, Chinn is better than Moehrig in a lot of different ways. The only edge I would say Moehrig has over Chinn would be in coverage, and the difference is not that big. And here's the best part, the Raiders got him for sure cheap, a two-year deal worth $16 million. When you compare how much Moehrig got from the Panthers, a three-year, $51 million contract, this move was a great one. You have to factor in the money they are saving and the player they are getting.
I would give this move an A-
DE Malcolm Koonce
The Raiders always wanted Koonce back. In fact, Pete Carroll mentioned Koonce specifically by name twice when mentioning guys that he wanted to have back from last season. To make the signing even better, the Raiders had just lost Nate Hobbs to the Packers. Seeing another guy with a ton of potential come back was huge.
But, the deal is just for one year. While it's cheap, and trust me a one year deal worth $12 million is cheap for DEs these days, Koonce should have been signed to a longer contract. Now it comes off as a prove it deal after the ACL injury, where I think we all believe he will be back to his normal self, where then he will get more money next year, likely by another team. So, if this deal was two or even three years long, I would have loved it. But being one year makes the move okay.
I'd grade it a solid B
S Lonnie Johnson Jr.
This is a depth and special teams move. The Raiders needed depth after seeing that their safety room was essentially Isaiah Pola-Mao, Jeremy Chinn, and all guys who have barely played any NFL football at all. Now you have a guy in Johnson Jr. who has played a ton of football, and can be a special teams ace. like he was for teams like the New Orleans Saints, Houston Texans, and Panthers.
And for the price they got him at, I actually like this deal. You have to consider what the Raiders need and that not every move is set to be a homerun.
Getting Johnson is a B+ move.
LB Elandon Roberts
This is one of the best moves the Raiders have made. Can we just start by saying that the Pittsburgh Steelers are a linebacker factory for the Raiders to steal from. This guy is basically the same as Robert Spillane, the linebacker that the Raiders lost on a very big deal. The PFF grades are nearly identical, and the tape is a lot alike, too. Roberts is primarily a run defender, and an elite one, but can play in coverage, as he actually had a pick six against the Raiders in 2021 when he played for the Miami Dolphins.
This one-year deal worth $3 million is a much better deal than what the Patriots gave Spillane.
This move is an A grade.
CB Eric Stokes
I like the move. The Raiders needed to fill the hole that Hobbs was going to leave, and they needed to do it before the 2025 NFL Draft. However, at the same time it didn't need to be a homerun move, because the Raiders are banking on their young guys as well. Stokes is good enough to be the third or fourth best cornerback on the roster, and that's all they needed, not a super star.
The Raiders are also banking on Stokes to be better after recovering from the injuries he played through. And, we will see just how that goes. But this is a low risk-high reward move.
I'd grade this move a B+.
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