Free Agency thread for Raiders and league-wide

[RunOverByHubbard]

Free agency opens March 11. CBS Sports has their top 50 ranking. No Raiders on the list. I am surprised at a couple rated high - Aaron Rodgers and Daniel Jones. Lots of wide receivers

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/earl ... ng-top-50/

[mstrbass2000]

Good lord Denver overpaid! Waddle is the definition of overrated. Always banged up too.

WOW TALK ABOUT WAY WAY OVER PAYING FOR A WR2

The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports the Broncos acquired WR Jaylen Waddle, formerly of the Dolphins, in exchange for 2026 first, third, and fourth round draft picks.
The Dolphins had spent the past month halfheartedly denying Waddle was available via trade during the team’s tear-down rebuild. The Broncos had to part with PREMIUM draft picks to acquire Waddle in a move that boosts the otherwise ordinary Denver receiving room. Waddle, who frequently struggled with injuries, has just 122 receptions for 1,654 yards over the past two seasons in a run-first Miami offense. The trade leaves Tutu Atwell as the Dolphins’ top wideout for now. Last year Waddle, 27, averaged 56.9 receiving yards per game, leading the Dolphins with a 41 percent air yards share and a 22 percent target share. In Denver he’ll join an offense that last year ranked fourth in pass attempts and 11th in passing yards. While Waddle could emerge as the team’s de facto No. 1 wideout, Courtland Sutton could retain that role thanks to his chemistry with Bo Nix.

[SkullCrusher]

Wow

Cap 301 million
Fins Dead 175 million

If they do anything, they over achieved.

[mstrbass2000]

If Waddle went for all that, what the hell is Philly asking for Brown?

2 1ST RD PICKS

[MexicanHulk]

I never said it wasnt a need. But one can be had in the 3rd or later. Which is why IMO, its not the biggest need on this team. Protecting our franchise QB is the biggest need ATM.

Any position can be had in any round. So, I guess that’s where we’re differing on this. DT is the biggest need & has been neglected by this org for far too long. Just like LB was but, IDL is far more important. & I want to have a dominant dline. Finally give Crosby some damn help from the inside. I want get get at least one real “s it” kicker in the middle. The edge looks really strong rn but, the IDL looks weak. There’s some young guys who could develop but, nothing you’d want to bank on & go into the season with. Butler is the only above avg player there but, he’s more of a pass rushing DT.

We need DT badly &, getting in on those early round talents is far better than just getting one on day three.

[Attyla]

Any position can be had in any round. So, I guess that’s where we’re differing on this. DT is the biggest need & has been neglected by this org for far too long. Just like LB was but, IDL is far more important. & I want to have a dominant dline. Finally give Crosby some damn help from the inside. I want get get at least one real “s it” kicker in the middle. The edge looks really strong rn but, the IDL looks weak. There’s some young guys who could develop but, nothing you’d want to bank on & go into the season with. Butler is the only above avg player there but, he’s more of a pass rushing DT.

We need DT badly &, getting in on those early round talents is far better than just getting one on day three.

I don't think that is true. There might be one NT taken in the first two rounds, but that is because teams know that is a position beams do not prioritize. The rest are going third and fourth for good, starting caliber players. You can get more than one on day 2 in the third round and day 3 in the fourth and come away with some really good players. I keep pointing out one but there are others who will make their mark and more than a few from day one of the season. And with the linebackers we got, the job up front just got a bit easier.

[Oaktownonly]

Wow

That is staggering!

[Jeevo]

Dolphins are doing it right though and it's good fortune for them that it's the year before a supposedly great QB class. Rip that bandage off and get on with it.

[chucker]

[Goodtimes333]

To the first bolded part, I’d say nearly all of it. That’s my opinion. Absolute terrible coaching & scheme. We all know, coaching &, preparation are extreme factors to success in the NFL. 100% vital. They had the worst in those areas. Not to mention, 2 rookies &, a 2nd year player that you would have wanted to start. So it was even more crucial since you had players 0 to near 0 experience with some. Plus you throw in the fact that, Glaze/Meredith were light years better the year prior. That’s why I’d put so much blame on the coaching last year.

Then to add the second bolded part to this. Miller was coming back from injury &, didn’t play well for the first several games. Then played very well once he shook that off but, got injured & missed the end of the season. JPJ didn’t even play cause of the stupid coaches son. Rogers & Grant only played at the very end of the season but, looked good when they did. So, a fully healthy Miller, a top C added, JPJ/Rogers/Grant…it’s like the line is completely overhauled. Miller is the only one who played significant snaps last year but really, was only himself for half of it. So it’s like adding 5 new starters that all are known to be good when healthy or, 2 young guns who have great traits &, can be good starters this year as well.

That’s how I see it. Why I have more confidence in the oline than the ones who don’t.

Excellent post. I'm right there with you. Every single guy mentioned is ideal for Klints scheme. That's huge. The Raiders lucked out in that all those guys just happen to be perfect for inside/outside/wide zone. & were drafted without Klint even being here. I can't comprehend how some are nearly completely disregarding both Grant and Rogers especially. Grant was playing perfect wide zone tackle ball in college. Rogers was demolishing defenders off pulls at Tech. Blocking guys 15-20 yards down field. JPJ played at Oregon who uses all combinations of zone blocking. Koltons proven it already in zone concepts, he's a damn good tackle. Linderbaum is the best ZBS center in the NFL.

[MexicanHulk]

I don't think that is true. There might be one NT taken in the first two rounds, but that is because teams know that is a position beams do not prioritize. The rest are going third and fourth for good, starting caliber players. You can get more than one on day 2 in the third round and day 3 in the fourth and come away with some really good players. I keep pointing out one but there are others who will make their mark and more than a few from day one of the season. And with the linebackers we got, the job up front just got a bit easier.

I’m not quite sure what you’re saying cause, I was thinking you were taking the stance of not wanting or needing a DT with a PREMIUM pick. Which I would say is top three rounds. Definitely top two rounds &, I that’s where I would disagree with you. But here it sounds like you’re saying taking one in the second/third round is good. That I agree with.

You also mention that teams don’t normally prioritize a NT early. Agree with that but, that’s not exactly what I’m advocating for. Because you’re implying a pure NT only. That I agree with you that, they do/should normally go a little later. I’m talking about a beast DT. One that is more of 3 down type. A NT with pass rushing disruptability. Doesn’t have to be a sack artist (that would be nice) but, a pocket collapser/penetrator is all that’s needed, if he’s a good run stuffer. That’s what I want in the second, if one of the good ones is available. Then I’d still take a NT in the 4th, if a good one is there.

[MexicanHulk]

Excellent post. I'm right there with you. Every single guy mentioned is ideal for Klints scheme. That's huge. The Raiders lucked out in that all those guys just happen to be perfect for inside/outside/wide zone. & were drafted without Klint even being here. I can't comprehend how some are nearly completely disregarding both Grant and Rogers especially. Grant was playing perfect wide zone tackle ball in college. Rogers was demolishing defenders off pulls at Tech. Blocking guys 15-20 yards down field. JPJ played at Oregon who uses all combinations of zone blocking. Koltons proven it already in zone concepts, he's a damn good tackle. Linderbaum is the best ZBS center in the NFL.

Yes yes, exactly. Couldn’t have said it better myself. Those players are actually really good fits with the incoming coach & scheme. Like you said, when you go back &, watch the film on these young guns, you’ll see why you could be excited/optimistic about their prospects going forward. Starting now.

[raiderboyron]

Raiders resign Thomas Booker
Per Raiders website

[raider_kin]

Dolphins are doing it right though and it's good fortune for them that it's the year before a supposedly great QB class. Rip that bandage off and get on with it.

Their turn to tank

[GoodTimeCharlie]

You know, despite the Maxx deal falling through, ya gotta feel a ton more confident about Spy. I mean it didn’t last, but for a minute, Spy was able to draw two 1st round picks from a team that had never even traded one 1st round pick for a player in it’s entire history.

This FA period has looked mighty strong. We won’t truly know of course how it turns out until they’re on the field, but the moves have been smart, necessary, and thankfully, not reeking of desperation. Just football players. Not entertainers, or divas, or straight f[raiders_icon]cking nutjobs.

Seems to have done a helluva job puttin’ his head together with Coach K for all the position coach hiring. Not names that splash all over ESPN etc, but guys that seem to be the best men for their jobs.

It all boils down to this draft for a final verdict. We can’t say really how last year’s draft went. The Carroll year was basically a mulligan, but it looks like that’s what we needed to get our franchise QB. Chalk it up to dumb luck. The latter being something Raider Nation hasn’t had in a long f[raiders_icon]cking time. The former being something we’ve had in spades for decades.

Looking forward to the draft with actual confidence for once, and seriously looking forward to football.

36 days, 16 hours, 27 minutes till the NFL ‘26 Draft.

[DanKD]

And this is why AI is still crap. I googled raiders 2027 free agens and this what ai told me.

Based on early 2026 transactions, the Raiders' 2027 unrestricted free agent class is headlined by high-priced 2026 acquisitions including center Tyler Linderbaum, linebacker Quay Walker, linebacker Nakobe Dean, defensive end Kwity Paye, and receiver Jalen Nailor, all of whom signed three-year deals in March 2026. Key secondary players like cornerback Eric Stokes may also be looking for extensions around that time.

Key 2027 Projected Free Agents (based on 3-year deals signed in 2026):
C Tyler Linderbaum: Signed a 3-year, $81 million deal, ranking him among the highest-paid centers.
DE Kwity Paye: Signed a 3-year, $48 million deal.
LB Quay Walker: Signed a 3-year, $40.5 million deal.
LB Nakobe Dean: Signed a 3-year, $36 million deal.
WR Jalen Nailor: Signed a 3-year, $35 million deal.
CB Eric Stokes: Expected to be a key, high-value target for retention following his 2025 performance.
Yahoo Sports
Yahoo Sports
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