The Las Vegas Raiders are making waves in the NFL’s 2026 free agency, flexing their league-leading salary cap space and sending a clear message: the rebuild under new head coach Klint Kubiak is in full swing. With nearly $112 million available to spend and the scars of a 3-14 season still fresh, the Raiders have wasted no time overhauling their roster, targeting both star power and depth across the board. The first two days of the negotiating period have brought a flurry of activity, headlined by major signings, strategic trades, and a changing of the guard at key positions.
Let’s start with the blockbuster deal anchoring the offensive line. On March 9, the Raiders landed three-time Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum on a three-year, $81 million contract, including $60 million guaranteed. That $27 million per year makes Linderbaum the highest-paid interior offensive lineman in the league, according to overthecap.com. Linderbaum, who spent his first four seasons with Baltimore, arrives at a crucial time: the Raiders’ offensive line allowed an NFL-high 64 sacks last season and ranked last in both rushing yards per game (77.5) and per attempt (3.57). With left tackle Kolton Miller expected to return from injury, the Raiders now have two pillars to stabilize a battered unit. As third-year lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson put it on social media, “Can’t wait to get to work.”
But that’s just the beginning. The Raiders have also agreed to terms with linebacker Quay Walker, formerly of Green Bay, on a three-year, $40.5 million deal with $28 million guaranteed. Walker, who has topped 100 tackles in each of his first four seasons, is expected to help first-year defensive coordinator Rob Leonard transition the defense from a 4-3 to a 3-4 scheme. Alongside Walker, Nakobe Dean joins on a three-year, $36 million contract with $20 million guaranteed. Dean, coming off a season with four sacks in just 10 games for Philadelphia, adds needed speed and versatility to a linebacker group that struggled after losing Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo in free agency last year.
Wide receiver Jalen Nailor, a Las Vegas native and Bishop Gorman alum, returns home on a three-year, $35 million deal with $23 million guaranteed. Nailor is coming off career highs—29 catches for 444 yards and four touchdowns with Minnesota. While the Raiders are reportedly still in the market for a true No. 1 receiver after trading Jakobi Meyers last November, Nailor’s arrival should help open up the offense and relieve some pressure on star tight end Brock Bowers.
On the defensive side, the Raiders have shored up the secondary by re-signing cornerback Eric Stokes to a three-year, $30 million contract with $20 million guaranteed. Stokes started 16 games last season, notching five pass breakups and 53 tackles—his second-best career totals. The Raiders also acquired cornerback Taron Johnson from the Bills via a late-round pick swap, adding another experienced hand to a group that’s seen plenty of turnover.
Edge rusher Malcolm Koonce has been retained on a one-year, $11 million deal, while the team has seen some notable departures. Defensive end Maxx Crosby, a cornerstone of the defense, was traded to Baltimore on March 6, netting the Raiders the 14th overall pick in the upcoming draft. Other departures include guard Alex Cappa, released to make way for Powers-Johnson, and kicker Daniel Carlson, whose tenure with the team has come to an end with the signing of veteran Matt Gay.
Speaking of kickers, the move to bring in Matt Gay marks a significant changing of the guard. Gay, who turns 32 next week, agreed to terms with the Raiders on March 10. Last season, he split time between Washington (13 games) and San Francisco (four games), making 17 of 23 field goal attempts and all 26 extra points. Notably, only one of his misses came from inside 50 yards. Over his career, Gay has converted 84.3% of his field goals (182-of-216), and he’s been particularly deadly from inside 50 yards, hitting 92.6% of those attempts. However, his accuracy drops to 59.3% on kicks of 50-plus yards. Gay’s arrival signals the end for Daniel Carlson, who has been with the Raiders since 2018 and leaves as the franchise’s No. 2 all-time leading scorer. Now, only left tackle Kolton Miller and punter A.J. Cole remain from the Raiders’ Oakland days—a testament to just how much this roster has turned over in recent years.
General manager John Spytek, in just his second year, has shown little hesitation in using every asset at his disposal. The Raiders’ aggressive approach is designed to give Kubiak, their third coach in as many years, a fighting chance to reverse the franchise’s fortunes. The team hasn’t won a playoff game in over two decades, and last year’s collapse only intensified the urgency for change. With the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, Las Vegas is widely expected to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, potentially ushering in a new era under center. The team is also expected to move on from veteran quarterback Geno Smith, further signaling a youth movement at key positions.
The Raiders’ free agency strategy hasn’t just been about splashy signings. The team has also made calculated moves to address depth and future flexibility. While offensive linemen David Edwards and Isaac Seumalo are headed elsewhere (to New Orleans and Arizona, respectively), Las Vegas retains a core group of tackles including Alijah Vera-Tucker, Wyatt Teller, Braden Smith, Jawaan Taylor, Rob Havenstein, and Jack Conklin. The wide receiver room, beyond Nailor, features names like Romeo Doubs, Jauan Jennings, and Deebo Samuel, though Mike Evans is departing for San Francisco and Rashid Shaheed is re-signing with Seattle.
On defense, the Raiders have seen several edge rushers leave for big contracts elsewhere—Jaelan Phillips to Carolina, Odafe Oweh to Washington, and Boye Mafe to Cincinnati—but still have K’Lavon Chaisson in the mix. The secondary remains a work in progress, with cornerbacks like Jamel Dean, Jaylen Watson (headed to the Rams), Alontae Taylor (headed to Tennessee), Tariq Woolen, Nahshon Wright, Joshua Jobe, Greg Newsome, Kader Kohou, and Trevon Diggs all mentioned as part of the roster shuffle.
The list of quarterbacks includes names like Kirk Cousins, Joe Flacco, Marcus Mariota (re-signed with Washington), and Brandon Allen, though Kenny Pickett is signing with Carolina. The roster also features a mix of veterans and younger players at other positions, from kicker Daniel Carlson (now on the way out) to running back Raheem Mostert and wide receiver Tyler Lockett.
As the dust settles on the opening days of free agency, one thing is clear: the Raiders are determined to leave last season’s failures behind. With a new coach, an aggressive front office, and a host of new faces, Las Vegas fans have reason to believe that better days might finally be ahead. The coming weeks—especially the NFL Draft—will determine just how quickly this ambitious rebuild takes hold. For now, the Silver and Black faithful can watch with cautious optimism as their team reshapes its identity, one bold move at a time.