2025 Free Agents March 12th

The 10 best remaining free-agent fits for the Raiders following the NFL Draft​


By Tashan Reed
May 2, 2025 8:00 am EDT
The Las Vegas Raiders’ roster is full.

After drafting 11 rookies, signing 14 undrafted free agents and adding defensive tackle Laki Tasi, they have all 90 offseason roster spots filled. But while they’ll have to release someone from the current roster if they want to sign someone else, that doesn’t mean the roster is set. The Raiders hold rookie minicamp from May 9-11 and mandatory minicamp from June 10-12. Observations from those practices could lead general manager John Spytek and coach Pete Carroll to make changes.

The Raiders will still have significant cap space after signing all of their draft picks to rookie-scale contracts. That money could be saved for contract extensions or to roll over into next season, but it could also be spent on late free-agent additions.

As of this week, any free agents who are signed won’t count toward the compensatory pick formula for the 2026 draft. Those won’t be determined until the season plays out, but the Raiders are currently projected to be awarded a fourth-round pick and a fifth-round pick next offseason, according to Over the Cap.

Here are the 10 best remaining free-agent fits for the Raiders.

WR Keenan Allen​

The Raiders made a significant investment in the wide receiver position in the draft. They took versatile inside-outside receiver Jack Bech in the second round, big-bodied deep threat Dont’e Thompson in the fourth and slot receiver/quarterback Tommy Mellott in the seventh. Still, it could make sense for them to add a veteran. Bech should be a rookie starter, but Thompson and Mellott likely will be limited to situational roles early in their careers.

Jakobi Meyers is the only receiver who’s locked in as a starter. Tre Tucker started 14 games last year, but his level of play was just OK, and he’ll need to earn his spot along with the rest of the group. If Tucker doesn’t look like he’ll take another step forward in his third season, then a veteran could provide an upgrade.

The top option on the market is Allen. He’s 33 years old, but he remained productive last season with 70 catches for 744 yards and seven touchdowns. He’s at his best when he’s working from the slot and could slide into a starting role there.

LB Kyzir White​

Elandon Roberts should be capable of holding down the fort at mike linebacker, but will linebacker remains a precarious position for the Raiders. The current No. 1 would probably be Devin White, who hasn’t been an effective starter for a few seasons. Perhaps Tommy Eichenberg, whom the Raiders drafted in the fifth round last year, or another young linebacker could make a significant leap, but this is a spot on paper where it’d make sense to add help.

Kyzir White has been a solid will linebacker throughout his career. He started 17 games last year for the Arizona Cardinals and finished with 137 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. If the young linebackers don’t show flashes in OTAs, then the Raiders should give him a call.

CB Stephon Gilmore​

The Raiders feel decent about their outside cornerback options. Jakorian Bennett should be a starter while Eric Stokes, Decamerion Richardson and Darien Porter compete for the other spot. At nickelback, however, the Raiders are less settled. Darnay Holmes and Thomas Harper are currently their only real options, and neither of those players has proven himself to be capable of being a full-time starter.

While Gilmore is most famous for his work as an outside cornerback, he’s also capable of lining up at nickelback. He’ll turn 35 in September and, at this point in his career, transitioning to a slot role is probably best.

CB Asante Samuel Jr.​

Samuel played just four games last season due to shoulder and neck injuries, but he was a solid starter who played both outside corner and nickelback from 2021 to 2023. He’s only 25 and could be worth a flier if the medicals check out.

CB Rasul Douglas​

Douglas failed to make the Raiders roster back in 2021 and wound up being an impactful starter that season with the Green Bay Packers. He has started 51 games since then and spent time both as an outside corner and nickelback. The Raiders would need his services at nickelback. He’s a big corner at 6-foot-2, 209 pounds, isn’t afraid to get physical in the run game and has a history of making plays in the pass game. He’d provide an immediate upgrade.

WR Tyler Boyd​

Boyd is coming off a down year with the Tennessee Titans, but that might’ve been a product of his circumstances. He’d previously been a good slot receiver and perhaps could recapture some of his past success with a much better quarterback in Geno Smith.

CB Mike Hilton​

Hilton has been a longtime starter at nickelback. He had 73 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and five pass deflections last season. He’s getting up there for a corner at 31, but he would still be an upgrade for the Raiders.

LB Eric Kendricks​

Kendricks is another older player at 33, but he showed he could still be a productive starter last season with the Dallas Cowboys. In 15 games, he had 138 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions. Although he’s lost a step, he’s still a better option than Devin White at will linebacker.

CB Kendall Fuller​

Fuller has bounced between cornerback and nickelback throughout his career, but the Raiders would use him in the slot. He struggled with concussions last year, but he was a solid player when he was on the field.

WR Amari Cooper​

Cooper is no longer the same player who was a three-time Pro Bowler with the Raiders from 2015 to 2018, but he could still be a starting-caliber X receiver. Maybe a reunion comes together at some point this offseason.
 
RF34 said:

The 10 best remaining free-agent fits for the Raiders following the NFL Draft​


By Tashan Reed
May 2, 2025 8:00 am EDT
The Las Vegas Raiders’ roster is full.

After drafting 11 rookies, signing 14 undrafted free agents and adding defensive tackle Laki Tasi, they have all 90 offseason roster spots filled. But while they’ll have to release someone from the current roster if they want to sign someone else, that doesn’t mean the roster is set. The Raiders hold rookie minicamp from May 9-11 and mandatory minicamp from June 10-12. Observations from those practices could lead general manager John Spytek and coach Pete Carroll to make changes.

The Raiders will still have significant cap space after signing all of their draft picks to rookie-scale contracts. That money could be saved for contract extensions or to roll over into next season, but it could also be spent on late free-agent additions.

As of this week, any free agents who are signed won’t count toward the compensatory pick formula for the 2026 draft. Those won’t be determined until the season plays out, but the Raiders are currently projected to be awarded a fourth-round pick and a fifth-round pick next offseason, according to Over the Cap.

Here are the 10 best remaining free-agent fits for the Raiders.

WR Keenan Allen​

The Raiders made a significant investment in the wide receiver position in the draft. They took versatile inside-outside receiver Jack Bech in the second round, big-bodied deep threat Dont’e Thompson in the fourth and slot receiver/quarterback Tommy Mellott in the seventh. Still, it could make sense for them to add a veteran. Bech should be a rookie starter, but Thompson and Mellott likely will be limited to situational roles early in their careers.

Jakobi Meyers is the only receiver who’s locked in as a starter. Tre Tucker started 14 games last year, but his level of play was just OK, and he’ll need to earn his spot along with the rest of the group. If Tucker doesn’t look like he’ll take another step forward in his third season, then a veteran could provide an upgrade.

The top option on the market is Allen. He’s 33 years old, but he remained productive last season with 70 catches for 744 yards and seven touchdowns. He’s at his best when he’s working from the slot and could slide into a starting role there.

LB Kyzir White​

Elandon Roberts should be capable of holding down the fort at mike linebacker, but will linebacker remains a precarious position for the Raiders. The current No. 1 would probably be Devin White, who hasn’t been an effective starter for a few seasons. Perhaps Tommy Eichenberg, whom the Raiders drafted in the fifth round last year, or another young linebacker could make a significant leap, but this is a spot on paper where it’d make sense to add help.

Kyzir White has been a solid will linebacker throughout his career. He started 17 games last year for the Arizona Cardinals and finished with 137 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. If the young linebackers don’t show flashes in OTAs, then the Raiders should give him a call.

CB Stephon Gilmore​

The Raiders feel decent about their outside cornerback options. Jakorian Bennett should be a starter while Eric Stokes, Decamerion Richardson and Darien Porter compete for the other spot. At nickelback, however, the Raiders are less settled. Darnay Holmes and Thomas Harper are currently their only real options, and neither of those players has proven himself to be capable of being a full-time starter.

While Gilmore is most famous for his work as an outside cornerback, he’s also capable of lining up at nickelback. He’ll turn 35 in September and, at this point in his career, transitioning to a slot role is probably best.

CB Asante Samuel Jr.​

Samuel played just four games last season due to shoulder and neck injuries, but he was a solid starter who played both outside corner and nickelback from 2021 to 2023. He’s only 25 and could be worth a flier if the medicals check out.

CB Rasul Douglas​

Douglas failed to make the Raiders roster back in 2021 and wound up being an impactful starter that season with the Green Bay Packers. He has started 51 games since then and spent time both as an outside corner and nickelback. The Raiders would need his services at nickelback. He’s a big corner at 6-foot-2, 209 pounds, isn’t afraid to get physical in the run game and has a history of making plays in the pass game. He’d provide an immediate upgrade.

WR Tyler Boyd​

Boyd is coming off a down year with the Tennessee Titans, but that might’ve been a product of his circumstances. He’d previously been a good slot receiver and perhaps could recapture some of his past success with a much better quarterback in Geno Smith.

CB Mike Hilton​

Hilton has been a longtime starter at nickelback. He had 73 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and five pass deflections last season. He’s getting up there for a corner at 31, but he would still be an upgrade for the Raiders.

LB Eric Kendricks​

Kendricks is another older player at 33, but he showed he could still be a productive starter last season with the Dallas Cowboys. In 15 games, he had 138 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions. Although he’s lost a step, he’s still a better option than Devin White at will linebacker.

CB Kendall Fuller​

Fuller has bounced between cornerback and nickelback throughout his career, but the Raiders would use him in the slot. He struggled with concussions last year, but he was a solid player when he was on the field.

WR Amari Cooper​

Cooper is no longer the same player who was a three-time Pro Bowler with the Raiders from 2015 to 2018, but he could still be a starting-caliber X receiver. Maybe a reunion comes together at some point this offseason.
Click to expand...
Did Carroll bring in vets when he first got to Sea? Or did he just develop a bunch of young athletes?
 
Hilton, Kendricks and Justin Simmons would all be great gets to solidify the D. Slot, Will, and centerfield FS are all pretty questionable right now.
 
amari cooper football GIF by Twitter
 
Slot corner is a need. Rasul Douglas is a Pete Carroll measurables guy.

Sign Kolton and extend Meyers, save the rest for next year.
 
Birdwell said:
Slot corner is a need. Rasul Douglas is a Pete Carroll measurables guy.
Click to expand...

Rasul Douglas isnt a slot corner is he?

I know the Bills had Taron Johnson who is actually one of the best slot corners in the league. We didnt use Rasul in the slot the last time we had him.
 
RF34 said:
He didn't even make it out of camp the last time he was in Vegas. Why would this season be any different?
Click to expand...

First, we have a HC who knows how to coach DBs.

Second, the year we cut him he had 61 takles, 3 TFLs, 5 picks, 3 forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

That year Peterson and Hobbs each had a pick, Amik Robertson had two.
 
007 said:
Rasul Douglas isnt a slot corner is he?

I know the Bills had Taron Johnson who is actually one of the best slot corners in the league. We didnt use Rasul in the slot the last time we had him.
Click to expand...
No, he’s been an outside corner.
 
Chris_77 said:
We aren’t as stacked at DB now as we were then :chuckle:
Click to expand...

007 said:
Rasul Douglas isnt a slot corner is he?

I know the Bills had Taron Johnson who is actually one of the best slot corners in the league. We didnt use Rasul in the slot the last time we had him.
Click to expand...
Hell I forgot he even played for the Raiders at one point… He must have stood out as a great player.
 
007 said:
Seems like a dumb fuck idea to fix our slot corner issue then.
Click to expand...

Who has ever been a slot corner since high school or college?

A slot corner doesn't have boundary help, so need good flexibility in the hips. Is closer to the LoS so needs to be a capable and willing tackler (rules out most corners). A good three-cone for a guy in the draft to show necessary change of direction ability.

Douglas is a good tackler. I imagine the personnel team can put together the tape to assess the other things.
 
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