Las Vegas Raiders: Grading Early Free Agency

After the conclusion of the Super Bowl, there are certain dates that football fans around the country look forward to before the next season begins. One of those dates is the start of the new league year, which coincides with free agency. The Las Vegas Raiders entered this free agency period with plenty of cap space and an influx of cash from new owners. Many fans thought that the team would spend big in free agency this year, but first-time General Manager John Spytek, had a different plan in mind.

Let the Chaos Begin

The biggest question mark the Raiders have had since the departure of long-time Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is, who is going to be the starting quarterback? Well, before the new league year started, the Raiders made a trade for Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith that sent a third-round pick back to Seattle. With the quarterback question now answered, the team decided it was best to lock up star pass-rusher Maxx Crosby to an extension, tying him to Vegas for the next few years. Then, along came free agency and the chaos that ensues every season. Below is a breakdown of my grades for the Raiders’ free agency signings.

Las Vegas Raiders Free Agent Signings

Jeremy Chinn: B+

The Raiders lost a ton of starters from their defense last year in free agency, with safety Trevon Moherig being one of the key losses. The loss of Moehrig leaves a void in the secondary, and so with that void, the team went out and signed former Commanders safety Jeremy Chinn to a two-year deal worth $16 million.

Chinn played well for the Commanders last season and made it to the NFC Championship game. He has great size, standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 220 pounds. Last season, he finished with 117 total tackles, two sacks, one interception, and one forced fumble. His stats were nearly identical to those of departing safety Trevon Moehrig and show that the team might not miss Moehrig all too much.

Alex Cappa: C-

Just a few seasons ago, Alex Cappa was considered one of the best guards in all of football. His play during his time with the Buccaneers earned Cappa a significant contract with the Cincinnati Bengals.

That being said, last year was a horrible year for Cappa, as he was ranked as one of the worst offensive linemen in football. Still, the Raiders needed depth on the offensive line. And, if Cappa has any fans in the Raiders front office, it’s Tom Brady, who used to play with Cappa back in Tampa Bay.

Cappa signed a two-year deal worth $11 million, which is certainly not a big contract by any means. The team could use Cappa’s veteran presence on the offensive line, and he could compete for starting snaps with a bounce-back year, but for now, this is a very mediocre signing.

Lonnie Johnson Jr: C

Special team signings are incredibly when building a roster. Defensive back Lonnie Johnson Jr. is just that, a good special-teams player. The team signed Johnson Jr. to a very cheap one-year contract; and the veteran is expected to come in and play special teams while providing depth in the secondary. The former Panther hasn’t seen much production as of late. However, it just means he has fresh legs and could excel in his limited role.

Elandon Roberts: B

If there was one player that Raiders fans were hoping to bring back, it was linebacker Robert Spillane. Unfortunately, Spillane had different ideas after signing with the Patriots. That left the Raiders with a hole in the middle of their defense and without one of their captains.

Spillane was a fan favorite, but with the signing of linebacker Elandon Roberts, Roberts can very quickly fill those shoes. The nine-year linebacker has had his ups and downs throughout his career, with his best seasons coming in 2022 and 2023. However, he is still one of the best linebackers against the run and plays very physically. He struggles in pass coverage much like Spillane, but for the contract he was given, this could be a home run for the Raiders. Roberts will definitely be one of the starting linebackers this fall.

Eric Stokes: C+

If there’s any coach in the NFL who has an eye for cornerbacks, it’s Pete Carroll. Cornerback Eric Stokes hasn’t had much playing time with the Green Bay Packers, and his only interception ever dates all the way back to 2021. Still, Stokes has battled through injuries but has great size and speed.

Right now, he’s currently slated to be the starting cornerback opposite of Jakorian Bennett. That’s definitely a red flag at the moment, but if Carroll can get the best out of him, this might be a sneaky good signing.

Raheem Mostert: C+

Running back Raheem Mostert is a very intriguing signing. Yes, he’s old, and there were younger running backs available, but Mostert did just break the Dolphins ‘ single season touchdown record two seasons ago. The Dolphins’ offense was a total disaster last season, and it’s hard to put any of that on Mostert. The Raiders picked him up for cheap on a one-year $2.1 million contract and will more than likely draft a running back in the draft to combine with the veteran. It’ll be interesting to see how he fits in Chip Kelly’s offense, but I expect that he still has some juice left.

Overall Grade – B

It’s hard to evaluate free agent signings before the players have played a snap. Players can play poorly for one team and then excel for another. That seems to be what the Raiders front office is hoping for with some of these free agency signings.

I know fans were disappointed that the team didn’t go crazy in free agency, but teams don’t win championships in the offseason. Many people in the NFL considered this to be one of the worst free-agent classes in quite some time. And, when you see mediocre players getting huge contracts from bad teams, it’s not a mystery as to how those teams stay bad.

The Raiders didn’t blow their cash, and even though that means there isn’t much to talk about, it feels good. The team also brought back key players such as Isaiah Pola-Mao, Adam Butler, and Malcolm Koonce.

Having a responsible general manager is something the team desperately needed. Too many times has the team given out huge contracts in free agency, only to regret it instantly. Most Raiders fans are not used to having a financially responsible general manager. However, they better get used to it as long as Spytek is here. The team will definitely still add players from now until the season starts so don’t stress, but this is a good start.