Free Agency thread for Raiders and league-wide
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RunOverByHubbard
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Free Agency thread for Raiders and league-wide
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/
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/earl ... ng-top-50/
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chucker
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I always hated Lock when he was a Bronco, but he might be a guy who's settled in as a solid backup and his familiarity with Kubiak would be a huge plus as he and Mendoza can work together on the playbook. There's a lot of time between OTAs and training camp when the team isn't together and can't work with coaches. Lock is likely available for a draft pick, but I don't think it will be a throwaway like some late round pick swap because he's a decent backup player and has a pretty low cap hit.Goodtimes333 wrote: Wed Apr 01, 2026 6:30 pm Id love to see a trade for Drew Lock. Seattle has investment in Milroe who now has a year as an NFL player under his belt. He's got 1 year left on his deal for 2-2.5 million and shouldn't cost much in trade. 2027 6th or something like that, if so? I'm all about it. He has been with multiple teams now and has some experience for the NFL game. He's got some physical traits that excite you if he ever has to play, not some noodle arm bum with no upside. He's popped off in a few games as a backup coming in. A 300 yard 4TD passing game with the Giants two years ago comes to mind. Spent last year under Kubiak and can help Fernando learn the ropes of being an NFL guy as well as Klints system. By all accounts an awesome dude and team player
Brandon Allen is another guy who could fit that bill, and he wouldn't cost a draft pick. Less on-field ability, and potentially more off-field ability.
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mstrbass2000
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lmao "even if its wrong" okDr Death wrote: Wed Apr 01, 2026 2:38 pm Correct usage of caps and small case.... and punctuation, even if it's wrong.
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mstrbass2000
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cousin is legit competition to start, this will push fernando to be great even more cause there is no way in hell that kid isn't gonna fight to start...did you guys see him take charge at the pro day calling out names and plays before they happened, kid had the ball explode outta his hands, showed great arm strength too throw 65 yds easily and accuratelyJeevo wrote: Wed Apr 01, 2026 8:06 pm I said from the beginning that I thought him sitting for a bit wouldn’t be a bad thing and I still feel that way, and apparently so does Kubiak, but that doesn’t mean signing a guy like Cousins. Just start whoever you’ve decided the back up will be because he’s only giving the real starter a bit of time to adjust and will ride the bench for the large part of the season anyway. Like you I’m kind of perplexed by this Cousins talk.
plus the kid looked much bigger he's already working his ass preparing to play
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Sold My Soul
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NFL execs unfiltered on free agency: Thoughts on Maxx Crosby controversy and all AFC teams
With the NFL’s spring meetings complete, it’s time to check in with executives across the league for thoughts on the best and worst moves in free agency so far.
And there were definitely thoughts.
What is the plan? What is the vision?
I give them a lot of credit. Obviously, these guys are not all superstars. But they HAD to do that.
If you’re the GM, that’s a tough situation.
Las Vegas Raiders
Added: $96.1M (2nd) | Lost: $10.8M (31st) | Differential: $85.3M (1st)
Execs understood and generally endorsed what the Raiders were trying to accomplish despite the embarrassing failed trade with Baltimore involving Maxx Crosby, who remains with Las Vegas.
“They will probably wind up trading someone else as a result (to move salary and add picks),” an exec said.
Why not trade Crosby now, even for, say, first- and third-round picks instead of the two No. 1s Baltimore was offering before reneging on the deal?
“They should because the windows don’t match up for them being good and Crosby making what he is making,” another exec said. “But I don’t think they want to be perceived as being taken advantage of again, and so I don’t think they will do that.”
While the public focused on the Crosby fiasco and the PREMIUM Las Vegas paid to land center Tyler Linderbaum, execs universally applauded the Raiders for an under-the-radar signing.
“A lot of people liked Jalen Nailor, including us,” one exec said. “Underrated guy who was lost in the shuffle with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison in Minnesota. Fast, has reliable hands, has inside-outside flexibility, runs good routes. I would much rather have Nailor at his price ($11.7 million per year) than Wan’Dale Robinson at his price ($17.5 million) or even (Michael) Pittman at his price ($17.5 million).”
There were multiple ways to look at Las Vegas signing Linderbaum for $27 million per year at a time when no other center earns more than $18 million annually.
One exec saw it as the Raiders realizing they must pay a PREMIUM to attract the best talent at this stage of their development.
“Linderbaum is one of the blue-level players at that position, the best of the best,” a different exec said, “so if you are going to do it and you want to say he is as valuable as a guard, that is fine because you are going to have a rookie quarterback underneath him. ‘We are going to overspend by $3-4 million to help our No. 1 draft choice, who is hopefully going to change this franchise.’ That is why you make this move.”
Los Angeles Chargers
Added: $33.0M (23rd) | Lost: $48.2M (11th) | Differential: -$15.2M (21st)
The Chargers did not make a PREMIUM addition in free agency or by trade. Partly as a result, they dropped from 20th in cash spending last season to a projected 31st heading into 2026.
Some might call that logical restraint after the team went all-in unsuccessfully three years ago. Others think the Chargers should be taking bigger swings to maximize their chances of winning a championship instead of simply competing for playoff spots (the team last won its division in 2009).
“Once you have the owners who say, ‘No, I want to go for it,’ it becomes really hard for the teams who are passive to win big,” one exec said. “If you’re the Chargers or the Bengals and you’re gonna play this thing passive, yeah, you’re going to compete with the Ravens right now and the Broncos right now, but in two years, it’s gonna be a different team that passed you.”
The Chargers are banking on better health, especially along their offensive line, where they added center Tyler Biadasz and guard Cole Strange.
“They are playing draft and develop while they are paying a quarterback,” another exec said. “It changes the math of how you bring in players.”
Does it have to change it this much?
“Their quarterback is making $24 million (in base salary) this year, and they are going to be the lowest cash spending team in the league,” the first exec said. “Take advantage of this and get good players, even if it’s just on one-year deals.”
The Chargers stepped up to keep 13th-year pass rusher Khalil Mack for his age-35 season. They watched edge rusher Odafe Oweh, acquired during the 2025 season, sign with Washington for $24 million per year, a price driven higher after Carolina paid $30 million per year for another edge rusher, Jaelan Phillips. Oweh had 7.5 sacks as a 12-game rental for the Chargers.
“That is two teams now that have let Oweh walk, and it wasn’t like his former coach (John Harbaugh, now with the New York Giants) was banging down the doors for him,” an exec said. “It wasn’t like Baltimore was trying to get him back with Jesse Minter. Todd Monken wasn’t trying to bring him to Cleveland.”
Mack was solid for the Chargers’ last season but missed five games to injury.
Several pass rushers with similar draft pedigrees and at least 100 sacks through 12 seasons have produced double-digit sacks in Year 13 or beyond. Reggie White, Chris Doleman, Bruce Smith, Julius Peppers and Terrell Suggs all did it as top-10 picks in the sack era (1982-present). Von Miller, Leslie O’Neal and Neil Smith did not (Miller had nine sacks last season and remains active).
Kansas City Chiefs
Added: $52.4M (9th) | Lost: $87.9M (3rd) | Differential: -$35.5M (28th)
Patrick Mahomes’ season-ending knee injury appears to have increased the urgency for the Chiefs to finally lean into the running game more meaningfully.
Trading for quarterback Justin Fields and signing Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker III could signal a change in how the team plans to play offense if Mahomes misses time, and even after he returns.
“I think it points to, ‘OK, let’s survive the early part of the season,’” an exec said. “I bet they just run the tread off Justin. It will be a lot of RPO. And they maybe get Walker involved in the passing game so that he can continue to be a two-phase player when Mahomes comes back.”
Chiefs running backs ranked 30th last season in yards per carry (3.7) and 32nd in rate of rushes gaining at least 12 yards when gaining that many was possible.
“If Mahomes keeps on going up against five- and six-man boxes, he can only do so much,” another exec said. “They need that run threat.”
On defense, the Chiefs parted with Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, their top two cornerbacks last season.
The draft capital Kansas City sent to New England in 2022 when trading up eight spots to select McDuffie matches almost exactly the draft capital the Chiefs recouped from the Rams when trading the cornerback this offseason. That package included the Rams’ 2026 first (No. 29) and 2027 third-rounder.
“They got their picks back that they spent to get McDuffie, so it is a net zero, and they won two Super Bowls with him in the meantime,” an exec said.
Not a bad deal for the Chiefs, who will miss McDuffie, but not the $31 million annual salary the Rams will pay him on a new deal (the Rams also signed Watson, while safety Bryan Cook signed with the Bengals).
“They are banking on (defensive coordinator) Steve Spagnuolo and the defensive scheme,” another exec said. “It looks like Spags saying, ‘Just get me some guys, we’ll be fine.’”
Denver Broncos
Added: $28.3M (25th) | Lost: $31.0M (24th) | Differential: -$2.8M (18th)
The 2025 Broncos became the 32nd team in NFL history to win exactly 14 games in a season. Their point differential (+90) ranked last among the 32, an indication that regression was coming.
Acquiring receiver Jaylen Waddle from Miami for a package including a first-round pick (No. 30) should help.
“You might fight regression for a year or two with a move like that,” an exec said.
Another exec said the Broncos thought they were going to sign former Jaguars running back Travis Etienne, only to have the Saints land him instead.
“They were shocked,” this exec said.
Denver later re-signed running back J.K. Dobbins.
Waddle, 27, led the NFL in yards per reception (18.1) in 2022 and has started at least 14 games in each of his five seasons but has struggled through injuries.
“Denver wants to give Bo Nix his best chance with a new (play caller), so take your shot,” another exec said of adding the 185-pound wideout. “But you’d better know some of the flaws. Availability is a concern, and Waddle does not exactly exude toughness. Maybe your culture changes that.”
Letting defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers leave for $21 million per year in Tennessee showed there were limits to Denver maximizing whatever window exists while Nix is on his affordable rookie contract.
As for Waddle, he has been an average starting receiver by yards per game (53.4) over the past two seasons.
“He opens things up,” another exec said. “He is a good complement to Courtland Sutton, who is more of a possession receiver. He is a good stretch-the-field receiver, which they already have with (2024 fourth-round pick Troy) Franklin. Waddle can run all these crossers and beat man coverage, and he’s in his prime.”
With the NFL’s spring meetings complete, it’s time to check in with executives across the league for thoughts on the best and worst moves in free agency so far.
And there were definitely thoughts.
What is the plan? What is the vision?
I give them a lot of credit. Obviously, these guys are not all superstars. But they HAD to do that.
If you’re the GM, that’s a tough situation.
Las Vegas Raiders
Added: $96.1M (2nd) | Lost: $10.8M (31st) | Differential: $85.3M (1st)
Execs understood and generally endorsed what the Raiders were trying to accomplish despite the embarrassing failed trade with Baltimore involving Maxx Crosby, who remains with Las Vegas.
“They will probably wind up trading someone else as a result (to move salary and add picks),” an exec said.
Why not trade Crosby now, even for, say, first- and third-round picks instead of the two No. 1s Baltimore was offering before reneging on the deal?
“They should because the windows don’t match up for them being good and Crosby making what he is making,” another exec said. “But I don’t think they want to be perceived as being taken advantage of again, and so I don’t think they will do that.”
While the public focused on the Crosby fiasco and the PREMIUM Las Vegas paid to land center Tyler Linderbaum, execs universally applauded the Raiders for an under-the-radar signing.
“A lot of people liked Jalen Nailor, including us,” one exec said. “Underrated guy who was lost in the shuffle with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison in Minnesota. Fast, has reliable hands, has inside-outside flexibility, runs good routes. I would much rather have Nailor at his price ($11.7 million per year) than Wan’Dale Robinson at his price ($17.5 million) or even (Michael) Pittman at his price ($17.5 million).”
There were multiple ways to look at Las Vegas signing Linderbaum for $27 million per year at a time when no other center earns more than $18 million annually.
One exec saw it as the Raiders realizing they must pay a PREMIUM to attract the best talent at this stage of their development.
“Linderbaum is one of the blue-level players at that position, the best of the best,” a different exec said, “so if you are going to do it and you want to say he is as valuable as a guard, that is fine because you are going to have a rookie quarterback underneath him. ‘We are going to overspend by $3-4 million to help our No. 1 draft choice, who is hopefully going to change this franchise.’ That is why you make this move.”
Los Angeles Chargers
Added: $33.0M (23rd) | Lost: $48.2M (11th) | Differential: -$15.2M (21st)
The Chargers did not make a PREMIUM addition in free agency or by trade. Partly as a result, they dropped from 20th in cash spending last season to a projected 31st heading into 2026.
Some might call that logical restraint after the team went all-in unsuccessfully three years ago. Others think the Chargers should be taking bigger swings to maximize their chances of winning a championship instead of simply competing for playoff spots (the team last won its division in 2009).
“Once you have the owners who say, ‘No, I want to go for it,’ it becomes really hard for the teams who are passive to win big,” one exec said. “If you’re the Chargers or the Bengals and you’re gonna play this thing passive, yeah, you’re going to compete with the Ravens right now and the Broncos right now, but in two years, it’s gonna be a different team that passed you.”
The Chargers are banking on better health, especially along their offensive line, where they added center Tyler Biadasz and guard Cole Strange.
“They are playing draft and develop while they are paying a quarterback,” another exec said. “It changes the math of how you bring in players.”
Does it have to change it this much?
“Their quarterback is making $24 million (in base salary) this year, and they are going to be the lowest cash spending team in the league,” the first exec said. “Take advantage of this and get good players, even if it’s just on one-year deals.”
The Chargers stepped up to keep 13th-year pass rusher Khalil Mack for his age-35 season. They watched edge rusher Odafe Oweh, acquired during the 2025 season, sign with Washington for $24 million per year, a price driven higher after Carolina paid $30 million per year for another edge rusher, Jaelan Phillips. Oweh had 7.5 sacks as a 12-game rental for the Chargers.
“That is two teams now that have let Oweh walk, and it wasn’t like his former coach (John Harbaugh, now with the New York Giants) was banging down the doors for him,” an exec said. “It wasn’t like Baltimore was trying to get him back with Jesse Minter. Todd Monken wasn’t trying to bring him to Cleveland.”
Mack was solid for the Chargers’ last season but missed five games to injury.
Several pass rushers with similar draft pedigrees and at least 100 sacks through 12 seasons have produced double-digit sacks in Year 13 or beyond. Reggie White, Chris Doleman, Bruce Smith, Julius Peppers and Terrell Suggs all did it as top-10 picks in the sack era (1982-present). Von Miller, Leslie O’Neal and Neil Smith did not (Miller had nine sacks last season and remains active).
Kansas City Chiefs
Added: $52.4M (9th) | Lost: $87.9M (3rd) | Differential: -$35.5M (28th)
Patrick Mahomes’ season-ending knee injury appears to have increased the urgency for the Chiefs to finally lean into the running game more meaningfully.
Trading for quarterback Justin Fields and signing Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker III could signal a change in how the team plans to play offense if Mahomes misses time, and even after he returns.
“I think it points to, ‘OK, let’s survive the early part of the season,’” an exec said. “I bet they just run the tread off Justin. It will be a lot of RPO. And they maybe get Walker involved in the passing game so that he can continue to be a two-phase player when Mahomes comes back.”
Chiefs running backs ranked 30th last season in yards per carry (3.7) and 32nd in rate of rushes gaining at least 12 yards when gaining that many was possible.
“If Mahomes keeps on going up against five- and six-man boxes, he can only do so much,” another exec said. “They need that run threat.”
On defense, the Chiefs parted with Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, their top two cornerbacks last season.
The draft capital Kansas City sent to New England in 2022 when trading up eight spots to select McDuffie matches almost exactly the draft capital the Chiefs recouped from the Rams when trading the cornerback this offseason. That package included the Rams’ 2026 first (No. 29) and 2027 third-rounder.
“They got their picks back that they spent to get McDuffie, so it is a net zero, and they won two Super Bowls with him in the meantime,” an exec said.
Not a bad deal for the Chiefs, who will miss McDuffie, but not the $31 million annual salary the Rams will pay him on a new deal (the Rams also signed Watson, while safety Bryan Cook signed with the Bengals).
“They are banking on (defensive coordinator) Steve Spagnuolo and the defensive scheme,” another exec said. “It looks like Spags saying, ‘Just get me some guys, we’ll be fine.’”
Denver Broncos
Added: $28.3M (25th) | Lost: $31.0M (24th) | Differential: -$2.8M (18th)
The 2025 Broncos became the 32nd team in NFL history to win exactly 14 games in a season. Their point differential (+90) ranked last among the 32, an indication that regression was coming.
Acquiring receiver Jaylen Waddle from Miami for a package including a first-round pick (No. 30) should help.
“You might fight regression for a year or two with a move like that,” an exec said.
Another exec said the Broncos thought they were going to sign former Jaguars running back Travis Etienne, only to have the Saints land him instead.
“They were shocked,” this exec said.
Denver later re-signed running back J.K. Dobbins.
Waddle, 27, led the NFL in yards per reception (18.1) in 2022 and has started at least 14 games in each of his five seasons but has struggled through injuries.
“Denver wants to give Bo Nix his best chance with a new (play caller), so take your shot,” another exec said of adding the 185-pound wideout. “But you’d better know some of the flaws. Availability is a concern, and Waddle does not exactly exude toughness. Maybe your culture changes that.”
Letting defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers leave for $21 million per year in Tennessee showed there were limits to Denver maximizing whatever window exists while Nix is on his affordable rookie contract.
As for Waddle, he has been an average starting receiver by yards per game (53.4) over the past two seasons.
“He opens things up,” another exec said. “He is a good complement to Courtland Sutton, who is more of a possession receiver. He is a good stretch-the-field receiver, which they already have with (2024 fourth-round pick Troy) Franklin. Waddle can run all these crossers and beat man coverage, and he’s in his prime.”
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DanKD
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I could see this being a disappointing season for the Chargers and the year Harbaugh starts to wear thin (coach rankings from players suggest hes already not super popular with his players).
They have low draft capital, didn't do much in FA despite having a bunch of money left.
They have low draft capital, didn't do much in FA despite having a bunch of money left.
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Coach dd 11
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Boy, that didn't age well!raider_kin wrote: Wed Apr 01, 2026 9:14 pm It won't be Cousins. I'm liking the Drew Lock idea from 333 above
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Goodtimes333
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Agreed. A next year 6th is wishful thinking. Seattle is a pretty shrewd organization. They're in a window and they probably value Drew as a worthy backup over Milroe. I wouldn't wanna give up anything more than a 5th for a backup QB on a team rebuild. In Drew's defense, he was drafted into one of the more chaotic times in Bronco history. Before that 8 game winning stretch against Denver he was the last Bronco QB to beat the Raiders though. I like his arm, mobility and his demeanor. Seems like an ideal backup for the situation. The thought of Cousins makes me uneasy as he's a money grubber.chucker wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 5:50 am I always hated Lock when he was a Bronco, but he might be a guy who's settled in as a solid backup and his familiarity with Kubiak would be a huge plus as he and Mendoza can work together on the playbook. There's a lot of time between OTAs and training camp when the team isn't together and can't work with coaches. Lock is likely available for a draft pick, but I don't think it will be a throwaway like some late round pick swap because he's a decent backup player and has a pretty low cap hit.
Brandon Allen is another guy who could fit that bill, and he wouldn't cost a draft pick. Less on-field ability, and potentially more off-field ability.
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raider_kin
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Tusken
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Tbf been disappointing for them for several years now. Won't say its as bad as how much the media build up the Bills and then they fail, but Chargers in the last few seasons have been a dark horse from a lot of different corners and never live up to that. I think their OL is going to be their downfall and I do see them starting to take a step back.DanKD wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 8:04 am I could see this being a disappointing season for the Chargers and the year Harbaugh starts to wear thin (coach rankings from players suggest hes already not super popular with his players).
They have low draft capital, didn't do much in FA despite having a bunch of money left.
Hopefully, we can take a step forward in this very tough division.
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KillerRaider30
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KillerRaider30
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we do and Cousins cam here in what feels like a discount.
Go Raiders!
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raiderjohn
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No Najee yet, probably looking at incentive heavy offers.
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Coach dd 11
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Hellbound
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He's washed. Not sure what people are seeing in him. You're still going to need to invest in another rb. Especially since he's coming off an achilles injury. Is there really any difference between him and Zamir? Both are plodders and avg under 4 yds a carry
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BoKnows81
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Yea, id rather us draft a RBHellbound wrote: Sun Apr 05, 2026 10:24 am He's washed. Not sure what people are seeing in him. You're still going to need to invest in another rb. Especially since he's coming off an achilles injury. Is there really any difference between him and Zamir? Both are plodders and avg under 4 yds a carry