The Las Vegas Raiders kick off their 2025 season very shortly, and if you’re reading this, they may already have faced off with the New England Patriots. After recapping how the compensatory formula works for 2025 free agents, it’s time to take a look at the Raiders who will be up for new contracts following this season. Before breaking down the free agents to be, let’s take a look at the NFL’s free agent designations first:
Accrued and Credited Seasons:
NFL Contracts are based on accrued seasons, which is essentially the amount of length a player has been in the , a NFL. To earn an accrued season, a player must have been (or should have been) on full pay status for at least 6 regular seasons games in one season.
A credited season is used to measure NFL benefits. If a player is on full pay status for three or more regular season games. These credited seasons are used to determine the minimum salaries that a player can earn with the following being those salaries: 0 years (840k), 1 year (960k), 2 years (1.03 M), 3 years (1.1 M), 4-6 years (1.17 M), and 7+ years (1.25 M)
If a player spends their entire season on the practice squad, they will not be counted for an accrued season, however, a player could theoretically never earn UFA status and spend majority, or all, of their career as an ERFA/RFA though the odds are nearly impossible.
Exclusive Rights Free Agent (ERFA):
These free agents are players who have three or less accrued seasons of experience. If a player is an ERFA, their team is entitled to issue a one year league minimum contract to them. If the contract is issued the player must sign the contract and is prevented from negotiating with other teams. In the rare chances that a player is not issued an ERFA contract, they become a UFA. This type of free agent is often achieved through players being released from rookie contracts and are re-signed by their original team, a new team, or going to a practice squad.
Restricted Free Agent (RFA):
Players who have contracts expire and have accrued exactly three seasons they are listed as an RFA. This is often achieved through players who spend 2 years as an ERFA, but most often from undrafted free agents who spend their careers on active rosters for all three seasons due to UDFA contracts being 3 year deals. When players are listed as RFA, teams have the option to sign them to one of four contract tenders, the value of the tender increases through each season and the type of tender determines the compensation going to the player. Players issued RFA tenders can negotiate with other teams, though depending on their contract teams are entitled to match the contract, in such scenario the player must re-sign with their original team on that new contract, or receive draft compensation (this scenario happened this season with the Raiders and Patriots ILB Christian Elliss, who agreed to a 2 year, 14.5M deal with LV before New England matched the contract and signed Elliss to the same deal). The tenders that can be issued to RFA include:
- First Round Tender: 1 year contract worth either 7.458 million or 110% of the players prior year base salary (whichever is greater). If the original team decides to not match the offer sheet from a new team, the original team is awarded the new team’s first round selection.
- Second Round Tender: 1 year contract worth either 5.34 million or 110% of the players prior year base salary (whichever is greater). If the original team decides to not match the offer sheet, they are awarded the signing teams second round selection from that season.
- Original Round Tender: 1 year contract worth either 3.40 million or 110% of the players prior year base salary (whichever is greater). The original team is awarded the original round compensation if they choose to not match an offer sheet. (Example, a player drafted in round 5 the team is awarded a 5th rounder). If the player was a UDFA, the team is awarded no draft compensation
- Right of First Refusal: 1 year contract worth 3.26 million, the original team can match the offer sheet but if they choose to not match their is no included draft compensation return
- Upgraded Tender: In extremely rare circumstances, if teams have RFA’s that are 1st round picks they can only receive a 2nd round pick, if their highest RFA is a 2nd round pick they can only receive a 3rd round pick and so on.
Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA):
Players with 4 or more years of accrued seasons are eligible to be UFA’s. Majority of NFL free agents are UFA’s, they are able to negotiate with any team and there is no ability to be prevented from free agent unless issued a franchise tag or transition tag:
- Non-Exclusive Franchise Tag: Each team is allowed 1 franchise tag a season, and teams often do not exercise the tag. Players with the NE Franchise Tag are allowed to negotiate with other teams, the tag is worth the greater of either the cap % average for his position or 120% of his previous years salary. Teams hold the right of first refusal and if a player under the tag sign with another team, the original team can match and should they choose not to will receive two first round picks as compensation. (Chiefs G Trey Smith and Bengals WR Tee Higgins received the tag in 2025). If a tag is placed on a player in consecutive seasons they receive a 120% value in the 2nd season. In the rare chance a player is tagged for three straight seasons the player receives the higher of either the QB franchise tag, 120% average of the top 5 at his position, or 145% his 2nd franchise tag salary.
- Exclusive Franchise Tag: Player cannot negotiate with other teams. The tag is worth the higher of the average of five largest AAV at his position or the amount of a non exclusive franchise tag. This tag is rarely used due to the extreme financial costs, as the last to receive this was Cowboys QB Dak Prescott in 2020.
- Transition Tag: Players are free to negotiate with other teams, the tag is worth the greater of either the cap % average of the top 10 AAV at his position or 120% of his own AAV. The tag is a cheaper version of the franchise tags with teams having the ability to match an offer sheet, however should they decline there is no draft compensation return.
*These lists are subject to change with in season free agent additions or players being elevated from the PS to 53 man roster
Offense:
- QB Kenny Pickett
- The Raiders newly acquired backup QB, Pickett is likely looking at a deal worth 6M or more per season due to his experience as a backup QB. LV sent a 2026 5th round pick and seems high on Pickett so there’s a good shot he returns as the longterm backup behind Geno Smith.
- RB Raheem Mostert
- Mostert snuck onto the roster after a 1 year, 1.2M contract. He’s the 3rd or 4th RB on the roster and a veteran addition, he’s likely to not be re-signed
- RB Zamir White
- White looks rejuvenated this preseason averaging near 4.5 ypc, the Raiders have Ashton Jeanty as the starter, but White could cement himself as a high end RB2 and from there decide to test the market or be the complement to Jeanty. His value all depends on this 2025 season
- WR Jakobi Meyers – Market Value (2 years, 44M w/ 28M GTD)
- Meyers is currently seeking an extension, and the Raiders should extend him. He’s a high end WR2 but has shown the ability to be a capable WR1 as well with his play last season where he posted over 1000 yards with 0 drops and was top 10 in contested catch rate. The Raiders added rookies Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton so theres a shot he walks as well.
- WR Amari Cooper
- Cooper is on a 1 year, 5M deal and the oldest in the room. If things go well this season, the 31 year old could cash in again on the market or choose to return as a capable veteran depth option.
- TE Ian Thomas
- Thomas is also on a 1 year contract as a bottom of the roster journeyman TE. The Raiders value his blocking and he could return depending on the season.
- T Stone Forsythe
- The Raiders chose Forsythe over Thayer Munford during the preseason. Forsythe has struggled in his career but has connection to Pete Carroll. He could return, he could walk.
- G Dylan Parham – Market Value (2 years, 26M w/ 15M GTD)
- Parham is bound for a big season in 2025 as the Raiders left guard. Parham has consistently improved each season, there’s a chance he returns but the value needs to be a good fit. Parham is a young guard and one of the Raiders draft hits in the 3rd round. Caleb Rogers is sitting as the teams backup but hasn’t looked ready for the NFL. If Charles Grant makes strides the team could play DJ Glaze at guard or depending on how Glaze looks, Grant kicks inside. This may be Parham’s last season with LV
- G/C Jordan Meredith (RFA)
- Meredith won the starting C job, looked good in preseason and to end the 2024 season. He’s a young upcoming interior lineman in the NFL, the team needs to consider a long term extension. As an RFA he should be back, but teams could force the Raiders hand on a large deal
- C Will Putnam (ERFA)
- Putnam is an ERFA, made the roster as a 2nd year UDFA. He’ll be back in 2026.
Defense:
- NT Leki Fotu
- Fotu is the Raiders veteran UDFA, he’s going to push for playtime in 2025 but also has JJ Pegues and Thomas Booker pushing to be the starting NT after this season. The Raiders could also look to add a new veteran depending on Fotu’s play this season. This is one to monitor.
- DT Thomas Booker (RFA)
- Booker is an RFA and the team traded for him from the Eagles, he’s likely in line to play a significant portion of the snaps, he’ll be back in 2026.
- EDGE Malcolm Koonce – Market Value (3 years, 63M w/ 34M GTD)
- This is a big season for Koonce, after a torn ACL in 2024 he’s on a 1 year deal worth north of 10M and if he performs to the same standards he played at in 2023 he’s going to be a highly paid EDGE rusher in the NFL. Koonce is young, has a good deal of upside and has shown flashes of being highly productive. Las Vegas could retain him but could let him walk too depending on the market. This will be a huge season for Koonce and signs show he wants to stay in LV as long as possible.
- EDGE Charles Snowden (ERFA)
- The Raiders like Snowden, he’s a quality bottom of roster EDGE rusher. As an ERFA he’ll be back but the roster status in 2026 is not a guarantee.
- ILB Germaine Pratt – Market Value (1 year, 7.5M w/ 5.8M GTD)
- Pratt needs a bounce back season to reach his market value after signing a 4.2M deal in 2025 once the Bengals released him. The Raiders are relying on Pratt in 2025 to be an anchor in the middle of their defense. He could return but it depends how effective he is this season.
- ILB Elandon Roberts
- Roberts is a 2 down player and limited in coverage. He’s a high quality veteran depth piece especially vs the run at LB. Las Vegas values the run defense and he could return. I’d lean in the likelihood he comes back.
- ILB Devin White
- No clue, honestly no clue. There’s a world White goes and has a phenomenal season but there’s a world he’s released in week six as well.
- ILB Jamal Adams
- Like White, Adams is up for a make it or break it season. The Raiders moved him to linebacker full time and he’s looked exceptional during preseason. Depending on how this year goes, Adams could be due for a rather large pay day.
- CB Eric Stokes
- Stokes is earning the opportunity to start in 2025 and if he does well, you have to image the Raiders will look to retain him going into the 2026 season. Stokes has all the room in front of him to be on the roster for long term, or be a bottom roster CB as well.
- CB Darnay Holmes
- The Raiders value Holmes work in the slot and on special teams. He breaks the Pete Carroll mold but he’s a consistent depth option at cornerback I’d imagine comes back regardless.
- CB Kyu Blu Kelly (ERFA)
- Kelly is starting for the Raiders in 2025 and is an ERFA, he’ll be back.
- SAF Lonnie Johnson Jr
- Las Vegas values Johnson’s special teams ability and size. He’s struggled in his NFL career and is injured at the moment, he’s going to get the chance to play in 2025 as well once he returns. Like much of the defense, it’s boom or bust.
- SAF Tristin McCollum (ERFA)
- If McCollum makes it through the season on the roster he’d be back in 2026 especially as a 6’4 highly athletic SAF.
Special Teams:
- K Daniel Carlson – Market Value (2 years, 11M w/ 7.5M GTD)
- Las Vegas needs to see consistency out of Carlson before signing him long term and he has this year to do that. The veteran kicker has settled in nicely after a rough rookie year and you ideally want to avoid kicking mishaps again.
- LS Jacob Bobenmoyer
- I can’t say much about LS, he’s looked good to my standards and doesn’t make penalties on special teams.
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