Raiders Free Agency: Team still has holes after patchwork in opening week

Time will tell if selective spending by Spytek and Carroll was prudent or tomfoolery

Fiscal responsibility or frugality? Or simply confirmation of what was identified by some to be a poor overall free agent crop?

Either way, Operating Bubble Gum & Shoe Strings is in full swing.

That’s certainly one way to look at the Las Vegas Raiders action during the opening week of NFL free agency.

You’re not alone if you’re wondering why the Silver & Black didn’t dive right into the market hoopla as other teams did this past week.

And depending on your overall outlook, you may find the lack of action infuriating from a Pete Carroll-led football team as the head coach made it known the 2025 Raiders are going to compete from the get.

Las Vegas was a ship that had several leaks and after watching five defensive starters bounce in free agency, there’s even more holes to patch.

Middle linebacker Robert Spillane signed a rich three-year, $37.5 million deal with the New England Patriots followed by safety Tre’Von Moehrig signing an equally abundant three-year, $51 million pact with the Carolina Panthers. That was followed by slot cornerback Nate Hobbs (four-year, $48 million with Green Bay Packers), outside linebacker Divine Deablo (two-year, $14 million with Atlanta Falcons), and safety Marcus Epps (one-year, $4.4 million with the Patriots) all taking their talents elsewhere.

The defense lost starters while the offense lost role players.

Running back Alexander Mattison heads the Miami Dolphins on a one-year contact. And tight end Harrison Bryant is off to the Philadelphia Eagles on a one-year deal, as well.

Carroll and general manager John Spytek weren’t asleep at the wheel during opening week and not making any moves, though. The Raiders added veteran linebacker Elandon Roberts, safeties Jeremy Chinn and Lonnie Johnson Jr., and cornerback Erik Stokes to deals that are a fraction of what the departed Raiders above got. Each will be given the opportunity to compete, earn snaps, and have a shot to make similar impacts to a new-look Patrick Graham Las Vegas defense.

The Raiders even inked veteran speedy tailback Raheem Mostert from the Dolphins on a one-year deal in effectively was a running back swap (with Mattison going East).

And don’t forget Las Vegas got busy before the legal tampering period began by extending safety Isaiah Pola-Mao and defensive end Maxx Crosby while re-signing defensive tackle Adam Butler and inking free agent offensive lineman Alex Cappa. Then the big move to land a bona fide starting quarterback in Geno Smith by sending a third-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks.

So there was no sitting on their hands by the Raiders.

But for a Raiders team that was flush with cap space heading into free agency and only taking a dip instead of making a big splash, fiscal responsibility and highlighting the compensatory pick potential is disconcerting. Especially considering how AFC West foes like the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers bolstered its roster with week-one signings. Even the Kansas City Chiefs brought in new faces. And all three made the playoffs while the Raiders didn’t.

Games aren’t won in free agency in March, of course.

Also, free agent additions — by the Raiders or any of the other 31 teams — still represent an unknown to how they’ll assimilate and contribute to their new squads. The breaking-in period in camp, preseason tilts, and even early regular-season matchups will be the ultimate tell.

There’s still players on the market that can help the Raiders, if Spytek and Carroll deem it so. There’s also the 2025 NFL Draft in late April, where the team has nine picks in the seven rounds at its disposal — including the No. 6 overall selection. And don’t forget the post-draft frenzy of signing undrafted free agents. And the cut day pool of players that’ll hit the open market when teams trim rosters to meet the 53-man mark.

So there’s plenty of opportunity there.

There’s nary a position group with the Raiders that doesn’t need help (outside kicker Daniel Carlson and punter AJ Cole III) and another explosive running back can be had in the draft as the position group is considered “loaded”. A young quarterback to learn behind Smith? Draft, too. Another domineering offensive lineman? A stout linebacker that can cover? A sticky cornerback or rangy safety?

You get the gist.

But just as it’s viable for folk to have optimism, it’s also reasonable to see why pessimism festers amongst Raider Nation. The fan base has been given but fleeting moments of brilliance while historically, the franchise has been marred in face plants.

We’ll see how Spytek and Carroll change the perception and bring forth a refreshing reality. And not the one that’s stunk to high heavens since the last time the Raiders hoisted a Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl XVIII back on Jan. 22, 1984.

That kind of moribund track record was never going to be fixed by one free-agency splash by the new regime.

But boy, will it be quite the fury if Las Vegas rolls snake eyes in 2025 in the first year under Spytek and Carroll.

And the lack of action in the first volley in free agency will be referred to — constantly.