Free agents who make sense for the Las Vegas Raiders

Veterans like Justin Simmons, Mike Hilton, Quinton Jefferson can fill needs, bolster Silver & Black defense

We’ve rounded the corner past June we’re about three weeks out from the kickoff to Las Vegas Raiders training camp.

It’s an integral offseason in the augural year with general manager John Spytek and head coach Pete Carroll at the helm and when rookies kick off camp July 17, the hard work and grind the Silver & Black are engaging in with eyes of competing and not floundering in 2025 recommences.

The veterans follow their neophyte counterparts on July 22 and we’ll find out plenty about this rendition of the Raiders. Pads will come on and the competition should begin to produce expected starters. And when Carroll and his Raiders meet the Seattle Seahawks (his former team) on August 7 to kick off preseason play, we’ll learn even more.

As NFL teams embark on their respective training camps, rosters sit at 90. According to both Over The Cap and Spotrac, Las Vegas has about $31.2-plus or $31.8-plus million in cap space available. And with that in mind, let’s take a look at available free agents that make sense for the Raiders.

Justin Simmons, Safety

I’m surprised Simmons remains on the open market as the Boston College product is an impact defensive back since his arrival to the NFL as the Denver Broncos’ third-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

He’s older at 31 but is a 6-foot-2 and 202-pound safety who remained an effective safety and takeaway artist for the Atlanta Falcons in 2024 (62 total tackles, two interceptions, and seven pass deflections). Pro Football Reference charted Simmons as allowing 22 receptions on 37 targets for 229 yards and three touchdowns. The 59.5 percent completion rate he allowed when quarterbacks targeted him is impressive.

Simmons has the size, awareness, instincts, and capability to be a thief on the Raiders back end and would be a better option in three-safety alignments alongside Jeremy Chinn and Isaiah Pola-Mao than Lonnie Johnson Jr. (who is of similar size, but two years younger).

That all said, with the Pittsburgh Steelers trading safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to acquire cornerback Jalen Ramsey from the Miami Dolphins, there’s another AFC squad who needs a safety.

Mike Hilton, Cornerback

I’m pretty sure everyone has written about Hilton at this point.

Yet, Las Vegas’ depth at the slot/nickel cornerback spot is less than ideal and despite being 31 and “only” 5-foot-9 and 184 pounds, the Mississippi product plays much bigger than his size and is a fierce defender.

Hilton’s 24 total tackles for loss the last two seasons (12 in 2023 and 2024) showcase the cornerback’s ability to mix it up and get dirty where many others simply make “business decisions”.

Hilton isn’t a volume interception machine (one in 2024, two in 2023, one in 2022 as examples) but holds up well in coverage and he’s accustomed to be activated on the blitz — something Graham likes to do with his defensive backs both against the run and pass.

Quinton Jefferson, Defensive Tackle

Now here’s a defender that’s no stranger to either Carroll or the Raiders.

While the defensive tackle position has intriguing young pieces along with veteran leadership, the absence of Christian Wilkins looms large and Adam Bulter could use another savvy vet in the trenches. While the 32-year-old Jefferson hasn’t been a multi-game starter over his nine-year career, he did play in and start 17 games for the Raiders back in 2021 and racked up 47 total tackles, 5.5 sacks, and five tackles for loss.

As a rotational pass rushing-type tackle, Jefferson still has the juice to get in the backfield and brings decent size and movement at 6-foot-4 and 290 pounds. Jefferson is coming off a 2024 campaign where he finished with 14 total tackles and two sacks. But he did have a solid 2023 season with the New York Jets (34 total tackles, career high six sacks, and four tackles for loss).

Keenan Allen, Wide Receiver

Do the Raiders really need a veteran possession receiver who turned 33 not to long ago?

With Jakobi Meyers as the only established wideout on Las Vegas roster, Allen can come in and compete for the WR1 role from the jump. His 2024 campaign may have been light (70 catches for 744 yards in 15 games (15 starts)), Allen still hauled in seven touchdowns for the Chicago Bears last year.

The connection to the Raiders is present as wide receivers coach Chris Beatty was Allen’s position coach with the Los Angels Chargers (2021-23) and then the Bears this past season. With his precise route running, Allen can be an ample and productive target for quarterback Geno Smith in Las Vegas.

Neville Hewitt, Linebacker

A career special teamer who shines when given the opportunity on defense, Neville would be another patchwork-type defender the second level of Las Vegas defense. But the 32-year-old Marshall product brings something other Raiders linebackers don’t: Pass coverage chops.

The 6-foot-2 and 234-pound linebacker is a nuisance when dropping back in coverage and, last year with the Houston Texans, Neville was targeted 14 times allowing nine completions for 68 yards and one touchdown. The lone season where he was an every-down linebacker in 2020 with the New York Jets, Neville amassed 134 total tackles, two sacks, and four pass deflections.

He may not be an every-down defender anymore, but Neville would be a nice add as a rotational/situational cover linebacker.

Dalton Risner, Guard

The Raiders have a mauler at center in second-year pivot Jackson Powers-Johnson, so why not add another one to the mix right next to him?

Risner is a well-built 6-foot-5 and 312 interior lineman who played primarily at left guard since being taken in the second round of the 2019 draft by the Denver Broncos. He played for the Minnesota Vikings in 2023 and 2024 mixing in at both left and right guard spots during his two seasons there.

Las Vegas is having an open competition at the left guard spot and adding Risner — a blocker with a mean streak — into the fight with Dylan Parham, Jordan Meredith, and Thayer Munford Jr. will only ensure the Raiders find the best option on the left side. Shoot, Risner could potentially give Alex Cappa a run for his money on the right side.