The top priority for the Las Vegas Raiders right now is their head coach and general manager search. The players want interim head coach Antonio Pierce and interim GM Champ Kelly to get the full-time jobs, but owner Mark Davis is obligated to conduct a full search before deciding on each position.
It’s impossible to map out the rest of the Raiders’ offseason until both hires are made. With that being said, it’s still worth considering what the options are for the next regime when it comes to building the roster.
Here’s a guide to the Raiders’ roster heading into the offseason.
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— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) January 8, 2024
Players entering free agency
The Raiders have 21 players set to become free agents. They have 16 unrestricted free agents, who can negotiate with any team. Running back Austin Walter and cornerback Tyler Hall are restricted free agents, which means the Raiders can match any offer made to them. Guard Jordan Meredith, linebacker Kana’i Mauga and safety Isaiah Pola-Mao are exclusive rights free agents, which means the Raiders can effectively force them to come back if they offer them a contract tender.
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There are three avenues the Raiders could use to dictate the future of a UFA:
1. They use the exclusive franchise tag, which locks them in for one season at a set rate.
2. They use the non-exclusive franchise tag, which is worth less but allows the player to negotiate with other teams. This gives the Raiders the ability to match and rewards them with two first-round picks if they decide not to.
3. They use the transition tag, which also allows the player to negotiate with other teams and gives the Raiders the ability to match but doesn’t reward them with anything if they don’t.
The value of the exclusive and non-exclusive franchise tags represent either the average of the top-five salaries at that player’s position based on April of the current year or 120 percent of the player’s salary the previous year. The transition tag is worth less and is calculated by the average of the 10 highest players at a position.
Here are the Raiders’ UFAs:
The biggest name to watch is Josh Jacobs. The running back was set to test free agency last offseason, but the Raiders placed the franchise tag on him after they couldn’t agree on a multiyear contract. Jacobs refused to sign the franchise tag and skipped OTAs and training camp before ultimately signing a one-year deal. Jacobs and the Raiders are expected to revisit contract talks this offseason if Pierce and Kelly are retained, according to a league source.
Of course, that doesn’t guarantee they’ll come to terms. With Jacobs sidelined for the final four games of the season with a quad injury, Zamir White took over as the lead back. In those four starts, White rushed for 397 yards (third in the NFL during that span), averaged 4.7 yards per carry (15th) and looked like he’s ready to be a full-time starter. The Raiders could still pursue a multiyear deal with Jacobs or franchise tag him, but there’s also a chance they let him walk and turn to White.
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Besides Jacobs, the Raiders have seven other starters set to test free agency: fullback Jakob Johnson, left guard Greg Van Roten, center Andre James, right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor, defensive tackles Bilal Nichols and John Jenkins and cornerback Amik Robertson. Much like with Jacobs, the Raiders’ level of interest in bringing them back will be hard to decipher until the next regime is in place.
Players under contract for multiple years
The Raiders have 22 players under contract for multiple seasons. Among those players, 14 are on rookie deals, which are generally team-friendly (2024 cap hit number combines dead-money hit and cap space):
| Player | Pos. | 2024 cap hit | Signed through |
|---|---|---|---|
QB | $28.51M | 2025 | |
QB | $1.04M | 2026 | |
RB | $1.17M | 2025 | |
RB | $1M | 2025 | |
WR | $25.35M | 2026 | |
WR | $13.61M | 2025 | |
WR | $1.20M | 2026 | |
TE | $2.11M | 2026 | |
G | $1.39M | 2025 | |
OT | $15.68M | 2025 | |
OT | $1M | 2025 | |
OT | $923K | 2025 | |
DE | $24.48M | 2026 | |
DE | $5.68M | 2026 | |
DT | $1.28M | 2026 | |
LB | $956K | 2026 | |
CB | $1.12M | 2026 | |
CB | $985K | 2025 | |
S | $976K | 2026 | |
K | $4.65M | 2025 | |
P | $3.41M | 2025 | |
LS | $1.12M | 2025 |
Only six of those players — quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, receivers Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers, tight end Michael Mayer and defensive ends Maxx Crosby and Tyree Wilson — have any guaranteed salary left on their contract.
No matter who the next coach and GM are, the Raiders will almost certainly move on from Garoppolo, who was benched for Aidan O’Connell in Week 9. They could attempt to trade Garoppolo, but it’s hard to envision he’ll have many suitors given his contract, injury history and level of play in 2023. Most likely, they’ll have to cut him before his 2024 salary of $11.25 million becomes fully guaranteed on March 17. If they cut him straight up, they’ll take a $28.3 million dead-money hit in 2024 while freeing up just $199,000 in cap space. If they cut him with a post-June 1 designation, they’ll take a $15.5 million dead-money hit in 2024 while freeing up $13 million in cap space, but they’ll also take a $12.8 million dead-money hit in 2025.
Adams has said he wants to remain a Raider, but other teams will surely inquire about his services. Even if the Raiders receive an attractive offer, however, it would be difficult to move Adams. If the Raiders were to trade him, they’d take a $23.5 million dead-money hit in 2024 and free up just $1.8 million in cap space. That proposition doesn’t feel worth it.
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It hasn’t been discussed often, but the future of left tackle Kolton Miller is also worth monitoring. Miller regressed in 2023, missed four games due to injury and spent two more games on the bench behind Thayer Munford despite being healthy and available. If the Raiders were to trade or cut Miller, they would take a $6.75 million dead-money hit in 2024 and free up $8.9 million in cap space.
Players on expiring contracts in 2024
Following two straight unproductive seasons, it’s hard to see receiver Hunter Renfrow with the Raiders in 2024. It’s also difficult to envision a team taking on his $13.7 million cap hit. Most likely, the Raiders will have to cut Renfrow. If they cut him straight up, they’ll take a $5.5 million dead-money hit in 2024 and free up $8.2 million in cap space. If they cut him with a post-June 1 designation, they’ll free up $11.8 million in cap space in 2024 while taking dead-money hits of $1.8 million in 2024 and $3.6 million in 2025.
The Raiders could also save a chunk of money by releasing cornerback Brandon Facyson, who spent most of the 2023 season on injured reserve with a shin injury and played just three games. If they cut him, they’ll free up $3.25 million in cap space while taking just a $350,000 dead-money hit.
While they’re already under contract for the 2024 season, several starters on the defensive side of the ball could seek extensions this offseason: defensive end Malcolm Koonce, linebackers Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo, nickelback Nate Hobbs and safeties Marcus Epps and Tre’von Moehrig. Given how well the defense played this year, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Raiders lock up some of the bigger contributors long term.
Cap space
The NFL hasn’t determined the salary cap for the 2024 season, but it’s projected to be more than $240 million. Based on that figure, Over the Cap estimates the Raiders will have about $50.7 million in cap space this offseason. That’s already a lot of room to work with, but they could create even more by releasing players, restructuring existing contracts and giving out extensions. Given how much the Raiders’ financial outlook has improved since relocating to Las Vegas, Davis will be in a stronger position to allow the next regime to be aggressive when it comes to manipulating the salary cap.
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Draft picks
The Raiders hold eight picks in the draft. They own the 13th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. They also hold their own picks in the second, third, fourth and fifth rounds. They own the Chiefs’ sixth-round pick, either the Bears’ or Patriots’ seventh-round pick — it’s unknown which they received in the trade for offensive tackle Justin Herron — and the Vikings’ seventh-round pick.
The Raiders aren’t expected to be awarded compensatory picks for the 2023 free-agency period, but they could still receive compensatory picks based on how the hiring process plays out. If defensive coordinator Patrick Graham were hired elsewhere as a head coach, Las Vegas would receive third-round compensatory picks in 2024 and 2025. If a diverse executive from the Raiders front office were hired elsewhere as a GM, they’d also receive third-round compensatory picks in 2024 and 2025. If the Raiders lose both Graham to a head coaching job and a diverse executive to a GM job this offseason, they’d receive third-round compensatory picks in 2024, 2025 and 2026.
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Even without compensatory picks coming in, the Raiders are in a solid position for this year’s draft. They own all of their significant picks in future years and could potentially use that draft capital to move up from No. 13 in the first round. They also could stay put and still land an impactful player or trade back to build up their cache of assets. All options will be on the table for the next regime.
(Photo: Chris Unger / Getty Images)
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