The Las Vegas Raiders’ roster is largely set. Going into the start of OTAs later this month, they have 87 of the 90 offseason roster spots filled.
Though those three remaining spots don’t guarantee they’ll make more additions — teams often keep those open for roster flexibility — they have the resources to make a few more veteran acquisitions if they want to. According to Over the Cap, the Raiders have about $18.6 million in effective cap space, which factors in projected contracts for their drafted rookies. June 2, the Raiders will free up another $24.07 million in cap space when quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s contract comes off the books.
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Of course, the Raiders will likely preserve some of that cap space in case they need it for contract extensions, trades and in-season signings — or they can hold on to it for rollover space in 2025. Coming out of the draft, though, there are several position groups with which help would be welcome.
After leaving the draft without a receiver, they signed veteran Michael Gallup to a one-year contract Monday. The Raiders felt good about their starting receiving trio of Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker, but they didn’t have another proven receiver on the roster. Gallup has started 67 games in six seasons and remedies that issue.
We have signed WR Michael Gallup. pic.twitter.com/oIzkrWDm87
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) April 30, 2024
According to a league source with knowledge of the situation, the Raiders have been discussing signing Gallup for weeks. His best season came in 2019 when he caught 66 passes for 1,107 yards and six touchdowns for the Dallas Cowboys, but he’s been unable to return to that form since tearing his ACL in 2021. The Cowboys released him this offseason, but the Raiders like his combination of size (6-1, 198 pounds) and speed and believe he’s capable of filling a role as a downfield vertical threat. Gallup has rarely lined up as a slot receiver, so he shouldn’t get in the way of Tucker’s continuing growth and development. He brings different skills to the table, can rotate in behind Adams and Meyers as an outside receiver and provides insurance in case of injury.
Neither Gallup nor any other signing they make from here on will count toward the NFL’s compensatory pick formula since they occurred after 1 p.m. PT on Monday. According to Over the Cap, the Raiders are projected to receive a sixth-round pick and a seventh-round pick in 2025.
When assessing the rest of the Raiders roster, cornerback and offensive tackle stand out as the two position groups that lack clarity when it comes to the starting lineup. Here’s a list of the 10 best free-agent fits the Raiders could target at those positions.
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1. CB Stephon Gilmore
The Raiders drafted cornerbacks Decamerion Richardson and M.J. Devonshire on Day 3, but they’re developmental players who probably won’t be ready to start as rookies. They could let a two-way competition play out between Jakorian Bennett and Brandon Facyson to determine who’ll start opposite Jack Jones, but it’d make a lot of sense for the Raiders to add a more proven veteran to the mix.
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Gilmore fits that billing. The 13-year veteran will turn 34 in September and is far from his Defensive Player of the Year days, but he remained an effective player in 17 starts with the Cowboys last season. He never overlapped with defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during his tenure with the New England Patriots, but it’s still useful that he’s familiar with that system. Though Gilmore wouldn’t be a long-term solution, he’d eliminate a lot of the uncertainty surrounding this season’s cornerback rotation.
2. CB Xavien Howard
Howard is younger than Gilmore — he’ll be 31 this season — but he missed four games due to injury last season and didn’t play as well when healthy. Graham coached him during his lone season as the Miami Dolphins’ defensive coordinator in 2019, so they have familiarity with one another. Though Howard’s ball production has slipped in recent years, he remains a starting-caliber cornerback and would be an upgrade for the Raiders.
3. CB Steven Nelson
Nelson isn’t a household name, but he has quietly been a reliable starting corner for eight years and is coming off one of the best seasons of his career in 2023 with the Houston Texans. He had 63 tackles, 12 pass deflections and four interceptions. He’ll be 31 this season, so he’s another short-term solution.
4. OT Andrus Peat
The Raiders drafted offensive tackle DJ Glaze in the third round to compete with Thayer Munford for the starting job at right tackle. Glaze and Munford have experience playing left tackle, as well, so the loser of that competition could settle into a swing tackle role. Given Glaze is a rookie and Munford has never been a full-time starter, however, it’s conceivable the Raiders feel they need to add a veteran offensive tackle as insurance.
Peat could fill that role. He has spent most of his career at guard, but he’s built like a tackle at 6 feet 7, 316 pounds, and has experience playing left and right tackle. He spent most of last season with the New Orleans Saints at left tackle and played at a decent level. If neither Munford nor Glaze looks up to par after OTAs, it could be worth giving Peat a call.
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5. CB Ahkello Witherspoon
Witherspoon started all 17 games for the Los Angeles Rams last season and finished with 52 tackles, 14 pass deflections and three interceptions. The 6-2, 195-pounder played pretty well and will still only be 28 this season. Witherspoon has been a player who has struggled to stay on the field — he has missed 38 games in seven seasons — which is probably why he’s still available.
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6. CB Adoree’ Jackson
When healthy, Jackson is a solid player. He can line up as an outside cornerback and nickelback and has strong cover skills. He has average size at 5-11, 185 pounds, but he’s fast and is a good athlete. The issue is his health. He hasn’t played a full season since his rookie year in 2017. He’d be a bit of a dice roll, but he could be worth it if his price tag is cheap.
7. CB Patrick Peterson
Peterson will be 34 this season, but he has played every game the last two seasons and started 16 games for the Pittsburgh Steelers last year. He had 42 tackles, 11 pass deflections and two interceptions and lined up at outside cornerback, nickelback and safety. If the Raiders feel he still has something left in the tank, adding Peterson makes sense.
8. OT Charles Leno Jr.
Leno has 141 career starts under his belt, but he’ll be 33 this season and had offseason hip surgery. Also, he has lined up almost exclusively at left tackle throughout his career, so asking him to transition to the right side might not be realistic. The fact he’s the second offensive tackle listed mostly speaks to how thin the free-agent market is at this position.
9. OT Chris Hubbard
Hubbard should be a last-resort move. He started nine games at right tackle for the Tennessee Titans last season but suffered a season-ending biceps injury and has played just 14 games total since 2021. At this point, the Raiders would probably be better off giving Munford and Glaze room to work through their growing pains. Another player to keep in mind is Dalton Wagner. The Raiders signed the 6-8, 320-pounder as an undrafted free agent last year and were excited about how he looked in practice, but he suffered a season-ending injury in training camp. Perhaps Wagner can join the mix at right tackle if he comes on strong this summer.
10. CB Tre Herndon
Herndon has served as the Jacksonville Jaguars’ nickelback the past couple of seasons, but he has starting experience as an outside corner as well. He’ll be 28 this season, is versatile and could compete for a starting role.
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(Photo: Kyle Terada / USA Today)
