An early look at next year’s crop
With the 2025 NFL free agency period in the latter stages, let’s look at potential fits for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2026.
Now, much will change and many of the top free agents will re-sign extension with their current teams. Plus, the Raiders’ need will change, so this is a very early look, but let’s take a look, using Pro Football Network’s current list of top 100 prospective free agents:
Rashawn Slater:
It’s difficult to think the Los Angeles Chargers, who have their salary cap in order, will let Slater slip away. They will likely sign him to an extension in the next year or give him the franchise tag. But fi Slater were to somehow slip free, the Raiders would be smart to pounce and steal from a division foe, especially if they move on from left tackle Kolton Miller, who is also a free agent in 2026.
Terry McLaurin:
We need to see what the Raiders do at the top of this draft to see if they need a No. 1 receiver next year, but with Jakobi Myers begin a free agent, Las Vegas may need a receiver and McLaurin is a good one. Surely, the Washington Commanders will want to keep him, but McLaurin would be extremely popular on the open market and he’d be a nice fit in Las Vegas.
Mike Evans:
Evan will be 33 in 2026, but he still should be productive. The Buccaneers are famous for locking in their top players and surely Tampa Bay would like to see the future Hall of Famer end his career there. If, however, Evans become free, Las Vegas makes sense where he’d surely be welcomed with open arms from Tom Brady (the two won a Super Bowl together) and general manager John Spytek, who was in Tampa Bay with Evans for several years.
Trey Smith:
The Raiders could use interior offensive line help and Smith would have been a fit this year if he wasn’t given the franchise tag. If Smith and the Chiefs don’t come to an agreement on a long-term extension, he could hit the market next March be a Raiders’ target.
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Rig Woolen:
Raiders coach Pete Carroll drafted Woolen in Seattle and would very likely be over the moon to coach him with the Silver and Black. The 6-foot-4 Woolen is a prototypical Carroll cornerback. But the problem is, the Seahawks covet him as well and will likely try to lock him up long before he can hit the open market next March.
Quincy Williams:
The Raiders will likely use a linebacker (Elandon Roberts and Devin White signed one-year deals) and Williams is a good one. He is a highly productive player and if he wiggles free (doubtful since he plays in New York with his brother Quinnen), the Raiders should pounce.
George Pickens:
This may be the most attainable player on this list. The Pittsburgh Steelers just traded for and paid wide receiver DK Metcalf and there may not be room for Pickens, who created a stir recently by posting a social-media photo of him and Brady. Perhaps this pairing will eventually happen.