Las Vegas Raiders News

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Ian Thomas • TE • Raiders

Raiders Add Tight End Ian Thomas

The Las Vegas Raiders announced on Tuesday that they signed free-agent tight end Ian Thomas (calf) to an undisclosed deal on Tuesday. Thomas will head to the AFC West after spending the first seven years of his NFL career with the Carolina Panthers after they selected him in the fourth round (101st overall) in the 2018 NFL draft out of Indiana. The 28-year-old never really established himself as a fantasy asset in Carolina, with his best season coming in his rookie campaign with a 36-333-2 line on 49 targets in 16 games (six starts). Thomas landed on Injured Reserve in 2024 with a calf injury and only caught three of six targets for seven yards in five games (two starts). He scored four touchdowns in his first three seasons but hasn't found the end zone since. In Vegas, he'll provide TE depth behind Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer and will remain off the fantasy radar.

Yesterday

Leki Fotu • DT • Raiders

Leki Fotu Signs With Raiders

Veteran free-agent defensive lineman Leki Fotu (knee) signed an undisclosed deal with the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday, a source told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Hamstring and knee injuries limited Fotu to just two games (one start) with the New York Jets in 2024. The 26-year-old was taken by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2020 NFL draft in the fourth round (114th overall) out of the University of Utah. In his four seasons with the Cardinals, the defensive tackle had 89 tackles (42 solo), 3.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, seven QB hits, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 56 games (21 starts). Fotu will most certainly continue to be a rotational defensive lineman on the interior and will be competing for a 53-man roster spot this summer in training camp in Vegas.

Yesterday

Zach Carter • DT • Raiders

Zach Carter Returning To Las Vegas

Per the team, defensive lineman Zach Carter is re-signing with the Las Vegas Raiders. They have not revealed the details of the deal. The former third-round pick served two years in Cincinnati before joining the Raiders in 2024, playing as a rotational piece for the team. Carter signed in October as a practice squad player and was elevated to the active roster just eleven days later. He registered 22 tackles and 1.5 sacks on 88 snaps, seeing his playing time increase over the back half of the season. Whether the 25-year-old has a chance to start this season is unknown, but the Raiders saw something they liked despite his limited time with the team. Las Vegas has returned most of its defensive front from a year ago.

3 days ago

Christian Elliss • LB • Raiders

Raiders Sign Christian Elliss To An Offer Sheet

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that the Las Vegas Raiders signed New England Patriots restricted free-agent linebacker Christian Elliss to an offer sheet on Wednesday. The Patriots will now have until Monday to match the Raiders' offer or risk losing Elliss. The 26-year-old received the right-of-first-refusal tender from the Patriots on March 8. Because he was undrafted out of Idaho, the Patriots wouldn't receive any draft compensation if they don't match the Raiders' offer sheet. In his first full season in New England in 2024, he had a career-high 80 tackles (42 solo), his first 1.5 sacks, five QB hits, his first career interception, five pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 16 games (five starts). It was solid production for Elliss, which makes it likely that new head coach Mike Vrabel will want to keep the playmaker around.

6 days ago

Zach Carter • DT • Raiders

Raiders Re-Sign Zachary Carter

The Las Vegas Raiders announced on Tuesday that they re-signed free-agent defensive tackle Zachary Carter to an undisclosed deal. Carter began last season with the Cincinnati Bengals before joining the Raiders to finish out the year. The 25-year-old interior defensive lineman had only 22 total tackles (10 solo), a career-high 1.5 sacks and two QB hits in 12 games (two starts) combined with both teams. The Bengals took him in the third round (95th overall) in the 2022 NFL draft out of the University of Florida. Carter has never had more than 23 total tackles in his three seasons in the NFL as mostly a reserve defensive tackle, but he could have a shot to compete for a bigger role in Vegas in his first full season with the team in 2025.

7 days ago

Raheem Mostert • RB • Raiders

Raheem Mostert Expected To Be No. 2 Back In Vegas

The Las Vegas Raiders added veteran running back Raheem Mostert on a one-year deal last week in free agency, but ESPN's Ryan McFadden writes that the expectation is for the 32-year-old to be the team's No. 2 back and not the top guy. The Raiders could add another RB in free agency among the likes of Nick Chubb, Jamaal Williams, Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins, but the best path for the team adding to their backfield is to take advantage of a deep RB class in the draft. Vegas could take top RB Ashton Jeanty at No. 6 overall, but if they don't, there will be plenty of value options at the position later in the draft, including Iowa's Kaleb Johnson and Ohio State's TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins. Henderson and Judkins both played for new Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, who was the Buckeye's offensive coordinator last year.

Mar 18

Stefon Diggs • WR • Raiders

Raiders Could Target Stefon Diggs

ESPN's Ryan McFadden writes that the Las Vegas Raiders could target former Houston Texans wide receiver Stefon Diggs (knee) as they look to build their offense around new quarterback Geno Smith, tight end Brock Bowers and receiver Jakobi Meyers. Even though Diggs is 31 years old and is coming off a torn ACL, he'd be a significant upgrade over current No. 2 wideout Tre Tucker if he can return to full strength in 2025. The former Buffalo Bills wideout had 496 yards in the first eight weeks of the 2024 campaign in Houston before suffering his season-ending knee injury. After trading for Christian Kirk and signing free agents Justin Watson and Braxton Berrios, it's unlikely that Diggs will re-sign with the Texans. Vegas could be a nice landing spot for Diggs, but with no guarantees that he'll be ready for Week 1 of the regular season, he'll be a shaky fantasy option, regardless of where he signs.

Mar 18

Raheem Mostert • RB • Raiders

Raiders Signing Raheem Mostert To One-Year Deal

The Las Vegas Raiders are signing former Miami Dolphins Pro Bowl running back Raheem Mostert to an undisclosed one-year deal on Thursday, sources tell FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz. Mostert, a 10-year NFL veteran, had 1,012 rushing yards and a league-leading 21 total touchdowns in 2023 with the Dolphins and will be a big-time addition to Vegas' backfield in 2025. However, the 32-year-old fell back to Earth hard last year with only 85 carries, 278 yards and two rushing touchdowns in 13 games (one start) as the clear secondary option to De'Von Achane. With the move to Vegas, he'll Mostert will reunite with offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and will have a shot to bounce back as one of the team's primary backs as he competes for touches with Sincere McCormick and Zamir White. The aging back will most likely be involved in some sort of timeshare, but he could bounce back as a touchdown-dependent flex option if he can stay healthy.

Mar 13

Elandon Roberts • LB • Raiders

Elandon Roberts Agrees With Raiders On One-Year Deal

Pittsburgh Steelers free-agent linebacker Elandon Roberts reached an agreement on Monday night with the Las Vegas Raiders on a one-year, $3 million contract, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The deal was negotiated by agent Drew Rosenhaus. Roberts will help replace standout linebacker Robert Spillane in 2025. The 30-year-old veteran spent the last two seasons in Pittsburgh. After 100-plus-tackle seasons with the Miami Dolphins in 2022 and the Steelers in 2023, Roberts took a step back last year with only 46 tackles (24 solo), one sack, five tackles for loss and a forced fumble in 17 regular-season games (14 starts). The former sixth-round selection (214th overall) by the New England Patriots in 2016 out of Houston played fewer than 50 percent of the defensive snaps in his final season in Pittsburgh but should have a shot a a near every-down role again in Vegas.

Mar 11

Geno Smith • QB • Raiders

Raiders Likely To Give Geno Smith A Contract Extension

The Las Vegas Raiders surprisingly acquired quarterback Geno Smith from the Seattle Seahawks last Friday in exchange for a third-round pick in this year's draft and are now likely to reward him with a long-term contract extension that he was hoping the Seahawks would give him, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The addition of Smith doesn't necessarily mean the Raiders won't take a rookie signal-caller with the seventh overall pick in this year's draft, but it's probably much less likely now that they've addressed the most important position in football for the foreseeable future. The 34-year-old Smith was a Pro Bowler in 2022 and 2023 in Seattle and threw for 4,320 yards, 21 TDs and 15 interceptions in 17 games last year. He is going from a receiving corps of DK Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Tyler Lockett to Jakobi Meyers and tight end Brock Bowers, so it's a downgrade in terms of weapons. Depending on what else the Raiders do in free agency and the draft, Smith profiles as a midrange QB2, at best, heading into 2025.

Mar 11

Malcolm Koonce • DE • Raiders

Malcolm Koonce Returns To Raiders On One-Year Deal

The Las Vegas Raiders re-signed defensive end Malcolm Koonce (knee) on Monday to a one-year, $12 million deal, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The Raiders selected Koonce in the third round (79th overall) in the 2021 draft out of Buffalo. He will return for a fifth season in Sin City despite suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 1 of last year against the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers. In his three seasons with the Raiders, the 26-year-old pass-rusher has accumulated 55 tackles (40 solo), 10 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, 19 QB hits and three forced fumbles in 39 games (11 starts). Koonce had a career-high eight sacks in 2023, so the Raiders weren't quite ready to move on after his unfortunate knee injury in 2024. If Koonce is fully recovered from the knee injury that kept him out all of last year, he should start opposite All-Pro pass-rusher Maxx Crosby.

Mar 11

Jeremy Chinn • S • Raiders

Raiders Agree To Terms With Jeremy Chinn On Two-Year Deal

The Las Vegas Raiders agreed to terms with free-agent safety Jeremy Chinn on Monday on a two-year deal for over $16 million with over 75 percent of the deal fully guaranteed at signing, a source told NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. Chinn will head to the AFC West after spending one year with the Washington Commanders in 2024, where he had a career-high 117 tackles (73 solo), a career-high two sacks, seven tackles for loss, an interception, five pass breakups, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in 17 regular-season starts. The 27-year-old also had 29 tackles (17 solo) and an interception in three playoffs games in which he played all of the defensive snaps. It's a big pickup for the Raiders secondary, as Chinn has three 100-plus-tackle seasons in his five years in the NFL after the Carolina Panthers made him a second-round pick (64th overall) in 2020 out of Southern Illinois. Chinn will be back on the IDP radar in 2025.

Mar 11

Adam Butler • DT • Raiders

Raiders Agree To Three-Year Extension With Adam Butler

The Las Vegas Raiders agreed to terms with standout defensive tackle Adam Butler on a three-year deal worth $16.5 million on Sunday with $11 million in guarantees, sources tell NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The Raiders will bring Butler back after he had a career-high 65 tackles (36 solo), five sacks, eight tackles for loss, 10 QB hits and a forced fumble in 17 games (16 starts) in 2024 in his second year in Sin City. Although the 30-year-old veteran didn't really move the needle all that much in fantasy in IDP leagues as a defensive lineman, it was his best all-around year in the NFL since debuting in 2017 with the New England Patriots. Butler went undrafted out of college at Vanderbilt but latched on with the Patriots and spent the first four seasons of his career in New England. He will now stick around in Vegas through 2027.

Mar 10

Andre James • C • Raiders

Raiders Plan To Release Andre James

The Las Vegas Raiders plan to release starting center Andre James after the new league year begins next Wednesday, March 12, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. James is one of the last players remaining from the Raiders' days in Oakland. The 27-year-old entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of UCLA and made his NFL debut in 2019 with the Raiders. In his six seasons in the NFL with the Raiders, James has appeared in 89 games, with 60 of them being starts. James will attract interest from teams looking for help at the center position and should at least compete for a starting job somewhere in training camp this summer.

Mar 8

Tomari Fox • DT • Raiders

Raiders Waive Tomari Fox

The Las Vegas Raiders waived defensive tackle Tomari Fox on Friday, according to KPRC's Aaron Wilson. Fox, who was an undrafted free agent out of the University of North Carolina, didn't play at all in 2024 with the Raiders while being on Injured Reserve with an undisclosed injury. The 23-year-old defensive lineman has yet to see action in an NFL game. Fox is most likely going to go unclaimed on waivers, at which point he'd be free to sign with any team before the official start of the 2025 league year next week on Wednesday, March 12.

Mar 8

Geno Smith • QB • Raiders

Geno Smith Traded To Raiders

The Seattle Seahawks traded quarterback Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders for a 2025 third-round pick on Friday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Smith will be reunited with his former head coach Pete Carroll as the Raiders look to finally solve their hole at the quarterback position. According to the Athletic's Dianna Russini, the Seahawks are now looking to sign Sam Darnold to replace Smith under center in Seattle. Smith, who succeeded Russell Wilson as the Seahawks' quarterback, threw 71 touchdowns and 35 interceptions in his three years starting under center for Seattle. The Raiders are expected to sign Smith to a new deal, with the veteran quarterback looking to make between $40 and $45 million per season. Smith's arrival in Las Vegas can be considered an upgrade for all of the Raiders' pass-catchers heading into the 2025 season.

Mar 8

Michael Gallup • WR • Raiders

Michael Gallup Looking To Return To NFL

Veteran wide receiver Michael Gallup, whom the Las Vegas Raiders released from the Reserve/Retired list on Friday, is looking to return to the NFL in 2025, a source tells NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Gallup caught 266 passes in 86 career games with the Dallas Cowboys before signing with the Raiders a year ago. The 29-year-old announced his retirement last July right after training camp started. The former third-round pick (81st overall) by Dallas in 2018 out of Colorado State had a 1,000-yard season with six touchdowns for the Cowboys in his second year in the league in 2019 but never came close to those heights again and didn't exceed 500 receiving yards in his last three seasons in Dallas. Gallup could latch on with a team this offseason as an experienced role player, but he'll probably be fighting an uphill battle for any kind of serious fantasy relevance if he gets picked up.

Mar 7

Alex Cappa • G • Raiders

Raiders Sign Alex Cappa On Wednesday

The Las Vegas Raiders are signing former Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman Alex Cappa to an undisclosed deal on Wednesday, a source tells NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The Raiders were quick to pounce on Cappa to give them extra offensive-line depth, as Cappa was just released by the Bengals on Monday of this week. According to Pro Football Talk, Cappa's agents announced that he signed a two-year deal worth $11 million with Vegas. The 30-year-old veteran was been a starter at right guard for the last six seasons -- three with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and three with the Bengals. New Raiders general manager John Spytek was with the Bucs when Cappa was a member of the team. There's a pretty good chance that Cappa will start at right guard for the Raiders in 2025 in his first year with the organization.

Mar 5

Maxx Crosby • DE • Raiders

Raiders Sign Maxx Crosby To Three-Year Extension

The Las Vegas Raiders signed All-Pro defensive end Maxx Crosby to a new three-year, $106.5 million contract extension on Wednesday, sources tell The Athletic's Tashan Reed. The deal includes $91.5 million guaranteed. Crosby was already under contract with the Raiders through the 2026 season, but his previous deal had no guaranteed money left. The new deal makes the four-time Pro Bowler the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, although that probably won't last for long this offseason. The high-motor defensive end has developed into one of the best pass-rushers in the NFL since he was taken in the fourth round back in 2019 by the Raiders. Crosby has a whopping 59.5 sacks (tied for fifth-most) since entering the league. Although his 2024 season was cut short by an ankle injury, Crosby will be an elite defensive lineman in IDP fantasy formats this fall.

Mar 5

Gardner Minshew II • QB • Raiders

Gardner Minshew II To Be Released By Raiders

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew II will be released by the organization when the new league year begins on March 12, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero. The 28-year-old signed a two-year, $25 million contract with the Raiders last offseason but is headed out after just one year. Since being selected in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Washington State, Minshew has thrown for 11,950 yards, 68 touchdowns, and 34 interceptions in 59 game appearances with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, and Raiders. He is one of the better backup quarterbacks in the NFL, so he will likely draw plenty of interest on the open free-agent market.

Mar 5

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