Raiders making a splash in free agency

The Las Vegas Raiders were among the NFL’s busiest teams Tuesday, making a series of roster moves that reshape both their defense and offense ahead of the upcoming season.

According to Ian Rapoport, Las Vegas is trading for cornerback Taron Johnson from the Buffalo Bills. Johnson, a fourth-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft, has appeared in 113 career games with 87 starts. During that span he recorded 572 tackles, six interceptions, eight forced fumbles and eight sacks. He earned Second-Team All-Pro honors in 2023. The Raiders are also bringing back cornerback Eric Stokes, per Rapoport. Stokes started 16 games for Las Vegas last season and finished with 53 tackles, three tackles for loss and five passes defended.

On offense, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Raiders are signing center Tyler Linderbaum. The three-time Pro Bowler most recently played for the Baltimore Ravens, logging 1,008 snaps in 2025 while allowing just two sacks.Las Vegas is also adding depth at wide receiver, agreeing to a deal with Jalen Nailor, who previously played for the Minnesota Vikings. Nailor has totaled 69 receptions for 1,066 yards and 11 touchdowns over four seasons.

The defensive line will receive reinforcement as well. Rapoport reports the Raiders are signing defensive end Kwity Paye, formerly of the Indianapolis Colts. The 2021 first-round pick has recorded 30.5 sacks, 37 tackles for loss and 123 solo tackles during his first five NFL seasons. The Raiders also plan to retain defensive end Malcolm Koonce, who appeared in all 17 games last season and totaled 4.5 sacks and 13 quarterback hits.

Linebacker help is also on the way. Schefter reports that the Raiders are signing Nakobe Dean from the Philadelphia Eagles. Dean, a Super Bowl champion, has 226 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in 47 career games. Additionally, linebacker Quay Walker is expected to join Las Vegas after four seasons with the Green Bay Packers. Walker led Green Bay in tackles in each of his four seasons and finished his tenure with 469 total tackles and 29 tackles for loss. 

On special teams, the team is reportedly signing veteran kicker Matt Gay. Over seven NFL seasons with multiple teams, Gay has converted 182 of 216 field-goal attempts (84.3%) and 232 of 240 extra-point attempts.

Meanwhile, Las Vegas is also moving on from its starting quarterback. Sources told Schefter that the New York Jets are acquiring Geno Smith from the Raiders, reuniting Smith with the team that originally drafted him in 2013.According to the report, the Jets will send a 2026 sixth-round pick to Las Vegas in exchange for Smith and a 2026 seventh-round pick.

With multiple additions on defense and key offensive changes, the Raiders appear to be aggressively reshaping their roster as they prepare for the upcoming NFL season.