NFL free agency officially kicks off this week and the Las Vegas Raiders are in the midst of the action as they traded away Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens.
The trade was widely expected following the end of the 2025 season, and while losing Crosby hurts in the short term the Raiders are much better equipped to rebuild for the future. Las Vegas netted two first round picks from Baltimore which will be useful in restocking a roster that’s desperate for more young, high-end talent.
By trading Crosby, the Raiders created a massive void on defense along the edge as he was one of the NFL’s best pass rushers in 2025. Fortunately for Las Vegas, they entered the offseason with major cap space to play with so they can shop at the top of the market.
The Raiders were extremely busy adding to their defense on the first day of free agency as they traded for Taron Johnson and re-signed Eric Stokes to address the secondary.
They were hardly done there though as they also added free agents Kwity Paye, Quay Walker, Nakobe Dean and Malcolm Koonce:
Sources: Former #Colts DE Kwity Paye is signing with the #Raiders for 3 years, $48M.
Paye, the former first-round pick, started 74 games for Indy and has 30.5 career sacks. pic.twitter.com/s6aDpJzRjJ
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 9, 2026
Sources: The #Raiders plan to re-sign pass rusher Malcolm Koonce to a 1 year $11M deal. https://t.co/OlqjieTfEK pic.twitter.com/dRtazi4cPV
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 9, 2026
Comp update: Raiders are giving Quay Walker a three-year, $40.5 million deal that includes $28 million guaranteed, per agents Kyle McCarthy and Todd France. https://t.co/MWnY4kLpko
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2026
Raiders are giving former Eagles LB Nakobe Dean a three-year, $36 million deal including $20M guaranteed. https://t.co/7GrhNxALmc
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2026
Paye was a solid pass rusher during his tenure in Indianapolis, but now he’ll be tasked with leading the way off the edge. He has appeared in 85 career games and started 75 of them, recording 209 total tackles, 30.5 sacks, 50 quarterback hits, four forced fumbles and three pass breakups.
Koonce originally was a third round draft pick of the Raiders in 2021 out of Buffalo. He has played in 56 games across four seasons with the team, recording 85 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. In 17 games (three starts) this past season, he had 30 total tackles, six tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.
Walker and Dean were teams at Georgia and will combine to form a quality linebacker duo for the Raiders.
Walker was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the first round in 2022 and has recorded 469 total tackles, 29 tackles for loss and nine sacks in 58 games.
Dean went in the third round in 2022 to the Philadelphia Eagles and has 226 total tackles, 19 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in 46 games.
The Raiders should remain aggressive in free agency as they have several holes to address, plus could use more depth at critical positions like receiver and and offensive line. The first day of free agency has already produced several fireworks, so it’ll be exciting what comes next for Las Vegas.
Raiders sign former Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum to record deal
Besides defense, the Raiders desperately needed to upgrade its offensive line as it was abysmal last season outside of left tackle Kolton Miller. Las Vegas made a splash to open free agency, signing former Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum to a record-setting three-year, $81 million deal that reset the market.
