The NFL’s franchise tag window opened on Tuesday, and 2026 free agency is right around the corner. As a result, ESPN’s Matt Bowen released his Top 50 free agents and named the Las Vegas Raiders as “best fits” for three of them: cornerback Jaylen Watson, wide receiver Romeo Doubs and guard Zion Johnson.
CB Jaylen Watson, Kansas City Chiefs
Watson, who had 64 tackles with the Chiefs in 2025, is scheme-versatile, and the Raiders could land one of the top corners in free agency with this move to upgrade
the perimeter of their defense. He has the length to challenge in press and the route awareness to play top-down on the ball in zone. — Bowen
Watson is coming off the best year of his career, recording double-digit starts for the first time and surrendering a career-low 69.0 passer rating when targeted, according to Pro Football Focus. The question is, is he a better option than re-signing in-house free agent Eric Stokes? For what it’s worth, despite having one more year of NFL experience, Stokes is the younger of the two corners, turning 27 next month, while Watson will be 28 in September. Stokes wasn’t listed in Bowen’s top 50 free agents, though.
WR Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers
The Raiders can add to their wide receivers room for new coach Klint Kubiak by signing Doubs. His ability to uncover and work the heavy traffic areas of the field would be great for anticipated top pick Fernando Mendoza. A reliable pass catcher, Doubs had 55 receptions for 724 yards with the Packers in 2025. — Bowen
This fit could have some legs to it. Kubiak’s offense in Vegas could use some help out wide, and Doubs has been playing in a similar offense over the last four years. Packers head coach and play-caller Matt LaFleur also stems from the Kyle Shanahan/Sean McVay coaching tree. That being said, the 2022 fourth-round pick doesn’t have great production, never recording more than 800 yards in a season. Part of the reason is that he’s dealt with several injuries, playing in all 17 regular-season games just once in four years.
G Zion Johnson, Los Angeles Chargers
The Raiders can upgrade their offensive line with Johnson. He’d play the left guard spot in Klint Kubiak’s system, using his mobility in the zone run game. Plus, Johnson’s youth and durability fit the rebuild in Las Vegas. He is just entering his prime playing years, with a 90.7% pass block win rate over his four-year career with the Chargers. — Bowen
I understand where Bowen is coming from with Johnson’s fit in Vegas, but I disagree with this one. Interior offensive line is arguably the Chargers’ biggest need this offseason, and the 2022 first-round pick’s play over the last four seasons was part of the problem. There’s a reason Los Angeles didn’t pick up his fifth-year option last offseason, and for what it’s worth, Johnson has never posted a PFF grade above 65.
In Other Raiders’ Links:
- Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe in free agency?: “At 27 years old (28 on April 9), the undrafted free agent is set to get a healthy raise over the $1.98 million he made with Seattle this past year,” S&BP’s Ray Aspuria wrote. “And Kubiak…should make a strong suggestion to general manager Joh Spytek that Jobe is a defender worth spending money on.”
- Kubiak capable of being “leader of men”?: S&BP reached out to our friends at Field Gulls to get some questions answered about the Raiders’ new head coach.
- Fernando Mendoza’s mental makeup: “Mendoza is the rare QB prospect who is mentally and physically tough enough to handle the ups and downs that can come with starting on a bad team, while also being the centerpiece as that team grows from young to polished,” The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner wrote. “He’s a top-five prospect in this class, and likely its No. 1 pick.”
- Raiders address trenches in PFF mock draft: After taking Mendoza No. 1 overall, PFF’s Gordon McGuinness had Texas Tech nose tackle Lee Hunter and Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller heading to Las Vegas in rounds two and three, respectively.
