The Las Vegas Raiders have made massive improvements in the 2026 NFL off-season inking receiver Jalen Nailor, center Tyler Linderbaum, linebackers Quay Walker, Nakobe Dean, and defensive lineman Kwity Paye to three year deals while also re-signing veteran cornerback Eric Stokes, EDGE Malcolm Koonce, and defensive tackle Thomas Booker. The Raiders have made two additional moves with fullback Connor Hayward and receiver/special teams ace Dareke Young as well to lower value contracts. Las Vegas currently
sits with roughly 35 million in cap space, not including Quay Walker, Connor Hayward, Dareke Young, and Matt Gay’s contracts though Las Vegas should have around 24 million after these signings accounted and additional room to make moves if they restructure Maxx Crosby or Kolton Miller. Las Vegas’ roster sits at 63 of 90, and they have plenty of room to add additional players to lower value deals as veterans look to sign before the draft.
I recently made the same article for offensive skill positions, which can be found on Silver And Black as well:
NT DJ Reader
Reader, 31 years old, is not the same player he was with the Bengals from 2021-2023 but he’s remained a strong nose tackle and coming off a 2025 season with 17 starts, 28 tackles, six QB hits, 20 pressures, and 15 stops while also posting a 10.5% pass rush win rate and finishing 19th in run stop win rate. Reader has struggled with injuries in his career, playing a full season in just three of his 10 seasons. He’s shown to be a productive pass rusher, while also showing strong run defense traits. Las Vegas is needing a true nose tackle, and Reader at 6’3, 335-pounds has a career 1641 snaps as a true 0 or 1 technique in his 5654 snaps, while traditionally being a run focused defensive tackle.
NT Andrew Billings
Similar to Reader, the Raiders need a nose tackle and Billings would fit that mold well. The former Bengals 4th rounder, has experience working with DL Coach Travis Smith who worked with him in Oakland, and in Chicago. The 31 year old, saw a breakout 2022 season with 39 tackles, a sack, and finished top 10 in run stop win rate and run stops. After missing half the season in 2024, Billings bounced back in 2025 with 31 tackles, 7 TFL, eight quarterback hits, a sack, 14 pressures, and 20 stops. Billings did decline at times with his run stop win rate, and he struggled to find consistency, but the former Raiders and Bears nose tackle has a strong track record which is something to note for a veteran nose tackle. Las Vegas needs a proven nose tackle, and Billings experience with both the Raiders and Smith could be a smart veteran addition. It’s also worth noting that Billings four best seasons have all come under Smith, and his worst came with Smith in Tennessee.
DL Jihad Ward
I promise this whole list isn’t former Raiders, but the 6’5/290 pound Ward is coming off a 2025 season with 47 pressures, 31 tackles, five TFL, 22 QB hits, 5 sacks, and 4 PBU. Additionally, Ward finished with a 9% pass rush win rate, and 24% run stop win rate. He logged majority of his time at EDGE, but also has spent a strong portion of his career as a 2, 3, and 4 technique splitting time nearly 50/50 at EDGE and inside the tackle. Coming off his best career season, Ward has experience with DL coach Travis Smith working with him in Oakland during the 2017 season, and working with him in Tennessee for the 2025 seasons where he had a career best year. Ward has proven to be a versatile defender, working well in a 3-4 system and also showing the ability to play as a 4-3 option also. The Raiders are deep at EDGE with Maxx Crosby, Kwity Paye, and Malcolm Koonce but could use more versatility on their defensive line where Ward plays in.
ILB Matt Milano
For all these linebackers, the same statement will remain true. Las Vegas did sign Quay Walker & Nakobe Dean, with the two of them clearing being the top two options for Las Vegas on their second level. Despite that, Dean has struggled with injures missing nearly one third of his career games, and the team is also likely to rotate linebackers regardless in order to keep the defense fresh. Milano, 31 years old, is not the same player he was during the peak of his career, but he’s coming off a 2025 with 67 tackles, seven for loss, 3.5 sacks, and a forced fumble in 12 starts. Additionally, Milano has dipped in coverage allowing 299 yards, two touchdowns, and 39 receptions on 50 targets with a 104.9 QBR. He’s struggled with injuries, but does play a key weakside role, which would allow Las Vegas to keep Dean at MIKE and Walker at SAM where both will succeed. Milano has experience with Raiders senior assistant Al Holcomb, and he’ll likely be a cheap veteran signing to help Las Vegas provide depth and a quality third linebacker to their unit.
ILB Jack Gibbens
Gibbens, 27, was non-tendered by the Patriots making him a free agent, and he should be a quality option to serve as a depth role. In 2025 he started 8 games for New England logging 81 tackles, eight TFL, a sack, four breakups, and a forced fumble with another 2 starts, 19 tackles, 2 TFL, and PBU in the playoffs. Gibbens added 36 stops though he struggled in coverage allowing 32 of 39 targets for 247 yards, three touchdowns, and a 110.1 QBR. Gibbens is a solidified linebacker who has a track record as a rotational weakside linebacker, and is a quality defender vs the run while providing special teams value also.
ILB Shaq Thompson
Thompson, who turns 32 in April, has followed Al Holcomb everywhere in his career, and a trip to Las Vegas would be a fit for both sides. The weakside linebacker is coming off a strong 2025 season where he was able to stay healthy, and posted 56 tackles, seven tackles for loss, a sack, and two breakups through 14 games with 8 starts. While Thompson isn’t the same player he was with Carolina from 2019 to 2022 and he’s struggled with injures in 2023 and 2024 playing just six games. The Raiders need to add more veteran depth options, and Thompson experience with Holcomb becomes a top fit for the room, also allowing Thompson to work at weakside and mike.
CB Cam Taylor-Britt
The Bengals switched systems in 2025, going from a zone heavy to man focused system, and Britt struggled allowing 14 receptions, 183 yards, and three touchdowns along with a 133.5 QBR. Additionally, Britt struggled in 2024 as well with 54 receptions, 751 yards, and 10 touchdowns allowed though he added three interceptions and 16 breakups. The former second rounder has seen success, and is also an athletic upside player who Las Vegas can bank on as a developmental depth cornerback. Britt had strong success in 2023 with 31 receptions allowed for 532 yards, and two touchdowns but also added four interceptions and 12 breakups. Additionally, the 26 year old, has struggled with injuries missing time in 2025 (8 games played) and missing 13 games between 2022 & 2023. Britt is young, has shown high end ball production with seven interceptions and 41 breakups, while also being a proven run defender. Joe Woods was able to capitalize on Eric Stokes rebound in 2026, and the Raiders could be searching for young high upside depth in 2026 with Britt.
CB Martin Emerson Jr
Emerson, like Britt was a high pick in the 2022 draft, and he’s coming off a 2025 season where he missed the entire year off an Achilles injury. Emerson has a track record of success with four interceptions and 34 breakups in 50 games including back to back seasons with 14+ breakups to start his career. Emerson struggled in 2024 under DC Joe Woods, but the connection remains, which could help entice Emerson to Las Vegas where he’ll play in a zone system that allows Emerson to work in space and make a play on the ball in coverage. In his career he’s allowed just 136 receptions, 1605 yards, and 11 touchdowns along with an 83.8 QBR on 255 targets with the proven ball production. Emerson has been an average run defender, though his tackle issues have shown up at times, and will be a limitation to him going forward. Emerson is extremely young at just 25 years old, and has good size at 6’2, 205-pounds to pair with the track record of success which Las Vegas can bank on developing into a rebound season similar to Eric Stokes.
SAF Chuck Clark
Clark, soon to be 31, has experience working with Raiders coaches Rob Leonard and Matt Robinson from his time with the Baltimore Ravens and is coming off a 2025 season where in 470 snaps he logged 51 tackles, 3 for loss, three breakups, and a forced fumble in 15 games (5 starts). Additionally, Clark has maintained his success as a run defender missing just 9% of his tackles in his career including 10% over the last two seasons where he’s played near 1200 career snaps. Clark did struggle with consistency in 2025 during his coverage allowing 18 receptions, 235 yards, and a touchdown along with a 108.2 QBR on 23 targets. The Raiders need to upgrade their free safety role, with Isaiah Pola-Mao struggling in 2025 where Clark would slot in as a cheap veteran option.
SAF Donovan Wilson
Wilson, 31, posted two interceptions, seven breakups, 71 tackles, and four for loss in 2025 while missing 20% of his tackles, and allowing 29 receptions, 315 yards, seven touchdowns, and a 119.2 QBR. While, Wilson struggled he has a track record of success in a role that plays him more as a traditional two high safety instead of the nickel linebacker role that Wilson was forced into for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Wilson has seen career success allowing a sub 90 QBR in four of his seven NFL seasons and has a career eight interceptions, 21 breakups, and has been a proven run defender as well despite his struggles recently. At worse, Wilson provides depth at both safety spots, but also could show the ability to be a starting free safety for at least 2026.
