Q: Could the Raiders pursue Tyler Linderbaum
The former 25th overall selection from Iowa, Linderbaum has been a staple of the Ravens offensive line for the last four seasons and the soon to be 26 year old does will commend a strong free agent market. Linderbaum has played all but 350 snaps in four seasons and he’s allowed just 5 sacks and 92 pressures along with 26 penalties in that time (2416 pass block attempts). Linderbaum is among the consensus top three centers in the NFL, and despite a “down
year” in 2025 will still have a strong market, he’s a better run blocker than he is pass protector but that doesn’t limit him from getting likely a new contract north of 14 million and he could end up the highest paid center in the NFL. The Raiders have Jackson Powers-Johnson who has shown strides in his first two seasons and still remains the clear cut favorite to be the center next year, while Linderbaum could be a realistic option and Powers-Johnson slides to guard for Las Vegas how realistic is it for Linderbaum to not just follow Harbaugh up to New York or the Ravens franchise tag him. Long story short, yes the Raiders could pursue Linderbaum I just don’t think it’s all that likely.
Q: Rank your remaining candidates for Head Coach, and who do you think it is
The top option right now would stand with Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak, who will have his second interview on Saturday with the Raiders. Kubiak seems the top consensus option, and also has the top odds right now to land the Raiders head coaching job. After Kubiak Rams OC Mike LaFleur comes up second and the Rams OC is a finalist for the Arizona Cardinals head coach position but could stay in Los Angeles also. LaFleur has experience calling plays, has done so with the Jets and Rams this season, and has also learned and developed from three of the top offensive minds in the sport. After those two line up Broncos QB coach Davis Webb who is a top name, and while he does have a lot of plus factors (will touch on that soon), Webb does have his instances with lack of playcalling, limited coaching ability, and how effective he’d be as a head coach with every factor on his shoulders. At the end of the day, when it’s all said in done I think the Raiders hire Klint Kubiak.
Q: Doesn’t seem head coach candidates have been lining up to coach Mendoza. Maybe he’s not as good as they’re making us believe?
The Raiders haven’t necessarily missed on any of their head coach candidates this cycle so far that’s the thing. The Raiders full list of interviewed names include Kevin Stefanski, Matt Nagy, Davis Webb, Vance Joseph, Klint Kubiak, Jesse Minter, Ejiro Evero, Jeff Hafley, Chris Shula, Nate Scheelhaase, Mike LaFleur, Joe Brady, Klay Kubiak, Mike McDaniel, and Brian Daboll. Of that list so far Stefanski was hired as the Falcons head coach and Las Vegas never showed full interest in him. Klay Kubiak withdrew his name, but was also never a finalist for the Raiders position. Additionally, defensive minded coaches Jeff Hafley and Jesse Minter took other jobs and other than Minter the Raiders didn’t have much interest in going the defensive coach route, which also likely rules out Joseph and Evero. Minter is a miss but the Chargers defensive coordinator, who’s widely viewed as the top candidate this cycle took what was the top job.
After those the last two are Brian Daboll, Joe Brady, Mike McDaniels, McDaniels is a miss, but if the Raiders wanted him over LaFleur, Kubiak, or Webb it would’ve been done same with Daboll as both were holding out for the Raiders HC job before finalizing their jobs as offensive coordinators. As for Brady, the now Bills HC likely isn’t taking the chance to leave Josh Allen and his current team for a new team. The Raiders are slated to have Kubiak, Webb, or LaFleur as the head coach and all three as offensive minded coaches are likely to want to work with Mendoza, who is widely viewed as the top quarterback and outside of some flaws has massive upside.
Q: What if Kubiak turns them down? What’s next steps with LaFleur, Webb, or someone else? Don’t need them to wait and get no one
If Kubiak turns down the Raiders on Saturday, when he’ll likely be offered the job then Webb or LaFleur will possibly be hired as soon as Sunday morning since the NFL doesn’t like big new on the week of the Super Bowl. Additionally, if no hire is made then Kubiak is pretty much a guarantee come Monday after the end of the Super Bowl I would assume (don’t take too much of my word there). If Kubiak agrees and something happens, or the Raiders decide to wait and get turned down they still can pivot to Webb or LaFleur (should he not take the Cardinals job). Webb is a candidate for numerous OC positions and could be promoted in Denver, but Webb could be patient enough to decide and wait for the Raiders head coach job and other teams likely will wait as well for him to take their OC job. If everything goes terrible, and the Raiders whiff on all three candidates then I’d expect Nate Scheelhaase to be the next man up for the Raiders in their head coach search.
Q: Why is Sean McDermott not a true candidate for Head Coach?
McDermott hasn’t received much interest this entire cycle, and it’s likely he wants to take a year off. Additionally, the Raiders have gone down the re-tread route time and time again, it’s not time to do that this year for the Raiders. McDermott, 51 coached the Bills as their head coach since 2017 and in his time there finished first in the AFC East 5 times and failed to make the playoffs in just one of those games. A career record of 98-50, McDermott has done well in the regular season, develops talent well, and his defensive units have been strong as well. McDermott’s main issue and the key reason for his firing ended up with his playoff track record where at 8-8, McDermott advanced past the Divisional round just twice and suffered a loss in both seasons. The playoffs is half the equation, being able to win in them is the second and most important part.
Q: How confident are you Davis Webb could put together a strong coaching staff
Webb has been endorsed by numerous current and former players along with top coaches as well. Webb has strong ties and the reports indicated Brian Daboll, Joe Brady, or Kliff Kingsbury as the offensive coordinator. Daboll and Brady are off the board but Kingsbury remains though Webb can also likely pull someone else, and I’d expect Webb be the playcaller with a lot of support from his offensive coordinator. The defensive staff likely would come from Denver, though Webb does have plenty of connections through his time as a player and he’s earned a ton of respect as well. Webb needs to bring a strong staff, and if he can’t do such then things do look a little more uphill for him in his career.
Q: What Offensive lineman do you like in Free Agency?
Tyler Linderbaum (Ravens, C) is the top name and we just touched on him, a sleeper signing for me is Panthers center Cade Mays who has played a career 1773 snaps and allowed just 4 sacks and 45 pressures including 0 sacks and 13 pressures in 793 snaps this season. The former UDFA has experience at guard and tackle and could be a notable option for the Raiders if they want to add a possible center this off-season and Linderbaum comes off the board. Additionally, Jets guard Alijah Vera-Tucker is a top name and coming off a triceps tear his market could be tough to determine what his market will be. Vera-Tucker has been a strong run blocker with struggles in pass protection at times but he’s allowed just 9 sacks and 88 pressures in 2625 career snaps (1752 pass protection snaps). The 26 year old has a good frame, can slot into right guard, where he’s been best, and help clog a need for Las Vegas. Other top names include Joel Bitonio, though he could retire along with Kevin Zeitler. Both veterans plug a need a guard but likely are looking to win a super bowl before they call it quits. Bills guard David Edwards is a plug and play left guard and allowed 4 sacks and 32 pressures this season for the Bills though he could stay in Buffalo. Other notable names I like include Brady Christensen (Panthers, G/T), Austin Corbett (Panther C/G), Andrew Wylie (Commanders, T/G), and Isaac Seumalo (Steelers G).
Q: What Wide Receivers should the Raiders target in Free Agency?
George Pickens is the top option but will he leave Dallas is the key note here. The 6’3, 205 receiver is coming off a career season with 93 receptions, 1429 yards, and 9 touchdowns and likely is looking at 25 million or more a season. Alec Pierce is another notable option for the Raiders and I wrote about his potential signing here. Additionally, Seahawks receiver and all pro kick returner Rashid Shaheed who’s made his ups and downs with injury is a top name to watch if the Raiders sign Kubiak as their head coach. Deebo Samuel is a fun player to watch but doesn’t fit the trend for the Raiders right now. A quiet name that will earn more than expected is 49ers receiver Jauan Jennings who at 6’3, 215 has earned his way as a top YAC specialist and strong receiver two. The former 7th rounder has a career 210 receptions, 2581 yards, and 22 touchdowns in five seasons and at 28 years old could cash in.
I expect the Raiders to be heavy pursuing a wide receiver this off-season and another name that instantly hits is Packers receiver Romeo Doubs who has struggled with drops including 25 in his career but has also posted 135 receptions, 2424 yards, and 21 touchdowns which include a career high 724 yards and 13.2 yards/reception in 2025. At just 25 years old, Doubs shows a ton of potential for Las Vegas and the Nevada product could return to Las Vegas. Other potential names to watch include Texans Christian Kirk, Giants Wan’Dale Robinson, Vikings Jalen Nailor, Steelers Calvin Austin, and Cowboys Jalen Tolbert. Majority of those not being true difference makers at receiver and the Raiders best option would be one of Pickens or Pierce and possibly an upside swing on Doubs.
Q: The Raiders have a ton of needs this off-season, which ones should they address in free agency and which should be the focus of the draft?
The free agent class isn’t phenomenal but it does have some solid depth, the best options to address in free agency would be adding a quality pass rusher at EDGE to pair with Maxx Crosby but they can also address a need at linebacker with a very deep inside linebacker class this free agency. Safety is weaker in free agency but does have some notable options Las Vegas could pursue. Expect the Raiders to target a potential option on the interior defensive line as well. Offensively, adding a receiver is crucial this off-season to pair with the rest of the room and give Fernando Mendoza a veteran pass catching option. Offensive line will be the most notable to address this off-season though I think Las Vegas keeps an inside track on developing current rostered young players and adds just 1-2 free agents there, if that.
Q: With all the young offensive lineman drafted, should the Raiders rebuild through free agency or let them develop?
I think the best course of action for the Raiders is hiring a strong offensive line coach to pair with their young talent, given the strength of developing offensive lineman and how important that is in the modern NFL. The Raiders need Charles Grant, Caleb Rogers, and DJ Glaze to develop along with Jackson Powers-Johnson and ideally all four can become a starter for Las Vegas in the future. I’d expect the Raiders to add one, maybe two, free agents but likely only one would be given a starting option and the others are going to have to compete. The Raiders need to develop their young talent, and you can’t draft four lineman inside the top three rounds and turn to look away from them in any capacity if you’re a functional long term success franchise. The ideal path is adding one free agent to start, one to compete, and develop the rest.
Q: What’s the cost to retain Dylan Parham?
I believe Parham is likely to walk this off-season, he’s been a strong player for Las Vegas but for both sides prioritizing the young talent and Parham can ideally go to somewhere with some stability on their offensive line and/or with their coaches as well. Right now the projected contract for Parham is 3 years, 21 million with 16 million guaranteed.
