Las Vegas Raiders News & Rumors

Raiders To Prioritize Deals For Malcolm Koonce, Tre’von Moehrig, Robert Spillane

February 27th, 2025 at 5:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Raiders were unable to build on their 2021 wild-card appearance, having changed HCs and GMs twice since that game. But the new Las Vegas staff remains interested in some continuity despite this batch of free agents having arrived the Jon Gruden-Mike Mayock and Josh McDaniels-Dave Ziegler regimes.

The team is expected to prioritize new deals for safety Tre’von Moehrig and linebacker Robert Spillane, the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore notes. Moehrig arrived as a Gruden-Mayock second-round draftee, while Spillane signed during the second and final McDaniels-Ziegler offseason.

Moehrig is expected to garner considerable interest in free agency, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler adds. The Raiders used Moehrig closer to the line of scrimmage in 2024, and he posted big numbers in a contract year. Moehrig set new career highs in tackles (104) and passes defensed (10), showing he could make an impact in this area as well as in a deep safety role. While the Raiders’ defense regressed in 2024, they are retaining DC Patrick Graham and want to keep some of his top pieces.

Malcolm Koonce did not have a chance to build on his promising 2023, suffering a knee injury just before the season. Still, his first go-round as a regular edge rusher will generate free agency interest. Pete Carroll said (via The Athletic’s Vic Tafur) the team wants Koonce back as well. While the ex-Seahawks HC spoke of retaining more free agents, he singled out Koonce, who broke through for eight sacks during his 11-start 2023.

Spillane played on a two-year, $7MM deal — after mostly working as a Steelers backup over the course of his rookie contract. The Raiders unlocked more from the former UDFA, using him as a starter in every game over the past two seasons. Spillane led the team in tackles (148, 158) in each season and combined for 17 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and five INTs in that span. Off-ball linebackers have seen their market stall in recent years, but Spillane (29) brought value and will likely secure a better contract compared to his 2023 terms. We heard around the midseason point the Raiders would push to retain their three-down LB.

The Raiders trail only the Patriots in cap space, holding nearly $100MM. Considering Carroll, new GM John Spytek and heavily involved part-owner Tom Brady are new, a host of fresh faces will likely come enter the picture after a 4-13 season. But it sounds like the Raiders will make efforts to bring back some of their own talent before they hit the market March 10.

Raiders, Matthew Stafford Finding Common Ground On Contract; Team Not Open To Trading First-Round Pick

February 27th, 2025 at 2:34pm CST by Sam Robinson

It appears the Raiders have moved to the front of the line among the Matthew Stafford suitors. In a situation that has begun to remind of the Steelers’ pursuit of Brandon Aiyuk last summer, a trade partner is moving toward agreeing on contract parameters.

Although trade terms would still need to be worked out, the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore reports the Raiders and Stafford are believed to have found “common ground” on contract terms. That would represent an important step. As the Aiyuk matter showed, however, the Rams still hold the hammer here.

While the 49ers viewed Aiyuk as important to their NFC title defense last year, Stafford obviously is the centerpiece of his current team. The Rams and their four-year quarterback are not in agreement on contract terms, leading to the team allowing other clubs to effectively set the market here. Sean McVay has expressed a desire to keep Stafford in Los Angeles, and the veteran starter has not requested a trade. Still, a few teams — the Raiders, Giants, Browns and Steelers — have been connected to the QB. Trade compensation would become the next step.

The Raiders look to share the Giants’ view of Stafford’s trade value. The Giants are not interested in trading the No. 3 overall pick for Stafford, even as the Rams are believed to want a first-rounder in a potential swap, and Bonsignore adds the Raiders view their first-rounder (No. 6 overall) as off the table. Considering Stafford’s age (37), it is unsurprising the Raiders would balk at moving such a high pick. They view that choice as essential to building a roster — either around Stafford or in a reality that does not feature the 17th-year vet donning silver and black.

Las Vegas will not be punished for tampering regarding the Stafford-Tom Brady summit in Montana, as the Rams have given their QB permission to speak with other teams. Stafford is believed to be seeking a contract worth $50MM-plus per year. The Rams are not expected to reach that place, and Bonsignore adds it is not known if the Raiders would sign off on that salary range. Stafford would be nearly six years older than anyone in the current $50MM-AAV club.

Stafford is largely in this place because he did not pursue a player-friendly contract in 2022, having left money on the table (via the $40MM-per-year extension) to help the Rams build around him. After coming back from an injury-plagued 2022 season, however, Stafford has turned in back-to-back quality years. With the likes of Trevor Lawrence, Jordan Love and Tua Tagovailoa in the $50MM-per-year contingent — along with the player who was the throw-in in the 2021 Stafford trade (Jared Goff) — it is understandable that L.A. QB would want a raise commensurate with his accomplishments and present form. Along that line, the Rams are taking a risk exposing their starter in the manner they are.

For now, Stafford remains a Ram. He is due a $4MM roster bonus soon, though that would seemingly not be enough money to derail a trade if there is one to make down the line. But Stafford suitors will want an answer soon, as they would need to move on to other options if no trade with the Rams can happen.

Giants Speak With Matthew Stafford’s Camp; Raiders Will Not Face Tampering Charges

February 27th, 2025 at 11:22am CST by Adam La Rose

A quartet of teams was recently mentioned as suitors to watch for on the Matthew Stafford trade front. The Giants and Raiders in particular have shown strong interest, and a bidding war could ensue as a result.

The Giants met with Stafford’s representatives at the Combine on Tuesday night, Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post reports. That comes as no surprise given the interest the team has shown dating back to at least the 2024 trade deadline. General manager Joe Schoen has made it clear adding multiple quarterbacks (including, quite possibly, acquiring a veteran and then selecting a rookie early in the draft) is a priority this offseason.

Dealing the No. 3 pick in April’s draft is not on the table, but the Giants could look to put together a package built around other compensation. Confirming the Giants-Stafford meeting, a report from Dianna Russini, Tashan Reed, Jourdan Rodrigue and Vic Tafur of The Athletic notes Los Angeles would likely ask for a second-round selection and more if a Day 1 pick becomes unattainable (subscription required). The Giants are on track to own seven other 2025 picks, including No. 34.

Stafford is known to be seeking a new Rams pact averaging $50MM per year, but the team is not prepared to meet that asking price. Head coach Sean McVay has made it clear the team’s preference would be for the Super Bowl winner to play a fifth season in Los Angeles. While his camp has permission to seek out a trade partner, Stafford has not asked to be dealt to a new team.

The Raiders have of course already been in contact with Stafford himself speaking with minority owner Tom Brady. The details on the encounter have been disputed, but concerns about tampering can be put to rest. A league spokesperson informed Outkick’s Armando Salguero the NFL is satisfied tampering did not occur when Brady and Stafford met. Especially since the Rams have allowed conversations to take place regarding a trade deal as well as a contract from a (hypothetical) acquiring team, similar discussions can be expected over the coming days.

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer predicts this situation will be resolved one way or another relatively soon. The Rans will of course need to know if their 37-year-old passer will remain in place for another year or if a successor will need to be acquired this offseason. Suitors like the Giants and Raiders (along with the previously-mentioned Browns and Steelers) will also build their offseason plans on whether or not a Stafford swap can be worked out. As the Combine continues, traction on a potential deal could continue to be gained with respect to New York and/or Las Vegas in particular.

Tom Brady Ramps Up Raiders’ Pursuit Of Matthew Stafford

February 26th, 2025 at 11:01pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Matthew Stafford saga is growing more complicated by the hour, with multiple (and conflicting) reports of Tom Brady meeting with Stafford on a recent ski trip in Montana.

It was originally reported that Brady had reached out to Stafford about joining the Raiders, but subsequent reporting has provided more clarity on the situation.

Brady hosted Stafford in Montana as part of his ongoing efforts to recruit the veteran quarterback to Las Vegas, who are expected to be “the most aggressive suitor,” per FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz. That report was disputed by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, who said that Brady and Stafford “ran into each other” in an unplanned meeting. Schultz followed up on his original report, adding that “Brady has been leading the charge to get him to the Raiders if the Rams decide to trade him.”

Since Stafford has been given permission to speak with other teams, it’s unlikely that Brady’s actions would run afoul of the NFL’s anti-tampering rules. If Brady’s contact came before the Rams granted that permission, though, the Raiders could face an investigation and potential discipline for the infraction. The Falcons forfeited a fifth-round pick and paid a $250K fine for tampering with multiple free agents last year. Chief among them was another veteran quarterback: Kirk Cousins.

Stafford’s agent, Jimmy Sexton, has also been meeting with interested teams at the Combine this week, including the Giants, according to Schultz and The Athletic’s Dan Duggan. The Giants have been repeatedly linked to Stafford, even dating back to the 2024 trade deadline. While they may not be willing to deal the No. 3 overall pick to acquire the veteran quarterback, general manager Joe Schoen has made it clear that finding a new quarterback is his priority this offseason.

The Stafford situation remains fluid. Sean McVay expressed his desire to retain his Super Bowl-winning quarterback, but other teams are clearly circling. After assessing his market, Stafford will likely give the Rams a chance to meet his financial demands. If they refuse, he seems poised to force his way out of Los Angeles, with Las Vegas and New York leading the list of potential destinations.

Sean McVay Wants Matthew Stafford Back; Tom Brady Reaches Out On Raiders’ Behalf

February 26th, 2025 at 9:53am CST by Sam Robinson

9:53am: After attracting significant interest — particularly from the Raiders and Giants — since being allowed to talk with other teams, Stafford may end up costing more. Teams are anticipating, in light of the interest the talented quarterback has generated, the Rams will up their asking price in trades, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. They have already been connected to seeking at least a first-round pick.

9:05am: The Rams have let Matthew Stafford speak with other teams, even as the veteran quarterback has not requested a trade. As the sides attempt to use this process to determine the Super Bowl-winning passer’s value, Stafford has been linked to a few teams. But a future in which he stays in Los Angeles on an adjusted contract remains in play.

Linked to wanting Stafford to stay, Sean McVay confirmed that stance at the Combine. The ninth-year Rams HC would prefer the team and Stafford find common contractual ground to move forward in a fifth season together.

“When you talk about the elephant in the room, these are the things that are really challenging,” McVay told Amazon’s Andrew Whitworth and Ryan Fitzpatrick during an appearance on the retirees’ Fitz & Whit podcast (via NFL.com). “Because there’s no discrepancy on us wanting him to continue to lead the way and be our quarterback. The interesting and the challenging dilemma and dynamics within this are, hey, how do you continuously as a head coach look at the short term and the long term and be able to figure out what does that really look like?

“You have to be able to say, hey, how do we continuously build? How do we support him? How do we make sure that he’s getting what is his worth relative to those things? So, at the end of the day, we had something in mind, he had something in mind, and nobody was right or wrong. And then ultimately you’re saying there’s a ton of interest because this guy is an incredible player.”

After agreeing to a restructure last summer, Stafford has been tied to seeking $50MM per year this offseason. The Rams are not believed to be eyeing a payment on this level, creating this polite impasse of sorts. While the team wants its QB back in the fold, it will depend on what Stafford will accept contractually and what kind of trade offers emerge. Although Stafford leaving would gut the Rams, he is effectively a high-end bridge QB at this point in his career. Stafford is heading into his age-37 season, and the Rams need a long-term answer.

The Giants, Browns, Steelers and Raiders have been mentioned as Stafford suitors. The Giants are not believed to be open to trading the No. 3 overall pick for Stafford, but the Rams would seek at least a first-round pick for the 17th-year veteran. The Raiders are doing some work on him, as the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore reports Tom Brady has contacted Stafford on the Silver and Black’s behalf.

Las Vegas both has a glaring QB need and plenty of cap space, being projected to carry more than $99MM — the second-most in the NFL. The Raiders, however, are not close to where the Rams are in terms of competitiveness; they have missed the past three playoff brackets and have not won a playoff game since the 2002 AFC championship. Stafford does not hold a no-trade clause, but the nature of this situation points to Vegas brass needing to sell Stafford on competitive viability while also agreeing to a deal carrying a $50MM-plus AAV.

The Raiders have also been connected to Sam Darnold and potentially reuniting Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson. A trade-up for Cameron Ward has also surfaced at multiple points, as the Raiders hold the No. 6 pick. A Stafford trade would probably lead the Raiders to delay a QB draft choice beyond 2025, but the Rams are still conducting this fact-finding mission re: their starter’s value.

“There does have to be an element of understanding, well, what does that future look like without this freakin’ G who’s been our quarterback for the last four years?” McVay said. “And there’s no wrong or right way to go about it, but I do think for us to be able to make the most educated decision in terms of the cash budget that we operate on, the draft comp that you would get in return, you just need to be able to have all the parameters to at least explore it.”

Matthew Stafford Seeking $50MM Per Year; Multiple Teams Showing Trade Interest

February 24th, 2025 at 11:18pm CST by Adam La Rose

The future of Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford continues to dominate the news cycle as the new league year approaches. The Super Bowl winner will manage to secure a new pact ahead of the 2025 season, but whether or not it comes from Los Angeles remains to be seen.

One of the many recent developments in this situation indicated Stafford is seeking a raise from what he is currently set to collect. As a result of last offseason’s stopgap financial compromise between team and player, the two-time Pro Bowler is owed $32MM as things stand (without much of it being guaranteed). With respect to how much of a pay bump Stafford is seeking, further clarity has emerged.

The 37-year-old is looking to join the signal-callers earning $50MM per year or more, NFL Network’s Peter Schrager reports (video link). That list currently sits at nine, and each of the players on it are younger than Stafford; only Dak Prescott and Jared Goff are QBs over the age of 30 who find themselves in the upper echelon of compensation. On the other hand, Jalen Hurts is the only $50MM-per-year passer whose resume includes a Super Bowl title.

In the wake of the Rams’ victory in Super Bowl LVI, Stafford, receiver Cooper Kupp and defensive lineman Aaron Donald received new contracts cementing their status as the team’s core moving forward. The latter retired after the 2023 season, while Kupp is known to be on the trade block (and in danger of being released if no suitor is found). Moving on from Stafford would allow for the Rams to reset under center and complete the transition to a much younger – and much less expensive – nucleus.

Stafford and his camp have permission to gauge the trade market, and the upcoming Combine will no doubt result in all parties learning more about how much (in terms of draft capital and finances) teams are willing to pay. Any number of suitors could emerge given Stafford’s potential to serve as a short-term quarterback upgrade, and some teams are known to have made contact so far. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reports the Giants, Browns, Steelers and Raiders are among those which have expressed interest.

The Giants are known to be in the market for a veteran passer as well as a long-term solution brought about via the draft. A deal for Stafford would meet the first of those goals, and if healthy he could prove to be a worthwhile addition over a short period. New York owns the No. 3 pick in April’s draft, capital the team will not be willing to part with. Whether or not the Rams can work out a trade built around second- (rather than first-)round compensation will be key in determining if a deal can be finalized.

The Browns are set to be without Deshaun Watson for most or potentially all of 2025, and another restructure to his pact will help create the space needed for an inexpensive veteran addition. Provided he is released by the Falcons, Kirk Cousins will be a name to watch on that front based on his history with Kevin Stefanski and the offset language in his contract. Stafford, by contrast, would be a far more expensive target.

At least one of Russell Wilson or Justin Fields will likely be retained by Pittsburgh this offseason, and a mutual interest exists for a new deal in both cases. A commitment from the Steelers to operate as the clear-cut starter will be an obvious sticking point whichever way the team goes, though, and adding Stafford via trade would leave Wilson and Fields on the move this spring. Pittsburgh would be better placed financially than New York or Cleveland to absorb a raise, but the same holds true of other teams as well.

One of those is the Raiders. Vegas entered Monday with the second-most spending power in the NFL, and quarterback is a clear area of need. As a result, it came as no surprise when a report from yesterday noted the Raiders could be a Stafford suitor. New general manager John Spytek would no doubt avoid trading away the sixth overall pick in this year’s draft, so another package or one centered on a 2026 Day 1 selection (a possibility Breer mentions) would be required for talks to yield progress.

Schrager adds no animosity exists between Stafford and Rams head coach Sean McVay, and the door is open to another Rams restructure ending speculation on this front. Still, given the extent to which a trade is receiving consideration, a reconciliation between the parties would be at least somewhat awkward at this point. Los Angeles will look for a long-term successor under center in the near future regardless, but it remains uncertain if that will be necessary in 2025.

Raiders Contender To Trade Up For Cam Ward

February 24th, 2025 at 11:16pm CST by Ben Levine

While a recent report indicated that the Raiders were focused on Shedeur Sanders, the Colorado QB may not truly be the organization’s top choice at the position. According to Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda, there’s a general belief around the NFL that the Raiders are a prime contender to move up in the draft in pursuit of Miami QB Cam Ward.

This year’s top tier of quarterback prospects only consists of Ward and Sanders. However, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the Miami product has separated himself as QB1. In other words, it shouldn’t be a huge surprise that the QB-needy Raiders would pursue the top positional prospect.

It is noteworthy that they’d be willing to give up the prerequisite trade haul vs. just settling with Sanders. For what it’s worth, Pauline says there are plenty of league sources who believe the Raiders will just take Sanders at No. 6 if they can’t work out a trade for Ward. Still, it sounds like the front office has a preference, and it seems to match the general sentiment from around the NFL.

According to Pauline, some scouts are discouraged by Sanders’ lack of development in 2024, and the QB could require “a lot of coaching” to refine his throwing fundamentals. If push comes to shove, it sounds like the Raiders are at least willing to tolerate those growing pains, especially since Tom Brady has “a great amount of respect for Sanders’ focus on preparation, his ability to learn and adapt, his accuracy and determination in the pocket, and his toughness to take hits and still be resilient.”

The Raiders were positioned to land the first-overall pick in the draft before winning two of their final three games, dropping the organization to the sixth-overall selection. Despite the fact they won’t have their pick of the litter, it sounds like the Raiders can still walk away with one of the draft’s top quarterback prospects.

Raiders Re-Sign S Isaiah Pola-Mao

February 24th, 2025 at 12:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

Isaiah Pola-Mao was on track to be a restricted free agent this offseason, but that will not be the case. The Raiders safety signed a new deal on Monday, per a team announcement.

Providing details on the pact, Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network report this is a two-year deal. The maximum value of the contract is $8.45MM, making this a notable raise compared to Pola-Mao’s previous deals. The former UDFA has spent each of his first three years with the Raiders.

Pola-Mao did not log any starts during his first two seasons with Vegas, operating instead as a key special teams presence. The USC alum’s third phase success made it little surprise when he was re-signed last March. That move set up the potential for an RFA tender being necessary this spring, but such a scenario has now been avoided. Pola-Mao will be able to continue as a first-team presence on defense, a role he took on in 2024.

The 25-year-old started 14 of the Raiders’ 17 games last season, and to no surprise he set career highs across the board from a statistical standpoint. Pola-Mao totaled 89 tackles, five pass deflections and a pair of forced fumbles in 2024. While his performance in coverage (129.6 passer rating and three touchdowns allowed as the nearest defender) left plenty to be desired, it comes as little surprise the Raiders have opted to keep him in the fold for the next two years.

Tre’von Moehrig has operated as a full-time safety starter during his time with the Raiders, and he enjoyed a career-year in 2024. A lucrative free agent deal sending him to a new team in free agency is therefore on the table, and it will be interesting to see if Vegas’ new regime looks to keep him in the fold. Regardless of what happens on that front, Pola-Mao will remain in the team’s plans moving forward.

Rams Seeking First-Round Pick For Matthew Stafford; Raiders Could Show Interest?

February 23rd, 2025 at 9:44pm CST by Adam La Rose

As uncertainly looms over the future of Matthew Stafford, speculation about a potential trade will no doubt continue to intensify. The veteran quarterback’s camp has permission from the Rams to gauge his market value, and a degree of clarity on the asking price for any potential deal appears to have emerged.

Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports the Rams will alter the trade cost in a swap depending on how much money an acquiring team is willing to take on. Stafford and Los Angeles reached a one-year agreement on a revised deal last offseason, but the acceleration of money into 2024 left team in player in a similar situation for this spring. The 37-year-old will play in 2025, and the Rams have made it clear they are on board with keeping him as their starter as long as his career continues.

Considering the updates which have emerged in recent days on this situation, it would come as no surprise if a firm asking price were to emerge from the Rams. Per Bonsignore, Los Angeles would look to collect a first-round pick and more in a Stafford swap. He notes suitors will attempt to drop the cost to a package built on a second-round selection. Depending on how strong Stafford’s market proves to be, Los Angeles could be in line to receive notable draft compensation in the event efforts to work out another restructured pact fell through.

The two-time Pro Bowler is currently owed $32MM in 2025 and $31MM during the final year of his pact. Only roster bonuses totaling $4MM this year and $5MM next represent locked in compensation, however, so new guarantees (along with at least a modest raise) will be needed for an arrangement to be made. The Rams are currently mid-pack in terms of projected cap space and the team does not have a quarterback successor in the fold as things stand.

Those factors could very well help the team repeat its efforts from 2024 and grant Stafford another one-year bump in pay. If the Rams receive viable trade offers, on the other hand, they could elect to move on and start over at the position (as they will need to in the near future anyway). The former Lion has generally provided strong play during his four years in Los Angeles, although injuries and the threat of declining production represent obvious reasons for any team to hesitate regarding a lucrative commitment.

To little surprise, Bonsignore names the Raiders as a potential player in the Stafford sweepstakes. New owner Tom Brady has proven to be a highly influential voice in the organization, having played a central role in the hiring of John Spytek as general manager and Pete Carroll as head coach. Vegas is among the teams in need of a new long-term answer at the quarterback spot, but both of the two passers seen as being worthy of a Day 1 selection in this year’s draft could be off the board by the time the team is on the clock at No. 6.

Adding a bridge starter would help the Raiders’ outlook for 2025, and with a Gardner Minshew release expected, they will be in the market for a veteran. The likes of Sam Darnold and Russell Wilson could be targets in free agency provided they become available, but a trade for Stafford would provide Vegas with a short-term upgrade. Whether or not the Raiders or any other interested party will be prepared to meet the Rams’ asking price will make for one of the league’s top storylines over the near future.

Raiders Expected To Cut Gardner Minshew?

February 22nd, 2025 at 9:54am CST by Ben Levine

As the new Raiders regime looks to retool their quarterbacks depth chart, some of the team’s incumbent signal callers may be pushed off the roster. That would naturally include the team’s highest-paid QB, as Tashan Reed of The Athletic writes that Gardner Minshew is a release candidate heading into the offseason.

Minshew inked a two-year, $25MM deal with the Raiders last offseason, and the organization is still on the hook for some guaranteed money for the 2025 campaign. That contract does contain an out, but it would only provide the Raiders with about $3MM in relief while leaving close to $11MM in dead cap.

Reed says the more realistic route would see Minshew released via a post-June 1 designation. In that scenario, the Raiders would free up $6MM in cap space since the QB’s dead cap hit would be spread across the 2025 ($7.82MM) and 2026 ($3MM) campaigns. It’s a less-than-desirable outcome for the front office, but there’s still enough incentive to move on from the veteran.

Minshew’s first (and likely lone) season in Las Vegas couldn’t have gone much worse. The Raiders went 2-7 in his nine starts, with Minshew finishing with a career-low touchdown percentage (2.9) and a career-high interception rate (3.3). The 28-year-old was replaced a handful of times by Aidan O’Connell before getting definitively benched in November.

After going 7-6 as a starter with the Colts in 2023, Minshew seemed like a logical bridge or stopgap QB heading into last offseason. Assuming the QB ends up reaching free agency via his release, he may have to settle into a similar backup role he had with the Eagles in 2021 and 2022.

With Pete Carroll and John Spytek now running the operation (along with Tom Brady‘s heavy influence), it seemed very unlikely that the Raiders would roll into the 2025 campaign with the same QB grouping. O’Connell still remains under contract, but the organization will surely be looking for some reinforcement at the position. The team has already been connected to a handful of veteran options, including Russell Wilson, Sam Darnold, and Marcus Mariota. The Raiders are also armed with the sixth-overall pick and could be in position to select one of the draft’s top QB prospects.

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