The first week of NFL free agency is coming to a close, and the Las Vegas Raiders have made several key moves, including trading for quarterback Geno Smith and extending edge rusher Maxx Crosby. But after evaluating their transactions, PFSN has given the Raiders a D+ grade for their offseason moves so far.
PFSN’s Las Vegas Raiders Free Agency Analysis
PFSN considers Smith, guard Alex Cappa, safety Jeremy Chinn, and cornerback Eric Stokes to be notable signings. Meanwhile, the notable departures include linebacker Robert Spillane, linebacker Divine Deablo, cornerback Nate Hobbs, safety Tre’von Moehrig, and guard Andre James.
“It has been an intriguing offseason for the Las Vegas Raiders since they hired Pete Carroll as head coach. They then reunited him with his former quarterback Geno Smith via a trade. Smith is a solid quarterback and is certainly an upgrade from last year, but his QB+ grades have not been higher than a C+ in his time in Seattle, demonstrating his ceiling.
“Adding Alex Cappa gives them a starting guard option after they released Andre James, but at best, that feels like a neutral move rather than an upgrade for an offensive line that ranked 22nd last year. Jeremy Chinn was another solid addition, but when you compare it against the losses of Tre’von Moehrig, Robert Spillane, and Nate Hobbs, it’s still a net negative that doesn’t significantly improve a defense that ranked 21st last year.
“Securing Maxx Crosby’s future should not be overlooked, but the overall trend of this offseason is not positive. The coaching change mitigates some of the personnel decisions, and plenty of free agents are still available, but it’s hard to argue that the Raiders’ roster has improved since the end of the 2024 NFL season.”
What’s Next for the Raiders?
Entering the offseason, the Raiders needed to address the quarterback position.
While there are questions about whether Smith is the long-term answer, he’s at least proven to be a competent starter, though turnovers were an issue for him last season. At the very least, he’s a signal-caller familiar with head coach Pete Carroll and doesn’t prevent the team from drafting its future franchise QB.
For 2025, the Raiders have some flexibility with the No. 6 pick in the NFL Draft. One intriguing option is running back Ashton Jeanty. Pairing Jeanty with Smith would be a considerable upgrade from last season when Las Vegas rotated between Gardner Minshew II, Aidan O’Connell, and Desmond Ridder at quarterback while relying on an RB group that included Zamir White, Alexander Mattison, and Dylan Laube.
That said, Las Vegas is still a long way from competing in the stacked AFC West. Thus, other possibilities for the No. 6 pick include selecting a wide receiver like Tetairoa McMillan to give Smith additional weapons.
Nevertheless, as Dan Orlovsky mentioned on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Smith gives the Raiders a chance to at least be competitive.
"I like Geno Smith in Las Vegas..
The Raiders offensive line is better than people think and Geno gives this team a real chance to compete on a week to week basis" @danorlovsky7 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/pIdbpJPqlQ
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 12, 2025
Another option could be drafting a versatile defensive back like Jahdae Barron to provide stability in the secondary alongside Chinn and Stokes.
Las Vegas won’t be competing for a Super Bowl in 2025, but taking steps forward is crucial for morale. Since their Super Bowl appearance in 2002, the Raiders have had just two winning seasons.