It is no secret that the Las Vegas Raiders’ top priority this offseason is a quarterback.
In that regard, the Raiders have a number of ways to address the issue. With a high pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, it is likely that the Raiders choose to go the route of a rookie quarterback, either drafting Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders or Miami’s Cameron Ward to kickstart a new era. The Raiders could also choose to go the free agent route, but the options there are nowhere near as promising.
Regardless of what the Raiders do at the quarterback position, they still have multiple spots on the roster that need addressing. Thankfully, the Raiders are armed with the second-most cap space in the league for 2025, giving them plenty of opportunities to execute their planned vision. While the Raiders will also build through the draft, using the money to help bring a new quarterback along easier is a fantastic strategy to go into this coming off-season with.
Here are four free agents the Raiders could go for in that event:
Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
While Tee Higgins of the Cincinnati Bengals is the top receiver on the market, the Raiders would do wise to circle around to Godwin.
Sure, coming off a dislocated ankle heading into his age-29 season is a concern, but Godwin is on pace to return at the start of next season, if not earlier. It is a shame what happened, as Godwin was on his way to his best season since his lone Pro Bowl appearance in 2019. With 576 yards and five touchdowns prior to his injury, Godwin was on pace for his fourth-straight 1,000-yard campaign and breaking his career-best mark of nine touchdowns in 2019. A large part of it has had to do with Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Liam Coen’s willingness to place Godwin in the slot, which is coincidentally where the Raiders need help. Similar to how Godwin took the pressure off of Mike Evans in Tampa Bay, he can do the same for Brock Bowers in Las Vegas. Godwin will demand a heavy price tag, but the injury should mean there is a limitation to how much money he will command on the open market. As a result, the Raiders swooping in on him could mean landing a relatively cost-effective solution in their receiving room.
Diontae Johnson, WR, Baltimore Ravens
Very few players have seen their stock drop harder than Johnson this season.
There was once a time when Johnson was seen as an emerging star receiver, recording 107 catches for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns in 2021 with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Fast forward to three years later, and Johnson is now struggling to find his footing in the NFL. Signing a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers in the offseason before being a trade deadline acquisition of the Ravens, character issues have become a recurring theme this season for Johnson. According to Joe Person of The Athletic, Johnson was a poor cultural fit for the Panthers before he was traded.
My take on Diontae Johnson’s time in Carolina: Practiced (or didn’t practice) when he wanted and was a poor fit for a first-year coach trying to establish a culture. Of course, the Panthers knew his history, but were desperate for WR help.
— Joe Person (@josephperson) December 4, 2024
Those issues have carried over to Baltimore, where Johnson has been ineffective (one catch for six yards with the Ravens so far) and buried on the depth chart. The situation reached a point where Johnson was even suspended in the Ravens’ game against the Philadelphia Eagles for conduct detrimental to the team. As such, the price tag will be much lower due to Johnson’s status as a distressed asset, but the Raiders are similar to the Panthers in their desperation for receiver help, especially if the plan is to draft a rookie quarterback. As such, offering Johnson a ‘prove-it’ deal is a low-risk move that can benefit the Raiders greatly if it pans out.
Aaron Jones, RB, Minnesota Vikings
The Raiders did not pay Josh Jacobs this offseason, and the result has been the most ineffective rushing attack in the league.
With Alexander Mattison hitting free agency and Zamir White enduring a disappointing campaign, the Raiders will be looking for a way to make an impact on the ground and give a new quarterback some breathing room. A player like Jones would fill in spectacularly, in this regard. While Jones being over 30 at a position that tends to discard older players is a mild concern, the Raiders would not be asking him to carry an offense like he has in the past. In a supporting role, Jones has played a part in the Vikings’ surprising success this season, with 893 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns to go with 302 receiving yards and two touchdown catches. A relatively cheap running back who can put up 1,000 yard seasons and serve as a reliable safety valve for a quarterback is something that will greatly interest the Raiders. While the Vikings may want to keep him around to help their own rookie quarterback in J.J. McCarthy get acclimated, expect the Raiders to be one of the teams aiming to outbid them.
Mekhi Becton, G, Philadelphia Eagles
What a difference a change in scenery makes.
A former 11th overall pick of the New York Jets in 2020, Becton stood out for his six-foot-seven, 363-pound frame on top of his freakish athleticism. Unfortunately for the Jets, Becton’s time in New York was marred by injuries and inconsistent play. When he hit free agency this past offseason, he was seen as an unfinished product that needed continued development. The Eagles were more than happy to take the flier on Becton, and the decision to do so has paid off in spectacular fashion. The Eagles boast one of the most high-octane offenses in the league, notably led by running back Saquon Barkley and the rushing attack, which boosts Becton’s stock greatly. Moving to guard, Becton has been stout in both run and pass protection, and has dramatically improved his discipline, going from 12 penalties last season to only two this year. Becton will now look to cash in with a big payday, and the Raiders should be content to give him exactly that. Left tackle Kolton Miller will be a free agent after next season, while rookies center Jackson Powers-Johnson and D.J. Glaze have been up-and-down this season. Boosting the interior offensive line with a player like Becton would be massive, not to mention giving the Raiders a younger asset who fits their current timeline.
