The Raiders started shaping their post-2025 roster in a hurry, adding help on defense, locking in a key edge rusher and upgrading the secondary with a proven nickel corner. In a series of press releases Wednesday, the club announced the signing of linebacker Nakobe Dean, the re-signing of defensive end Malcolm Koonce, the signing of kicker Matt Gay and a trade for cornerback Taron Johnson.
Dean brings juice to the middle
Dean, 26, comes over from Philadelphia with 47 career games and 27 starts. The Raiders said he has totaled 219 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks, plus one interception and five passes defensed.
He played only 10 games in 2025 but the team noted he posted a career-high 4.0 sacks and forced two fumbles. The Raiders also pointed to his role on the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX-winning defense in 2024, when he set career highs in tackles and takeaways.
Koonce stays put, pass rush stays real
Koonce is back for a sixth season in Las Vegas after emerging as a steady threat off the edge. The Raiders said he has 14.5 sacks and four forced fumbles across 56 career games.
Last season, he played all 17 games and finished second on the team with 4.5 sacks while adding 13 quarterback hits. If the Raiders are rebuilding, they are still keeping teeth on defense.
Johnson trade: a slot specialist with receipts
Las Vegas acquired Johnson and a 2026 seventh-round pick (228th overall) from Buffalo in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick (182nd overall), according to the Raiders. The Bills confirmed the same pick swap after the trade became official.
Johnson arrives with 113 career games and 87 starts, plus six interceptions and 48 passes defensed, per the Raiders. He earned All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl nod in 2023, which is the kind of resume this secondary has needed.
The points still matter: Gay added at kicker
The Raiders also signed Gay, a veteran kicker who has hit 182 of 216 field goal attempts (84.3%) and 232 of 240 extra points (96.7%) in 102 career games, according to the club. He split 2025 between Washington and San Francisco and went 17-for-23 on field goals while making all 26 extra points.
These are clean, targeted moves, and they also signal priorities. The Raiders are building the spine of the defense and stabilizing special teams, even while other roster decisions remain in motion.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
