The Raiders are 2-0, but the front office still has one eye on what comes next. That means the 2027 free-agent picture is already taking shape in Las Vegas, with the team weighing which contract-year players deserve extensions, which ones are worth keeping at the right price, and which ones are likely headed elsewhere.
After Week 2, a few names are separating themselves quickly.
Tre Tucker is making the strongest case to get paid. He torched the Los Angeles Chargers for five catches, 119 yards and a touchdown, and two of those grabs went for more than 40 yards.
The next step is seeing how he fits alongside Brock Bowers in this offense, which ideally happens this week. If Tucker keeps producing like this, he could price himself out before reaching the open market.
Jeremy Chinn is also pushing toward an extension. He did blow the coverage on the Chargers’ only passing touchdown, but the Raiders clearly value what he brings.
He’s on the field every snap, moves all over the formation and cleaned up his tackling in Week 2 while making several stops. He also came up with a key fumble recovery.
He may not be a big-money player, but a reasonable extension makes sense.
A few others belong in the “bring back if the number works” category.
Foley Fatukasi played more snaps than he did in the opener and turned in a steady outing: two pressures, two tackles and a stop in 23 reps. He didn’t jump off the screen, but he’s been useful early and could make sense on a year-to-year deal if he keeps this level up.
Thomas Booker IV had only one tackle in the box score, but he added a pressure and a stop again and did work against the run. He isn’t a splashy player, but he’s active, dependable and part of the interior rotation. If the price stays manageable, he’s a sensible re-sign.
Malcolm Koonce looked like the player the Raiders remember, posting 1.5 sacks, three stops and a forced fumble. The question is consistency.
Edge rushers get expensive fast, and the better he plays, the more leverage he has. Still, if the price is right, Las Vegas should want him back.
There are also a few players the Raiders probably need more time on before making a real call.
Patrick Johnson didn’t factor in on defense, but he played 22 special teams snaps and remains valuable there. To feel great about bringing him back in March, it would help to see a little more on defense, but he fits in the “sticks around” bucket for now.
Tristin McCollum was inactive in Week 2 as the Raiders leaned bigger against a run-heavy Chargers team. He should remain inexpensive next offseason, and he has already shown he can help on defense and special teams.
Matt Gay gave the Raiders another clean day, drilling a career-long 59-yard field goal and staying perfect on extra points. It’s still a small sample, and he hasn’t been tested in a clutch moment yet, but he’s trending toward a return if the team wants competition again.
Spencer Burford, though, is fighting an uphill battle. He was penalized, gave up two pressures including a hit, and again struggled in the run game.
Jackson Powers-Johnson had issues too, but Burford keeps looking like the weak link. He could lose his spot before the season ends, which would make a 2027 return unlikely.
Darrell Luter Jr. didn’t play on defense at all, even with Darien Porter out. He was brought in cheaply and hasn’t stood out, and with so many young cornerbacks already in the mix, he may not be part of the long-term plan.
Alex Ward keeps doing his job. Gay and A.J.
Cole are operating without issues, and Ward had no penalties this week. No reason to mess with that.
Isaiah Pola-Mao remains a tough read. He might not have played at all in Week 2 if Treydan Stukes hadn’t gotten hurt, and his presence underscored how thin the safety depth is.
But he also was involved in the Chargers’ biggest play of the day, a 53-yard pass, and didn’t provide much positive impact. So he still has work to do.
Then there are the players who look like they should be moving on.
Kirk Cousins played well against the Chargers and showed more arm strength, or at least more downfield ability, than many in Raider Nation expected. Even so, Fernando Mendoza is viewed as the better fit for this offense, and Cousins’ salary is too large to justify keeping him.
Aidan O’Connell has been away from the team for about a week while dealing with personal or family issues. The hope is that everything is okay with him and his loved ones. From a football standpoint, though, it’s still hard to see a future for him in Las Vegas.
Ian Thomas missed two blocks that led to pressures on Cousins, though he did catch one pass for 11 yards. Even so, there isn’t much reason to keep a player like that when the draft can offer a cheaper version with more upside.
Dareke Young had a nice catch on a trick play and remains a useful special teamer, especially when it comes to downing A.J. Cole punts deep in opponent territory. But with the Raiders needing a receiver-room refresh and plenty of special teams help already on hand, he may not last beyond this season.
In Other News...
Raiders Rally Around Aidan OConnell During A Heartbreaking Family Moment
Aidan OConnells off-field reality took center stage this week, as the Raiders quarterback shared the news on social media that his father, Jim OConnell, has died. OConnells post included a tribute to his dad and a request for prayers as his family navigates the loss, a deeply personal moment that came with the team still in the middle of its season and OConnell working as Las Vegas third-string quarterback.
For a player who has already been through family hardship before, the response around him has been immediate, with teammates and other players around the league offering support. In a sport that can move quickly from one week to the next, this is the kind of moment that pulls everything back to what matters most, and the Raiders now face the human side of a difficult stretch for one of their own. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Face A Secondary Problem They Can't Ignore Vs Saints
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The uncertainty matters because the Raiders are already weighing defensive adjustments if he cannot go. That kind of shuffle can ripple through the back end of the defense, especially this early in the season, and it puts added pressure on the coaching staff to find a workable answer before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Tonka Hemingway Has A Big Chance To Force The Raiders Hand
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The bigger question now is whether Hemingway can turn those flashes into something the Raiders have to seriously account for beyond one good stretch. His recent performances have put him in position to make a stronger case for a larger role, and the context around him only helps: the more he can affect plays inside, the harder it becomes for Las Vegas to keep treating him as just another rotational piece. Week 3 could be the kind of game that shifts the conversation. [Read more 🡒]