A 3-0 start has the Raiders enjoying the kind of September that keeps everybody smiling, but the front office can’t afford to live only in the present. While Las Vegas heads into Week 4 against the Kansas City Chiefs with a spotless record, the bigger question is what this roster should look like when the 2027 free agency class hits the market next March.
So it’s time for another round of Commit or Quit?, sorting the Raiders’ current crop of pending free agents into the buckets that matter most: extensions, bargain returns, and the players who should be allowed to move on.
Malcolm Koonce belongs in the extension conversation after a strong rebound over the last two games. He added another strip sack on Sunday, finished with six total pressures, and keeps trending up against the run.
Tre Tucker is in a different spot: he still hasn’t blown anyone away, but his 4-catch, 43-yard outing against the New Orleans Saints in Week 3 was solid enough, and with nobody else really emerging, Las Vegas may need to get ahead of the market. If Tucker reaches free agency, the price could climb fast.
Cody White also looks like someone worth keeping around. He may not keep scoring touchdowns at this rate, but he’s giving the Raiders value as a special teamer and as a physical target on offense with reliable hands. In a league where teams routinely pay more for less, that matters.
A few veterans fit best in the “bring back at the right price” lane. Jeremy Chinn is a strong run defender, even if coverage remains a problem.
He’s not a disaster, and that makes him useful enough to keep if the number is right. Foley Fatukasi has settled into the defensive interior rotation after a quieter stretch than he had in the preseason and Week 1, and if he’s willing to return on something close to a veteran minimum, Las Vegas should take it.
Thomas Booker IV had a rougher day in New Orleans, with a neutral zone infraction standing out on defense, but he also blocked an extra point that swung the game. If he’s as cheap as expected, he’s worth another look.
The same patience applies to a few depth and special teams pieces. Patrick Johnson keeps making his mark with tough special teams work, and he added a pressure on one of his five pass-rush snaps in Week 3.
Tristin McCollum still hasn’t seen defensive snaps in Treydan Stukes’ absence, but as a restricted free agent he should be inexpensive enough to keep around. Matt Gay remains perfect on field goals and extra points, though he did kick one out of bounds in New Orleans.
The Raiders should stay with the veteran kicker for now while also keeping an eye on a younger leg for the future. Alex Ward doesn’t need to be part of any change conversation yet, either, as long as Gay and A.J.
Cole keep doing their jobs.
Darrell Luter Jr. is a tougher call. He was inactive again once Darien Porter returned, and he hasn’t shown much progress since arriving in Las Vegas. That makes him look like a quit, even if there’s still a reason the Raiders claimed him and other teams had interest.
Some names have already drifted into the “get ’em out of here” category. Spencer Burford has become a problem as a starter, and there’s little reason to bring him back unless the Raiders can’t find a better option or he makes a dramatic turnaround.
He’s been fine in the run game, but he has already allowed 12 pressures, including six in Week 3. Isaiah Pola-Mao had an especially rough showing against the Saints, giving up three touchdowns, and there’s no reason to pay him if the Raiders can avoid it.
Kirk Cousins is the odd one in the group. It feels strange to say it with the way he’s playing, but Fernando Mendoza is still the future. Unless Las Vegas can rework Cousins’ deal for super duper cheap, his big price tag points to an offseason departure.
Aidan O’Connell is being handled differently for now, since he still hasn’t returned to practice while dealing with the loss of his father. Ian Thomas has started the year well after a rough preseason, playing well in two of three games, but he still doesn’t move the needle enough to make him a must-keep behind the Raiders’ elite young duo. Dareke Young also remains part of the broader free-agent picture.
In Other News...
Raiders Just Sent A Clear Message With This Receiver Decision
The Raiders kept busy with their receiver room this week, and the moves say a lot about how quickly this front office is willing to adjust. Las Vegas signed Cody White to the 53-man roster, placed Jack Bech on injured reserve, waived Justin Shorter and added Phillip Dorsett to the practice squad, a set of transactions that reflects how fluid the depth chart has become.
Whites promotion stands out because he has been the teams most productive wideout this season, scoring three touchdowns after arriving from the Seahawks practice squad. General manager John Spytek has made it clear the Raiders are not interested in standing still when a need opens up, and this latest shuffle leaves the receiver group with a new look while the bigger question is how the team plans to keep the position stabilized moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Just Got A Reminder Of Where They Stand With CBS
CBSs Sunday afternoon assignment sent a clear message about which game the network believed carried the bigger draw in the late window. Instead of sending Jim Nantz and J.J. Watt to Broncos-49ers, CBS paired its top team with Raiders-Chiefs, a matchup that carried more star power and a more familiar national storyline in the 4:25 p.m. ET slot.
The choice quickly drew pushback from fans who felt the Broncos and 49ers had the more meaningful game on the board. It also served as another reminder that Tony Romo remains away from broadcasting duties, leaving CBS to lean on its alternate lineup while its highest-profile booth continues to anchor the games the network deems most appealing. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Suddenly Have A Receiver Opportunity Worth Watching
The Raiders 3-0 start has been built on complementary football, but the passing game still has room to grow, especially on the perimeter. Through the early part of the 2026 season, Las Vegas has not gotten much from its wide receiver group, which makes any potential upgrade at the position worth monitoring as the calendar moves deeper into the fall.
One name now surfacing in that discussion is Brian Thomas Jr. of the Jaguars, whose usage and production have dipped enough to spark trade speculation. The idea is simple enough from the Raiders side: if a talented receiver becomes available and the fit makes sense, Las Vegas could be in the market for help, even if the door on a deal is only just beginning to crack open. [Read more 🡒]