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The Las Vegas Raiders have had an active offseason thus far, as the franchise’s new general manager, John Spytek, has been hard at work improving a roster that posted a 4-13 record in 2024.
Las Vegas’ biggest offseason moves thus far have been the acquisition of quarterback Geno Smith and the signing of edge rusher Maxx Crosby to a long-term extension. The Raiders sent a 2025 third-round pick, slated at No.92 overall, to the Seattle Seahawks for Smith. The two-time Pro Bowl signal-caller addresses one of the team’s most pressing needs and will provide adequate play at the sport’s most vital position.
The Raiders also locked up the face of the franchise, Crosby, signing the four-time Pro Bowl defender to a three-year, $106.5 million extension with $91.5 million guaranteed. Crosby is now under contract till 2030.
Another significant move was the signing of safety Jeremy Chinn, who signed a two-year deal. Along with Chinn, Las Vegas retained edge rusher Malcolm Koonce and signed running back Raheem Mostert and linebacker Elandon Roberts. Before the legal tampering window began on Mar. 10, the Raiders also added guard Alex Cappa on Mar. 5, which was their first official signing.
Though Spytek has made a few key additions, Las Vegas lost a couple of pivotal defensive starters through free agency. Safety Tre’von Moehrig, linebacker Robert Spillane, and cornerback Nate Hobbs all departed for lucrative deals elsewhere. Moehrig signed with the Carolina Panthers, Spillane joined the New England Patriots, and Hobbs inked an agreement with the Green Bay Packers.
The Raiders still have some work to do and haven’t filled all positions of need yet, but experts are impressed with the team’s offseason so far. Let’s take a look at the latest NFL power rankings and see where Las Vegas stands.
Raiders NFL power rankings
Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting News: 23
Iyer: “The Raiders will be a lot more competitive under fiery Pete Carroll and savvy Chip Kelly, getting the right blend of motivational and schematic juice. Geno Smith shores up QB, and they look ready to bump up winning help from the defense and running game.”
Mason Cameron, Pro Football Focus: 22
Cameron: “Many expected the Raiders to address their quarterback situation through free agency, but instead, new general manager John Spytek made a bold move by trading for Geno Smith, who ranked ninth in PFF passing grade last season. While Smith alone won’t solve all of the team’s issues, adding more weapons in the draft to pair with Brock Bowers could give the offense a needed boost. Defensively, the Raiders locked in their star pass rusher, extending Maxx Crosby to a lucrative deal while also re-signing Malcolm Koonce. Those moves could give Las Vegas one of the more formidable pass-rushing tandems in the AFC West.”
Johnson: “The Las Vegas Raiders trade for Geno Smith was one of the best moves of the NFL offseason. Smith played like an above-average starter behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL and he’ll have better pass protection with his new team. Now, Las Vegas has stability at quarterback for the first time in years and Smith will maximize both Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers. With all that said, the Raiders’ secondary is an alarming Achilles’ heel of this defense and the overall talent on the Raiders roster still isn’t good enough to contend.”
Kyle Soppe, Pro Football Network: 22
Soppe: “The Las Vegas Raiders retained Maxx Crosby and patched their quarterback situation by acquiring Geno Smith, but have they really changed their trajectory? Last season, Las Vegas was the only AFC team that failed to win a single divisional game. With the AFC West positioned to be a powerhouse for years to come, that could very well be the case again in 2025. The Raiders seem to understand where they stand — delaying a rebuild isn’t fun for fans, but it might be the most logical move. Adding a 35-year-old QB in Smith suggests that they aren’t in full rebuild mode, but they also aren’t making the kinds of moves needed to truly contend.”
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