Las Vegas Raiders News & Rumors

Tom Brady Clarifies Raiders Role, Describes Himself As “Sounding Board”

July 1st, 2025 at 10:15pm CST by Ben Levine

While much has been made of Tom Brady‘s influence as a minority owner of the Raiders, the iconic quarterback was quick to clarify his position in the franchise’s hierarchy. During a recent chat with Paul Gutierrez of the team’s website, Brady simply described himself as a “sounding board” for the organization’s true decision makers.

“Well, I’m just a limited partner, so Mark’s the boss,” Brady said. “And then Pete does his job and Spy does his job and, I think, we trust them to make the right decisions. I’m there as a great sounding board for anything they want to do.”

As Brady noted, majority owner Mark Davis still calls the shots, and the team is clearly empowering new head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Spytek to shape the roster as they want. Of course, Brady’s fingerprints are still all over the Raiders organization, and there were reports of his influence over offseason personnel moves.

We heard that Brady’s arrival in Las Vegas played a big role in Carroll signing on, and the seven-time Super Bowl winner also reportedly had a major say on the team’s approach to the quarterback position. Brady reportedly pushed for a Matthew Stafford acquisition, and we heard recently that he rejected a pursuit of free agent Sam Darnold. The team ultimately landed on Geno Smith as a temporary stopgap at the position, and the veteran acknowledged that the entire new regime (including Brady) played a role in his decision to sign an extension.

Even if Brady wants to assign credit elsewhere, he was still involved in many of the organization’s other offseason moves. While the team’s new HC/GM tandem and quarterback commanded attention, the team also stole headlines by signing free agent linebacker Devin White and using the sixth-overall pick on dynamic running back Ashton Jeanty.

“I’ve loved it,” Brady said of the Raiders’ offseason. “And, again, just trying to contribute in the ways that I can to help the team be the best they can be, on and off the field. We’ve got a great group of people. I love Mark. He’s done an incredible job getting the team to Vegas, getting the stadium built.”

Largest 2025 Cap Hits: Offense

July 1st, 2025 at 10:05pm CST by Adam La Rose

Last offseason brought about a record-breaking jump in the salary cap. This year, the ceiling rose to $279.2MM, another notable spike. The market at a number of positions will benefit from the ongoing surge in spending power available to teams, with quarterbacks obviously the largest standout in that respect.

In 2024, a pair of signal-callers surpassed the $50MM mark in terms of cap charges for the season. That will not be the case this time around, but to little surprise quarterbacks once again lead the way in terms of representing the largest share of many teams’ financial commitments for 2025. Positions such as receiver and offensive tackle have also generally not reached the same peak in terms of cap commitments as last year.

Leading up to training camp, are the NFL’s top 25 cap charges for offensive players:

Dak Prescott, QB (Cowboys): $50.52MM
Matthew Stafford, QB (Rams): $47.47MM
Joe Burrow, QB (Bengals): $46MM
Lamar Jackson, QB (Ravens): $43.5MM
Kyler Murray, QB (Cardinals): $43.33MM
Kirk Cousins, QB (Falcons): $40MM
Geno Smith, QB (Raiders): $40MM
Tua Tagovailoa, QB (Dolphins): $39.18MM
Justin Herbert, QB (Chargers): $37.35MM
Josh Allen, QB (Bills): $36.34MM
Deshaun Watson, QB (Browns): $35.97MM
Jared Goff, QB (Lions): $32.6MM
Taylor Moton, RT (Panthers): $31.35MM
Jordan Love, QB (Packers): $29.69MM
Patrick Mahomes, QB (Chiefs): $28.06MM
Calvin Ridley, WR (Titans): $28MM
Tyreek Hill, WR (Dolphins): $27.7MM
Jawaan Taylor, RT (Chiefs): $27.39MM
Baker Mayfield, QB (Buccaneers): $26.48MM
Terry McLaurin, WR (Commanders): $25.5MM
Mike Evans, WR (Buccaneers): $25.36MM
D.J. Moore, WR (Bears): $24.9MM
Tee Higgins, WR (Bengals): $24.06MM
Ja’Marr Chase, WR (Bengals): $23.57MM
Trey Smith, RG (Chiefs): $23.4MM

Prescott’s last-minute 2024 Cowboys extension made him the first player in NFL history to carry an AAV of $60MM. That pact will have lasting impacts well beyond the coming campaign, as the team looks to also fit in the big-ticket extension CeeDee Lamb inked last summer and the one Micah Parsons is in position to sign at some point before Week 1.

Once again, Stafford and the Rams entered the spring with plenty of uncertainty. Retirement was a consideration quickly done away with in the case of the 37-year-old, but it remained to be seen if he would remain in Los Angeles. Trade offers came in from numerous suitors, and the chance existed for Stafford to land a more lucrative deal elsewhere. In the end, though, team and player reached agreement on another reworked pact. Stafford is now in line to receive $84MM over the next two years, including guaranteed money in 2026. A bit of continuity will thus be in place under center for the Rams.

2020 draft classmates Burrow, Tagovailoa and Herbert are understandable top-10 players on this list given their respective deals. All three are on the books for years to come as they look to unseat the Chiefs atop the AFC. Burrow spoke about restructuring his pact to create the cap space necessary for the Bengals to retain or extend each of their key in-house players this offseason. That has yet to take place, and it will be interesting to see if a reworking is explored while talks on the Trey Hendrickson front continue.

The Ravens have worked out a few extensions on offense already (Derrick Henry, Rashod Bateman) but Jackson looms as a candidate for a new deal. Three years remain on his pact, but starting in 2026 his cap charge is scheduled so spike well past its current figure. The two-time MVP has discussed a new arrangement this offseason, and a bump in guarantees and overall compensation similar to what the Bills did with Allen would come as no surprise.

Cousins’ figure stands out, of course, given the fact he is slated to operate as Atlanta’s backup this season. With no release coming and no trade imminent, the four-time Pro Bowler is set to stay in place behind Michael Penix Jr. Cousins has made progress in his rehab from shoulder and ankle injuries suffered prior to his benching midway through his debut Atlanta season. With $10MM already guaranteed for next year, it will be interesting to see if a trade market develops in the coming months in his case.

With the exception of Watson – whose second Achilles tear is set to sideline him for most or all of the coming campaign – the remaining quarterbacks on the list are positioned to serve as starters for their respective teams. Only Geno Smith will be suiting up for a new organization after he was traded from the Seahawks to the Raiders. That swap was followed up by a two-year, $75MM extension and allowed him to reunite with head coach Pete Carroll. A short-term upgrade under center will be key as Vegas looks to find stability on the sidelines and in the front office.

Moton’s cap figure was a talking point earlier this offseason, but the Panthers are content to avoid a fourth restructure in his case. The pending free agent hopes to finish his career in Carolina, but an extension would have helped ensure that while lowering his immediate cap charge. In the absence of such an agreement, it will be interesting to see if Moton, 30, can deliver another strong showing in 2025.

Ridley is perhaps a surprising figure to lead the way in terms of cap charges at the receiver spot. He will operate as a key member of the Titans’ offense, a unit whose success will of course depend in large part on the play of rookie Cam Ward. Ridley has two more years left on his deal beyond 2025, but with limited guarantees owed over that span his Tennessee future could be greatly impacted by who this season plays out.

The likes of Hill, Evans and Moore are not currently the subject of speculation regarding their future. McLaurin, however, was absent from much of the Commanders’ spring practices with little progress being made at the negotiating table. Plenty of work is still required at this point to avoid a potential free agent departure next spring. Coming off a career-high in touchdowns while thriving alongside Jayden Daniels, the two-time Pro Bowler is in line for a raise which will likely lower his cap hit this season.

Chase and Higgins inked their deals simultaneously, putting an end to questions regarding where the latter in particular would play on his second contract. Those two, together with Burrow, will serve as foundational players for years to come in Cincinnati. It will be interesting to see how long Chase (with an AAV of $40.25MM) remains the league’s top earner in that respect for non-quarterbacks.

Kansas City’s offensive line faces questions entering the season. Despite his big-ticket contract, Taylor is not a lock to remain a starter at this point. With no guaranteed left on the final year of his deal (2026), a parting of ways could be in store next spring if a backup gig ensues. Trey Smith, meanwhile, remains attached to the franchise tag although an extension is among the team’s remaining offseason priorities.

Dolphins Seeking TE, CB Trade Acquisitions

June 30th, 2025 at 5:37pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

After sending Jonnu Smith to the Steelers this morning, the Dolphins are exploring a trade for a new tight end with multiple teams, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The team is also interested in adding help at cornerback after parting ways with Jalen Ramsey in the same deal, per Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald.

Smith was not only Miami’s starting tight end in 2024; he led the team in receptions and receiving touchdowns with 884 receiving yards that trailed only Tyreek Hill. The Dolphins will be expecting bounce-back years from Hill and Jaylen Waddle to boost their passing offense, but Smith’s departure leaves the tight end room without a clear starter.

Currently, their most experienced player at the position is veteran Pharaoh Brown, who has started 18 games in the last two years (and a total of 54 in his seven-year career), but topped 200 receiving yards in a season just once. 2023 undrafted free agent Julian Hill has carved out a robust snap share as a blocking tight end, but he only has 18 career catches for 148 yards. Rounding out the group are Hayden Rucci, Tanner Conner, and undrafted rookie Jalin Conyers, none of whom have proven themselves in the NFL.

As a result, the Dolphins are looking elsewhere to bolster their tight end group, with Raiders tight end Michael Mayer named as an early potential target. The 2023 No. 35 pick is a player that “Miami has had their eye on…for a while,” according to Kelly, who noted that Mayer had “some on and off-field challenges” in his first two years in Las Vegas. He has missed nine games since being drafted with an average of fewer than 20 yards per game.

However, the Raiders have “no interest” in moving Mayer, per Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, with a major role expected for him this season. Despite the addition of Brock Bowers last offseason, Mayer maintained a 63% snap share as the team’s’ inline tight end when healthy with Bowers spending a majority of his time in the slot.

If Mayer is unavailable, another tight end to monitor is Kyle Pitts, according to ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques. He drew trade interest earlier this offseason that was not rebuffed by the Falcons, indicating their potential willingness to part ways with the former No. 4 pick.

No details have emerged regarding the Dolphins’ pursuit of cornerback help, though the team has been in touch with multiple available veterans this offseason. The free agent pool is deeper at cornerback than it is at tight end, so the Dolphins may prioritize the latter position in a trade and use their newfound cap space to add a corner.

Raiders Open To Retaining LT Kolton Miller Beyond 2025

June 28th, 2025 at 8:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

Kolton Miller remains attached to the final year of his contract without any of his scheduled $12.31MM in compensation guaranteed. The veteran left tackle has made it clear he wants to stay in Vegas well beyond 2025, but it remains to be seen if an agreement can be reached to make that happen.

Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal confirms the Raiders are still open to keeping Miller in the fold past the coming season. Another deal would only be in the team’s interest “at the right price,” he adds, however. That is of course applicable in any number of contract situations, but Bonsignore has reported a gap exists between team and player regarding an extension.

As a result, there is a chance Miller – who reported to mandatory minicamp despite the lack of progress in contract talks – plays out the remainder of his pact and departs on the open market. Per Bonsignore, the Raiders’ new regime is willing to re-sign Miller (that is, to work out a pact in March even if an agreement is not reached ahead of the 2025 campaign). If no extension is worked out, it would be interesting to see if the 29-year-old committed to at least testing his market next spring.

Miller has spent his entire seven-year career with the Raiders, starting all but two of his 110 combined regular and postseason games. The former first-rounder has been consistent for much of his tenure, grading between fifth and 13th amongst offensive tackles in terms of PFF evaluation over the past four years. A multi-year investment would come with high expectations for continued strong performances as an anchor along the offensive line.

Bonsignore adds another long-term Miller contract would likely pay between $20MM and $23MM on average per season. That would fall in line with the current nature of the tackle market and represent a raise from the $18.01MM AAV of his current accord. Making such an investment, however, will need to take into account the possibility of third-round rookie Charles Grant developing as hoped this year and taking over blindside duties in 2026.

Team and player could wind up taking a wait-and-see approach if no extension agreement is reached this summer. It will be interesting to see if Miller is prepared to participate in training camp without any new developments on this front. If so, his performance this season will be key in determining his value on a third Raiders contract or one sending him to a new team for the first time in his career.

Raiders DE Maxx Crosby Fully Recovered From Ankle Surgery

June 27th, 2025 at 11:15am CST by Adam La Rose

2024 saw Maxx Crosby miss regular season action for the first time in his career. The Raiders All-Pro dealt with an ankle injury early in the campaign which ultimately required season-ending surgery.

Crosby managed to recover in time for spring workouts, however, and The Athletic’s Tashan Reed notes he has returned to his normal summer routine (subscription required). That is of course a welcomed development for team and player as training camp approaches. Having Crosby back to full strength for the start of Year 1 of the franchise’s new regime will be key.

Changes on the sidelines and in the front office have been a constant during Crosby’s time with the Raiders. The four-time Pro Bowler has expressed a desire to remain with the team throughout his career, and an extension was worked out in March would provided a new round of guaranteed money. That deal briefly gave him the title of the league’s highest-paid defender (and top earner for all non-quarterbacks) and ensured Crosby will be in place for the beginning of head coach Pete Carroll, general manager John Spytek and minority owner Tom Brady‘s time in Vegas.

“It’s an honor, obviously, having the Raiders with a new staff and new regime come in and show me that type of respect,” Crosby said when speaking about his new deal (via Reed). “It means the world. Like Spytek said, it’s not about what I’ve done, it’s about what I’m about to do.”

Now attached to an AAV of $35.5MM, Crosby – who drew trade interest from at least the Seahawks and Patriots this spring – will again be counted on to anchor Vegas’ defense in 2025. The 27-year-old has racked up 59.5 sacks and 105 tackles for loss to date, and high-end production will be required if the Raiders are to contend for a postseason spot this year. Malcolm Koonce re-signed on a one-year pact while the team also has Tyree Wilson in the fold. Those two could handle complementary roles in 2025, but a Raiders defense which has undergone a number of changes at other spots will of course depend greatly on Crosby’s level of play.

The Eastern Michigan product’s health will be central in determining how well he is able to perform in 2025. A full recovery from the ankle procedure should set him up for normal participation in training camp this summer and thus the regular season.

Raiders’ Christian Wilkins Yet To Shed Walking Boot

June 25th, 2025 at 4:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

Maxx Crosby‘s second extension continues the star pass rusher’s ascent as one of the better defenders in Raiders history. As the Pro Bowl edge rusher has continued to produce en route to a $35.5MM-per-year payday — one that set the table for Myles Garrett‘s market-topping deal this offseason — the Raiders have not done well to complement him.

Las Vegas whiffed badly on its Yannick Ngakoue-for-Chandler Jones switch, dealing the former for Rock Ya-Sin and signing the latter — reuniting him with then-leaders Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler — on a three-year, $51MM deal. Jones was ineffective in 2022, and the team cut him after a series of strange off-field developments in 2023. The team also attempted to supplement its hopeful Crosby-Jones tandem with No. 7 overall pick Tyree Wilson. Through two years, the Texas Tech alum has not established himself as a starter.

The Raiders sought a big-ticket adjustment to their Crosby supporting cast last year, adding Christian Wilkins on a four-year, $110MM megadeal that came with $57.5MM fully guaranteed — a number that trails only Chris Jones among interior defensive linemen. Acquired during Tom Telesco‘s one GM offseason in Vegas, Wilkins evaded a Dolphins franchise tag and benefited from the Chiefs taking Jones off the market two days before free agency. Capitalizing on a clear runway to the market, Wilkins cashed in — but he has yet to reward the Raiders. His early-season injury factored into the Raiders’ decision to fire Telesco after one year.

The team saw Wilkins felled by a Jones fracture in October, and upon taking over the situation in January, Pete Carroll did not offer positive updates on the matter. The new Raiders HC called Wilkins’ rehab process “difficult” and “challenging,” and said he is not expected to be ready for training camp. Those comments came in late May, when Wilkins had been described as being in and out of a walking boot this offseason. With less than a month until camp, Wilkins is back in a walking boot. A recent photo (h/t The Athletic’s Tashan Reed) indeed featured Wilkins in a boot.

Jones fractures can be troublesome, but training camp will mark more than nine months since the injury. Suffering Jones fractures in 2020 and ’21, respectively, Deebo Samuel and Derrick Henry returned after multi-month absences. After suffering the break in June 2020, Samuel was in uniform by Week 4. Henry went down in early November 2021; he was on the field when the Titans played a divisional-round game against the Bengals. Injuries are not created equal, of course, and Wilkins has veered into the longer end of rehabbing from this setback.

Wilkins, who will turn 30 before season’s end, received three fully guaranteed salaries as part of his player-friendly deal. His 2026 $27.25MM base is locked in, and the Raiders already completed a restructure on the deal; that will make a future separation more difficult. It is still too early to speculate on a parting, even as the Raiders have changed front offices since the signing, but a spring fear that Wilkins would miss 2025 time may be closer to becoming reality.

Raiders’ WR Dont’e Thornton Jr., OL Thayer Munford Pushing For Starting Gigs

June 23rd, 2025 at 7:12pm CST by Ben Levine

A pair of recent late-round draft picks could work their way into the Raiders starting lineup. Tashan Reed of The Athletic predicts that fourth-round rookie wideout Dont’e Thornton Jr. will be a starter, and the writer recently noted that former seventh-round offensive lineman Thayer Munford could be an option at left guard for Las Vegas.

Thornton had a breakout campaign during his second and final season at Tennessee, finishing with 26 receptions for 661 yards and six scores. That performance helped make him the 108th-overall pick in this year’s draft, and there’s a good chance he’ll have an opportunity to immediately earn starting reps for his new squad.

Reed notes that the receiver handled the majority of the first-team reps on the outside during OTAs, while Levi Edwards of the team’s website notes that the rookie has already become a top target of Geno Smith. Following the departure of Davante Adams last season, the Raiders struggled to find a third receiving option next to Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker. The new front office notably invested plenty of draft assets into the position, but interestingly, it’s not their highest WR selection who’s been stealing headlines.

The Raiders selected TCU’s Jack Bech in the second round (58th overall), and they later used a sixth-round selection on Montana State’s Tommy Mellott. The team was clearly counting on one of their draft picks to step up in 2025, and for the time being, that appears to be Thornton.

“I think Dont’e is unique in terms of he’s just a hair under 6-5 and he ran 4.3. There’s not a lot of humans on this planet that do that,” said new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly (via Edwards). “And I think if you had a draw up an outside receiver, you would pick that type of body type, someone that’s got length, someone that’s got a huge catch radius, but also has speed. Sometimes you can get a big guy like that, but he can’t really run, so they can stay with him. So, you add that speed element to him, his ability to sink his hips, his ability to get in and out of cuts.”

Elsewhere on offense, Munford has been getting some run with the first-team offense. With Alex Cappa inking a free agent deal to play right guard, there will likely be an open competition for LG snaps. While ESPN’s Ryan McFadden believes this competition will ultimately come down to Dylan Parham and Jordan Meredith, it sounds like Munford is firmly in the mix.

The 2022 seventh-round pick has seen an inconsistent role in three seasons in Las Vegas, starting 18 of his 46 games while primarily playing offensive tackle. When Parham didn’t practice during some of the team’s OTA sessions, it was Munford who spent time as the starting left guard (per Reed). This may have simply been to get a longer look at an OL combination, but it’s still notable that Munford was operating ahead of Meredith, who got eight starts for the Raiders in 2025.

With a new regime running the show, Munford should have a fresh opportunity to show what he’s got. Considering his versatility, the fourth-year player can at least rest easy knowing he’s currently in the driver’s seat for a roster spot.

Latest On Raiders’ Secondary Plans

June 23rd, 2025 at 9:01am CST by Adam La Rose

The free agent departures of Tre’von Moehrig and Nate Hobbs created notable vacancies in the secondary for Las Vegas. The team will have a number of new faces in place this year as a result, and training camp will see multiple battles for starting spots take place.

During OTAs, free agent addition Eric Stokes and third-round rookie Darien Porter handled starting duties at the cornerback spots. Those two are in line to remain atop the depth chart through the summer as a result, but other options will content for a fist-team gig. One of those is Jakorian Bennett, whom The Athletic’s Tashan Reed notes is the top contender to earn a starter’s role during training camp (subscription required).

Bennett joined the Raiders as a fourth-round pick in 2023. He notched four starts as a rookie before seeing a notable jump in playing time last year. The 24-year-old logged a 71% snap share on defense, totaling eight pass breakups and managing to avoid allowing a touchdown as the nearest defender in coverage. Bennett has two years remaining on his rookie deal, so he will provide the Raiders with a cost-effective CB option even if he is unable to unseat Stokes and Porter this summer (an effort which will be aided once he recovers in full from a torn labrum suffered in November).

Darnay Holmes – who was only a part-time defender in 2024, his debut season with the Raiders – is in line to handle a notable role in the slot, Reed adds. Vegas could use a number of three-safety looks this season, though, especially given free agent addition Jeremy Chinn‘s tendency to play near the line of scrimmage. In cases where three safeties were used this spring, Lonnie Johnson Jr. came onto the field. The seven-year veteran could therefore find himself handling a notable workload on his latest team.

While the Raiders are not in the market for Jalen Ramsey, they have the cap space to make an addition or two in the secondary. One veteran corner who could be of interest, per Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, is Mike Hilton. The 31-year-old remains on the free agent market with his four-year Bengals run having come to an end. A veteran of 123 games and 56 starts, Hilton would give the Raiders another experienced option in the slot.

Plenty of time remains for the team to make moves affecting the secondary. Regardless of what takes place during the first training camp with the new regime, though, that unit will be one to watch closely.

Raiders Eyeing Increased Role For TE Michael Mayer?

June 22nd, 2025 at 7:33pm CST by Adam La Rose

Michael Mayer has not lived up to expectations early in his NFL career. The Raiders tight end was a trade target this earlier this offseason, but with no deal taking place he is set to remain in Vegas.

During his rookie season, Mayer missed three contests and was limited to a total of just 27 receptions. Last April, the Raiders replaced him in the starting lineup with Brock Bowers, a decision which paid immediate dividends. Bowers earned first-team All-Pro acclaim in 2024 and represents a focal point on offense for many years to come.

While Bowers was breaking multiple records last season, Mayer missed six games due to personal reasons. The latter was limited to just 156 yards and failed to score a touchdown. Despite having two years left on his rookie contract, it thus came as little surprise when the new Raiders regime showed a willingness to trade Mayer. While interest was shown, the former second-rounder stayed in place and received plenty of attention during spring practices. The Raiders could have an expanded workload in mind.

“I thought Mike had a great offseason,’ head coach Pete Carroll said (via Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal). “We started out going heart to heart with him to understand what we’re all about. And he embraced it and took it as well as anybody could take the challenge of bringing it day in and day out. He had a great camp.”

Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly has spoken about his affinity for multi-tight end formations, and relying on those would be key in allowing Mayer to see the field in 2025. Vegas has Jakobi Meyers along with Tre Tucker and rookies Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton in place at the receiver spot. Especially as the younger options at the position develop, though, Bowers and Mayer could be leaned on in the passing game.

The Raiders will have Geno Smith in place under center after reuniting him with Carroll. The team did so while choosing to avoid – among other things – a free agent pursuit of Sam Darnold. Improved play at the quarterback spot could help team’s offense in general and Mayer’s production in particular as he looks to take a step forward in Year 3. A notable workload in tandem with Bowers would certainly go a long way in that regard.

Tom Brady Preferred Raiders Avoid Signing Sam Darnold

June 20th, 2025 at 10:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

With the Vikings electing to hand the reins over to 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy, Sam Darnold predictably departed on the open market this offseason. The latter wound up taking a three-year deal with the Seahawks to assume starting quarterback duties.

Before that took place, Darnold was linked to a number of potential suitors as the top signal-caller in free agency. The Raiders were among the teams which made a notable move under center this spring, trading for Geno Smith once it became clear he and the Seahawks were not close on extension terms. Darnold’s predecessor is now on the books with Vegas thanks to the new regime which is overseeing the franchise.

That setup includes head coach Pete Carroll, general manager John Spytek and minority owner Tom Brady. Once the seven-time Super Bowl winner’s ownership bid was approved, he immediately took on a notable role within the organization. Brady has been heavily involved in a number of Raiders decisions this offseason, and to little surprise that includes the acquisition of a new starting quarterback.

On that note, Mike Silver of the Athletic reports Brady did not support Vegas signing Darnold in free agency (subscription required). 2024 saw the former No. 3 pick enjoy an impressive run with the Vikings up to the team’s regular season finale and wild-card loss. Darnold nevertheless secured $100.5MM on his Seattle pact, one which contains a potential out as early as next March. Instead of making a similar investment, the Raiders traded for Smith and extended him on a two-year, $75MM pact.

That move will give Vegas short-term stability under center as the team looks to compete in the AFC West beginning in 2025. At the age of 28, Darnold is six years younger than Smith but the latter has experience working with Carroll dating back to their time together in Seattle. A productive reunion between the two would help a Raiders offense which finished 29th in scoring last season.

Of course, Carroll and Spytek were heavily involved in the decision to trade for Smith and thus settle the QB spot for the time being. The fact Brady preferred not to go the Darnold route was no doubt something which carried considerable weight, though, and it will be a factor in evaluating how the Raiders’ approach winds up playing out.

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