The Las Vegas Raiders are at an inflection point with the 2026 NFL season already halfway gone. And while all eyes are rightfully on figuring out a path for the Silver and Black to get to the playoffs, that doesn't mean that we, being a bit removed from the situation, can't still look at the future.
With a hearty sample size of eight games to make these assessments, it feels like the proper time to evaluate the Raiders players who are currently in a contract year, and what the best course of action may be for John Spytek and the front office with them next spring, if things keep up at the same rate.
Las Vegas has players who are worthy of long-term deals, players who have no chance of returning and are barely hanging by a thread as is, trade candidates, and everything in between. So, here is what the future should hold for all 18 of the Raiders' looming free agents next offseason.
What is best course of action for Raiders with looming free agents?
Extend them: Tre Tucker, Matt Gay
Tucker has been a bit inconsistent this year, but the highs have been quite high, and the front office clearly likes him. He's the best wideout that Las Vegas currently has, and although the team should look to upgrade at the position next year, there's no reason Tucker can't coexist with a true No. 1.
Fans groaned at Gay's arrival, especially because it was on the heels of Daniel Carlson's departure. But Gay has proved everyone wrong, as he's made all but two kicks this year and made a big one from 53 yards with the game hanging in the balance in Week 8. Keep him around until he starts missing.
Keep them: Alex Ward, Carter Runyon
Until the special teams unit starts having issues, Ward, the long snapper, has no business being kicked to the curb. He seems to have a nice rapport with Gay and A.J. Cole, and my wealth of knowledge about the long snapper position tells me that Ward is doing a fine job.
Runyon has not gotten to play this year because of an injury, but he's been impressive throughout his career in limited opportunities, and Klint Kubiak shouted him out in a press conference the other day. Runyon will be a dirt-cheap exclusive rights free agent, so bringing him back is a no-brainer.
Re-sign at the right price: Malcolm Koonce, Jeremy Chinn, Spencer Burford, Foley Fatukasi
Koonce is a complicated case because he's too streaky to give a lump sum to, but his highs are high enough that someone will pay him handsomely if the Raiders don't. If he keeps up at the same rate in 2026, Koonce would need to take a pay cut if he wants to stay in Las Vegas, for whatever reason.
Chinn is by no means a bad safety, but he's not really a high-end one either. He can hit and be an asset in the run game, but Chinn also struggles in coverage. Depending on what is out there and how the draft class looks, the Raiders might want to run it back. But too big a commitment would be bad.
Burford is absolutely a better run-blocker than a pass-blocker. While he's not tremendous at either, he's not bad at either. Las Vegas can surely upgrade from him, and perhaps the team moves toward the younger bunch at guard anyway. But if he's ultra-cheap again, Burford could be here in 2027.
Fatukasi's initial charm has worn off, and he's come back down to earth after a great start with the Raiders. That said, he can still play a role in a weak defensive tackle room next year if he's on a veteran minimum contract. He shouldn't be a key fixture, but they can do worse than Fatukasi.
Let them walk, barring disaster: Kirk Cousins, Thomas Booker IV, Segun Olubi
Cousins' contract has a lot of fluff, but he's effectively on a one-year, $11.3 million deal. Unless Fernando Mendoza suffers a serious injury or they don't think he's ready, Cousins should probably still be kicked to the curb. Or if he wins a Super Bowl, or something of that ilk, I suppose.
Booker IV is a fine player, and the Raiders absolutely won the trade in which they swapped Jakorian Bennett for him. But this defensive tackle room needs retooling, and Booker IV has already been inactive a few times this year. He'll be cheap, so maybe he survives. But it's not a priority.
Olubi is a good special-teamer, outside of a horrendous showing in Week 4 against the Kansas City Chiefs, but so are Tommy Eichenberg and Cody Lindenberg. It's not like Olubi will be expensive, but the Raiders should be able to rely on their two youngsters to take on his role, making him expendable.
Not a chance: Dareke Young, Ian Thomas, Patrick Johnson, Tristin McColllum, Darrell Luter Jr.
Young is in the same boat as Booker IV, where he'll surely be a casualty of a revamped wide receiver room. Except Young hasn't contributed anything in that facet of the game, and he's been poor on special teams. Thomas is a solid player, but I'd rather have Runyon or another upgrade at tight end.
McCollum once looked like a player capable of playing a role, but he's been inactive pretty much every week. Luter Jr. has been active more lately, but exclusively in a special teams role. Both will cost next to nothing, but I'd rather get someone younger or with a bit more upside.
Look to trade: Isaiah Pola-Mao, Aidan O'Connell
Pola-Mao and O'Connell may not have much value, but they have clearly run their course in Las Vegas, and anything Spytek can get for them would be considered a win. If they don't get moved at the deadline, there's no point in cutting them if you don't need to, but you don't have to re-sign them.
O'Connell could be a long-term backup to Mendoza, I suppose, but it takes two to tango, and he's expressed a desire to be a starter somewhere in the NFL.
Add us as a preferred source on Google