It always feels a bit early to be talking about the future, but the Las Vegas Raiders' 2026 NFL season is already one-third complete. Before fans know it, the playoffs will be here, and not long after that, free agency will be on the horizon. And it is good, as an organization and as a supporter, to be prepared.
Not only should we start to get familiar with players who could be available in March and who could help the Silver and Black, but it is critical to evaluate those currently on the Raiders' roster who are poised to hit the open market in the spring. Decisions need to be made on these veterans.
And that's exactly why we have been playing Commit or Quit? after every game, to keep a running tally of how Las Vegas' contract-year players are performing on a weekly basis. Following Week 6's loss, which has put the Raiders on a three-game skid, let's fire up the console and play yet again.
What to do with Las Vegas Raiders' 2027 free agency class after the first third of the season
Pay the man NOW
Tre Tucker
Tucker has been solid every week but is capable of putting together huge performances multiple times a season, like the one he had on Sunday. That, to me, is well worth an extension. He caught five passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns in Week 6, showing once again what a weapon he truly is.
Because Jalen Nailor is making around $13 million per year, the price tag for Tucker may be in the ballpark of $18 million annually. Something in the neighborhood of a three-year, $54 million extension with $27 million guaranteed would be a nice sweet spot where both sides are happy.
Commit
Foley Fatukasi
Fatukasi draws double teams at a high rate because he is a havoc-wreaker, even if the stat sheet doesn't really show it. Is he limited in some ways? Sure. But he is probably the best defensive tackle on the roster at this very moment, or at least the most efficient. And I would pay to have that again.
Matt Gay
Gay missed his first kick in Week 5, but he's been flawless other than that. His onside kicks are abysmal, but that can be drilled. Depending on what the kicker market looks like next offseason, I wouldn't be opposed at all to keeping Gay, or at least having him around to compete for the job.
Alex Ward
As the resident long snapper expert in Raider Nation - just kidding. Until Ward has bad snaps, commits penalties or lets folks through the line of scrimmage to block kicks and punts, there is no reason to mess up a good thing.
Commit (but only at the right price)
Jeremy Chinn
Chinn racks up tackles better than most safeties, as he is a borderline linebacker against the run. But he is still limited in coverage, so a needle must be threaded if Las Vegas wants to bring him back next year. And re-signing him shouldn't prevent them from searching for a more well-rounded upgrade.
Thomas Booker IV
Call me crazy, but I am a fan of Booker IV's game. He is a big and strong player with good athleticism, and there is a reason John Spytek traded for him last preseason. Booker IV will never be an every-down player, but he can be a solid rotational piece, and that is worth a moderate-sized wad of cash.
Need more time to evaluate
Cody White
White looked like the next big thing through the first few weeks, and he has been solid for most of the season. But he came back down to earth in Week 6 with a goal-line drop, and that served as a reminder, more than anything, that White is still unproven and that more evaluation is needed on him.
That said, if he continues to be a low-level contributor but is reliable in key situations and on special teams, the Raiders should have no issue paying him a little bit.
Malcolm Koonce
Koonce has been up-and-down this year, and he's missed a lot of tackles, including a critical one in Week 6 that led to a touchdown. But he's getting home reliably and improving as a run defender. It's hard because Koonce will want a solid deal, and the Raiders have to make sure they don't overpay.
The edge rusher market has ballooned in recent years, and there is a stark contrast between paying to keep a homegrown talent and overextending for someone who doesn't live up to that billing.
Patrick Johnson
Johnson is Mr. Solid, and he continues to make an impact on special teams. Depending on who may be available, how Keyron Crawford's recovery is going, and where things stand with Koonce, though, Las Vegas could justify bringing him back on another veteran minimum deal.
Let 'em walk
Kirk Cousins
Cousins is playing pretty well, even if he hasn't been perfect. But Fernando Mendoza showed plenty in his brief Week 5 debut to keep the Raiders on schedule by inserting the rookie whenever Cousins is deemed no longer useful. And Cousins' price tag is simply way too high to keep him around long.
Aidan O'Connell
O'Connell still hasn't played this year, and if all goes well, he never will. And it seems like this coaching staff values him, but there are too many unstable quarterback situations around the league for AOC to just sit on the bench in Las Vegas. He may be the one to leave and try his luck elsewhere.
Ian Thomas
Thomas is a fine player, but the Silver and Black can definitely upgrade from him. It gets a lot worse than Thomas, but with such a star-studded tight end duo, there is almost no reason not to find a third player who is a lot younger and has a bit more upside, or is a pure run-blocking horse.
Quit
Tristin McCollum
McCollum hasn't been active since Week 3, so this coaching staff doesn't seem to be in on him. With such a strong safety class coming up in the draft, it wouldn't surprise me if the Raiders plan to double-dip again and leave McCollum to find himself another job.
Darrell Luter Jr.
Luter actually made a handful of good plays on special teams in Week 6. But he hasn't consistently been active, nor cracked the cornerback rotation. Given how many teams liked him this preseason, Luter could have a market next spring, and the Raiders don't need to get into a bidding war for him.
Get 'em out of here
Spencer Burford
Burford, on paper, had his best game of the season on Sunday. But it's interesting that the two linemen who play beside him, Kolton Miller and Tyler Linderbaum, are suddenly struggling. And last week was the exception, not the rule, so letting Burford walk this offseason should be a no-brainer.
Isaiah Pola-Mao
Pola-Mao also had a big game on special teams against the Bills, but he has not done enough to stick around in Las Vegas in any kind of defensive role. With his history, Pola-Mao should be eager to find another home, and the Raiders should be happy to oblige.
Dareke Young
Young didn't do anything dramatically wrong in Week 6 as he did against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4, but he gets picked on as a kick returner because he hasn't made any explosive plays. And he missed a tackle and got blocked out of several more. Not a guy who needs to be paid.
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