In accordance with our weekly pieces about the Las Vegas Raiders' 2027 free agents and college football stars who should be of interest next April, we'll also be previewing next spring's free agency class, because the NFL world never stops spinning, and the future is always here before we know it.
After one week of the 2026 NFL season, it stands to reason that the Raiders' front office will be on the prowl for wide receivers and defensive tackles next offseason, first and foremost. But another piece at linebacker and potentially a new strong safety could be in the cards as well.
Of course, Las Vegas doesn't need to shy away from any top-end talent at positions where they can upgrade, as they have $59.4 million to spend next year, which is the 10th-most in the league. So, let's dive into our first 2027 free agency preview and talk about how these players fared in Week 1.
Wide Receiver
Parker Washington, Jaguars
Reports have indicated that Washington and the Jaguars aren't poised to agree on a long-term deal, meaning he could be available in March. In his last five games, despite only playing 75% or more of the snaps in just one of them, Washington has been on a 1,826-yard, 14-touchdown pace if his stats were extrapolated to an entire season. He had five catches for 83 yards and a diving score in Week 1 despite playing just over half the snaps in a blowout win. Washington is one to closely monitor.
George Pickens, Cowboys
Pickens is currently playing on the franchise tag, and there's a chance he does so again next year and does not hit the open market. But if he plays as he did on opening day, then the Cowboys may be more inclined to let him walk. Pickens caught just three passes for 28 yards against a shaky Giants secondary and had two bad drops. He also failed to bring in a contested catch, which is his M.O. He'll obviously rebound, but can Pickens be consistent enough to get a long-term deal in Dallas? We'll see.
Puka Nacua, Rams
Nacua may not ever be an option for Las Vegas because of character concerns. But the Rams simply have too much young talent to pay all of them, and until Nacua signs his extension in Los Angeles, it is worth evaluating for Las Vegas. The Raiders could use a player with Nacua's versatility, toughness, run-blocking ability and pure production on the outside, despite a fairly mundane 5 catches for 74 yards in a season-opening blowout loss.
Defensive Tackle
Kobie Turner, Rams
Speaking of the Rams having too much talent to pay everyone, Turner is another player who should be firmly on the Silver and Black's radar. He is an elite pass rusher from the interior and a very good run stopper as well. Turner didn't notch any pressures in the first game of the 2026 NFL season, but he still managed to be a bright spot in the loss with six tackles, five stops and a batted pass.
Otito Ogbonnia, Cowboys
Ogbonnia is a big player who can line up at nose or at the 3-tech, and he's got great run-stopping ability and a growing repertoire as a pass rusher. Despite Dallas' horrific effort in primetime against the Giants in Week 1, Ogbonnia avoided blame with three tackles, three stops and a pressure.
Moro Ojomo, Eagles
Ojomo may fall victim to Philadelphia being in a Rams-like position where it just doesn't have the funds to accommodate all of its talent. He is a very good player with more upside to tap into, though, and Ojomo can line up over the tackle and on the interior. He is well-rounded but is better as a pass-rusher, and Ojomo flashed that in Week 1 with four pressures, two tackles and two stops.
Safety
Brian Branch, Lions
Branch is currently on the injured reserve, and his injury issues are part of why he hasn't inked a long-term extension in Detroit. But the Raiders seem to have great confidence in their medical staff, and when Branch is playing, he is just flat-out awesome. He can cover, take the ball away, tackle, help in the run game and occasionally rush the passer as well. Just imagine him in our new defense, whew!
Jessie Bates III, Falcons
Bates III is an older player, and while he used to be more of a true free safety, he has actually started to play in the box quite a bit in his older years. And that versatility, again, would be coveted in Las Vegas. At nearly 30, Bates III showed that he still has it, as he shored up the back end for Atlanta and made three tackles and a stop on Sunday while giving up very little in coverage.
Linebacker
DeMarvion Overshown, Cowboys
Overshown just isn't a MIKE linebacker, and he's probably not supposed to be a full-time, every-down player. But Dallas has given him those responsibilities, and he has struggled both to stay healthy and fulfill his duties. But Overshown is a great athlete, and perhaps a focused role as a rotational WILL would be best for his career and whatever team has him. Maybe that could be the Raiders.
Christian Elliss, Patriots
Elliss, like Overshown, struggles a bit in an expanded role. But he's a solid run defender and a good pass rusher for an off-ball linebacker, so Las Vegas could be interested if he hits the open market next spring. In Week 1, we saw the bad Elliss, as he was picked on in coverage and missed a few tackles. But again, in a honed role with a DC who plays to his strengths, he would be a nice piece.
Tyrel Dodson, Panthers
Dodson was a very good player last year for the Dolphins and was surprisingly released. He landed on the Panthers' practice squad but did not play in Week 1. Still, though, Dodson is a plus run defender and has a lot of experience at the NFL level. If Rob Leonard could keep him out of coverage, he would be a nice complementary piece in the role that Tommy Eichenberg played in Week 1.
Best of the Rest
Byron Young, DE, Rams
The Rams can't afford everyone; you get it. And the Raiders may not need another edge rusher after watching Maxx Crosby and Kwity Paye dominate. But you can never have too many players who can get after the quarterback, and Paye's versatility would allow another defensive end to come in and play a big role. Young had 12.0 sacks last year and has 27.5 in his three NFL seasons. He didn't have a big Week 1, totaling just two pressures and a tackle. But Young is still the real deal.
Quenton Nelson, G, Colts
Nelson has been a player that Raider Nation has had its collective eye on for years now, and with his rookie extension finally up, he may hit the open market for the first time in 2027. With so many young pieces at guard, Las Vegas probably won't opt for a 31-year-old at that time, but if nobody develops and John Spytek and Klint Kubiak want a surefire, immediate solution, Nelson is just that. He gave up two pressures in Week 1 but was lights out as a run defender.
Tuli Tuipulotu, DE, Chargers
Again, you can never have too many pass rushers. Tuipulotu was a Pro Bowler last year following a 13.0-sack campaign, and he had three more hits and a batted pass to go with five tackles in the Chargers' Week 1 loss. If the Raiders are going to add another top-flight defensive end and pay through the nose for it, they may as well pry one from a division rival, eh?
Steve Avila, G, Rams
Rams. Too many good players. Not enough money. Avila, like Nelson, gave up two pressures but dominated as a run bocker in a Week 1 loss. But the difference between Nelson and Avila is that the latter is going to be 27 next spring if he doesn't reach a deal in Los Angeles. So, he could theoretically be around for the long haul in Las Vegas if the Raiders go poking around for another guard.
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