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The Las Vegas Raiders flexed their financial muscle on the first day of the NFL’s statutory interference season.
The Raiders came in with a cap hit of $111.91 million when the offseason officially opened on Monday, and they wasted no time overhauling their roster in a number of ways, including pulling off a record-breaking deal.
Center Tyler Linderbaum was perhaps the best linebacker on the market, and the former first-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens is headed to Sin City after agreeing to a three-year, $81 million guaranteed deal. He is now the highest-paid interior offensive lineman in NFL history, per ESPN.
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Tyler Linderbaum of the Baltimore Ravens watches before the game against the New England Patriots at M&T Bank Stadium on Dec. 21, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Linderbaum, 25, established himself as one of the league’s best centers coming out of Iowa, providing consistent steals from two-time league MVP Lamar Jackson during his time in Baltimore.
But with John Harbaugh’s departure, which led to the hiring of head coach Jesse Minter, Linderbaum’s return to the Ravens never got done. He was expected to earn a long-term contract somewhere in the NFL, but Las Vegas, a team that struggled on the offensive line all of last season, made it worth the move to the AFC West.
It wasn’t just Linderbaum, though. Players from all over have been lured by the Raiders, who have opened the bag for free agent additions, including cornerbacks Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean.
Dean agreed to terms ahead of Walker, as the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback is willing to make $36 million with $20 million guaranteed. But Walker got more in the end: a $40.5 million deal over three years, including $28 million guaranteed, through his agents.
Walker, a first-round pick of the Green Bay Packers in the 2022 NFL Draft, is coming off a breakout year, having racked up 128 tackles to help a stout defensive team in Green Bay. He is a reliable tackler, totaling at least 100 in each of his first four seasons. Only one Packers player since 1975 has accomplished that feat.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nakobe Dean (17) reacts after sacking Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Philadelphia. (Matt Slocum/AP Photo/)
As for Dean, the 25-year-old Georgia product has 226 tackles in 47 games with the Eagles, including 7.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and 19 tackles for loss.
Staying on the defensive side, Kwity Paye is lining the inside line, as the 2021 first-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts reached a deal worth $48 million over three years with $32 million in guaranteed money. Paye is known for his ability to defend against the run, doing a great job setting the edge of the defense to ensure short gains.
Cornerback Eric Stokes (three years, $30 million) and defensive end Malcom Koonce (one year, $11 million) also returned to the Raiders, making the defense even stronger on the roster.
Finally, the offensive passing game got a sneaky boost, as former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor agreed to a $35 million deal with $23 million guaranteed over three more years.
Nov 27, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker Quay Walker (7) runs through the tunnel with a step against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. (Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports)
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The Raiders may not be done using their money yet, as they have plenty of room to work with. They also have the first overall pick in next month’s NFL Draft, where they are expected to take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza to start a new era under head coach Klint Kubiak, fresh off a Super Bowl title with the Seattle Seahawks.
In the tough AFC West division, it feels like the Raiders are ready to turn things around, hoping to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2021. Las Vegas has gone 7-27 combined since 2024.
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