Media grades of Raiders' 2025 free agency signings (2025)

The Las Vegas Raiders got to work to start the free agency period, catching some attention with a few of their moves.

Their moves to jumpstart the offseason consisted of bolstering the defense, signing veterans such as Jeremy Chinn and Elandon Roberts. They also kept a few players in the building by re-signing defensive linemen Malcolm Koonce and Adam Butler while extending Pro Bowler Maxx Crosby.

As several media outlets publish their grades for each NFL team's free agency moves, here's what they had to say about the Silver and Black.

Grade: A-

Analysis: "Getting Smith alone to stabilize quarterback as a great philosophical and emotional fit with Pete Carroll and Chip Kelly was huge. Then they made Maxx Crosby happy with a new deal and retained Koonce for the opposite side. This was the right level of aggressive moving ahead of bigger swings to come in the draft."

Grade on re-signing Malcolm Koonce: A-

Analysis: "Koonce missed the entire 2024 season with a knee injury. But Koonce showed promise in 2023, with 8.0 sacks and a 17% pass rush win rate at edge (22nd best out of 50 qualifiers) in his first season as a starter. Koonce started 11 games that season after moving past first-round rookie Tyree Wilson on the depth chart."

Grade: B+

Analysis: "The Raiders locked Maxx Crosby in with a contract extension. ... That constituted their big splash of free agency while their trade for Geno Smith gave them a much-needed upgrade at quarterback.

"Aside from that, Las Vegas targeted experienced starters and role players – like safety Jeremy Chinn, right guard Alex Cappa and linebacker Elandon Roberts – to plug hole and add depth to its roster. Overall, this seems like the right way for the team to improve upon their difficult 2024 season."

Grade: B

Analysis: "Stokes has never quite lived up to his first-round billing, but he'll look for a fresh start with the Raiders. The former Packer is solid in zone coverage, so he should be a good fit with Pete Carroll now as his head coach.

"Roberts enjoyed the two best seasons of his career in Pittsburgh, largely thanks to being used as a two-down linebacker. That's the part of the job that departing Raiders linebacker Robert Spillane, whom he will likely replace, was best at, so expect similar results here.

"Koonce was one of the 25 most valuable edge defenders in 2023, according to PFF's WAR metric, and was excellent across the second half of that season. From Week 10 on, his 36 pressures tied for eighth among edge defenders.

"Chinn ranked sixth among safeties in tackles resulting in a defensive stop (35) this past season. He's at his best close to the line of scrimmage. He earned a 70.3 PFF overall grade and a 73.9 PFF coverage grade when lined up in the box."

Grade on re-signing Malcolm Koonce: B

Analysis: Injuries have dramatically impacted Koonce during his young career. He missed all of last season with a knee injury, but in 2023 recorded eight sacks and 43 tackles while starting 11 of 17 games. The Raiders are essentially giving Koonce a one-year prove-it deal, hoping he can recapture the form that could translate into double-digit sacks.

Grade on signing Jeremy Chinn: B

Analysis: "After signing a one-year deal with the Commanders last year, Chinn delivered a 117-tackle season and added an interception and five pass-breakups. He parlayed that into the deal with the Raiders, who lost Tre'von Moehrig to the Panthers earlier Monday."

Grade: B+

Analysis: "It's hard not to like what the Raiders have done when it comes to addressing the quarterback position. Instead of rolling the dice on the free agent, they were able to execute a trade for Geno Smith, who already has a built-in rapport with head coach Pete Carroll. Meanwhile, they also locked in Maxx Crosby for the foreseeable future. On the free agent market, they added solid pieces in safety Jeremy Chinn and guard Alex Cappa, while retaining pass rusher Malcolm Koonce. They still need to add (maybe a receiver?), but this is a solid start."

Grade: B

Analysis: "The Raiders upgraded at quarterback, made Maxx Crosby happy and got Malcolm Koonce back on a discount."

Grade on re-signing Adam Butler: B

Analysis: Butler, 30, started a career-high 16 games last year for Las Vegas, amassing five sacks for the second consecutive season. The eight-year veteran isn't an elite talent, but he was a capable starter in 2024 and is coming back on a reasonable deal.