2 key pending free agents are out for the season
The Las Vegas Raiders entered the 2024 season with six defensive starters being eligible to be unrestricted free agents in the offseason.
Two of them, defensive end Malcolm Koonce and safety Marcus Epps have been lost for the season due to knee injuries.
Koonce and Epps’ free-agent markets could be affected by their injuries even though they are expected to be ready for next season. they Raiders could decide to extend them now or wait until free agency.
The sudden loss of both of these players could make the Raiders decide to make a move to try to extend their other pending free agents. They have plenty of salary-cap resources to strike some deals.
Let’s look at the Raiders’ healthy pending defensive starting free agents
Divine Deablo:
The third-round pick in 2021 is a solid player. But he has dealt with injuries and some consistency issues. But he seems to fit the defense and the team could want to secure his future.
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Nate Hobbs:
The fifth-round pick in 2021 is an excellent slot cornerback. Cornerbacks get paid big in free agency, so Hobbs could be willing to the open market to try to cash in. But he’s a big part of the Raiders’ defense and he is a building block. The Raiders might what to take care of him sooner than later, but it won’t happen on the cheap.
Tre’von Moehrig:
The second-round pick has been up-and-down. He was good as a rookie, he struggled in 2022, but played well last season as he adjusted well to being in Patrick Graham’s defense for a second season. He is a solid, but not great player. Still, with Epps’ future up in the air, the Raiders may want to extend him soon.
Robert Spillane:
Spillane was signed in free agency in 2023 and he has far outperformed his expectations He was a part-time starter for Pittsburgh. In Las Vegas, he become a major core player. Las Vegas head coach Antonio Pierce, a former NFL linebacker, loves Spillane and he would surely be in favor of the time locking him up for the future sooner than later.