{"id":812434,"date":"2026-03-14T19:54:22","date_gmt":"2026-03-14T19:54:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/812434\/"},"modified":"2026-03-14T19:54:22","modified_gmt":"2026-03-14T19:54:22","slug":"raiders-mailbag-what-grade-does-john-spytek-deserve-for-free-agency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/812434\/","title":{"rendered":"Raiders Mailbag: What grade does John Spytek deserve for free agency?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you had told me last Friday that free agency<\/a> wouldn\u2019t be the craziest story surrounding the Las Vegas Raiders this week, I wouldn\u2019t have believed you. But this is the Raiders. In the span of about four days, we saw Maxx Crosby post a 13-minute heartfelt goodbye video<\/a> to the fanbase, only for him to end up back on the team. Wild.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a crazy week between the Corsby situation, free agent signings and the corresponding 2026 NFL draft implications. So, we have a lot to go over for this week\u2019s mailbag. Let\u2019s get to it!<\/p>\n

A: B+. But a high B+, like an 88 or 89 percent.<\/p>\n

I honestly don\u2019t hold the Crosby trade falling through against John Spytek at all. Spytek did a great job negotiating the deal with the Ravens, setting and staying firm on his price tag until a team was willing to meet it. The trade fell through for something that was out of Spytek\u2019s control. It seems pretty clear that Eric DeCosta and the Ravens just got cold feet, buyer\u2019s remorse, or whatever you want to call it, and used Crosby\u2019s knee injury, which everyone knew about, as their tool to back out of the agreement.<\/p>\n

As far as the actual signings go, I like that Spytek went after young players who are getting their second NFL contracts and have high upside. Quay Walker is the best example of that, and Kwity Paye can be thrown into the same category. Those two certainly have some work to do to reach their full potential, but they\u2019re high-level athletes and former first-round picks who are worth betting on.<\/p>\n

I also love that Spytek wasn\u2019t afraid to back up the Brinks truck and didn\u2019t care about resetting the interior offensive line market to sign Tyler Linderbaum<\/a>. That\u2019s a massive upgrade to the offensive line, the Raiders\u2019 biggest weakness last year.<\/p>\n

On top of that, Nakobe Dean was someone I was hoping Las Vegas would target to improve the linebacker room. Of course, making sure Dean stays healthy will be a challenge, but he\u2019s a great player when on the field.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not a big fan of getting Taron Johnson since he\u2019s about to turn 30 and has been banged up over the last two years. But Johnson is basically on a one-year deal and is an upgrade over what the defense had at nickelback last season. So, I get the move, I\u2019d just continue to look at other options in the draft.<\/p>\n

While Paye has upside, I\u2019m not as bullish on him. He\u2019s a good run defender and could develop as a pass-rusher, but he\u2019s been in the league for five years and has never been someone who consistently gets pressure on the quarterback.<\/p>\n

Finally, Jalen Nailor is an underwhelming addition for me since he doesn\u2019t fill the \u201cWR1\u201d role that the offense needs. However, a lot of people whose opinions I respect seem to think Nailor can be more productive now that he\u2019s not competing for targets with Justin Jefferson. So maybe he can be a better addition than what originally meets the eye. I haven\u2019t gotten a chance to dive into Nailor\u2019s tape yet and will do that early next week, but S&BP\u2019s Marcus Johnson wrote about what the receiver brings to the table via the article below.<\/p>\n

Overall, I think Spytek has done a pretty good job and handled an adverse and complicated situation well. I respect the hell out of him for not backing out of any of the deals he agreed to on Monday after finding out that he\u2019s going to have $30 million less of cap space to work with the next day. Apparently, that\u2019s not a trait every NFL general manager has\u2026<\/p>\n

Q: Would you say Maxx is 100% a Raider for 2026?<\/p>\n

\"Maxx<\/a><\/p>\n

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 04: Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders looks on from the sidelines in the first quarter of a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n

A: I learned a long time ago to always expect the unexpected with the Raiders, and the Crosby situation is another not-so-subtle reminder of that. LOL! So, I\u2019m not going to say anything is 100 percent, but I definitely lean toward Maxx at least beginning next season in the Silver and Black. If he does get traded (again), I don\u2019t think it will happen anytime soon and will be closer to the draft at the least.<\/p>\n

Part of how the Ravens backing out screws the Raiders is that Sptek lost a ton of leverage. There are two fewer suitors since the Cowboys moved on by trading for Rashan Gary, and any other team is going to use Crosby\u2019s knee to lower the pricetag. If Spytek were to start working the phones right now, he\u2019d come across as desperate, and that ruins his negotiation leverage.<\/p>\n

At this point, I think it\u2019s best to keep Crosby on the roster and play the waiting game if there is any thought or interest in trading him. Maybe a contending team that needs an edge defender strikes out in free agency and\/or the draft and is willing to meet the pricetag. But it doesn\u2019t make sense for Spytek to just give Crosby away for pennies on the dollar, especially since he seems to be willing to play for the Raiders now<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A: The Raiders don\u2019t have that much cap space left over. As of Friday, Over The Cap<\/a> has them at $34 million, but that doesn\u2019t include Quay Walker\u2019s and Matt Gay\u2019s contracts, and OTC estimates that their draft class will take about $12.8 million<\/a>. Also, most general managers like to leave a little wiggle room for an emergency fund in case they need to sign someone during training camp or the regular season.<\/p>\n

So, it\u2019s definitely bargain-hunting time to fill the remaining holes on the roster: guard, right tackle, nose tackle, free safety and backup quarterback.<\/p>\n

At guard, former Browns Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller would be good options at this stage. The right tackle market was pretty weak heading into free agency, and it doesn\u2019t help that Jermaine Eluemunor and Braden Smith signed elsewhere. I\u2019d look into bringing in Jack Conklin or Jonah Williams to at least compete with DJ Glaze and Charles Grant for the starting job.<\/p>\n

For nose tackle, I think the Raiders are better off drafting someone and using the 36th pick for that spot. Free safety is kind of the same, another option at 36 or maybe later with the third- or fourth-rounders. The draft class is deep at both positions.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll touch on the backup quarterback situation more later, but it\u2019s looking like Kirk Cousins is the best option.<\/p>\n

Q: Assuming Maxx is locked in as his post implies, how do you see the edge rotation shaking out in the base 3-4? Is there a significant role for Tyree Wilson to try to justify his place in Vegas beyond 2026?<\/p>\n

A: Crosby is going to be the every-down standup outside linebacker\/edge, and I could see Paye being the first and second down guy on the other side, with Malcolm Koonce being used in pass-rush situations. Charles Snowden will be the backup run defender while Brennan Jackson is the emergency pass-rusher, barring someone else signing or getting drafted.<\/p>\n

Wilson should be the 3-4 defensive end, meaning anywhere from a 4i- to a 5-technique alignment. That\u2019s the type of role I thought he\u2019d be best in coming out of Texas Tech, so I\u2019m interested to see how he does this year. I think it\u2019s pretty much a foregone conclusion that the Raiders aren\u2019t picking up his fifth-year option, so it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if this is the 2023 first-round pick\u2019s last season in Vegas. But we\u2019ll see how the year plays out for him.<\/p>\n

Q: Do you think the Raiders\u2019 transactions listing Quay as an outside linebacker is true to where they are going to play him? If you do, do you think he has a better season than he did while on the Packers?<\/p>\n

A: I got the question about Walker moving to the edge a lot, and have been confused as to where it\u2019s coming from. Maybe the transaction log got updated, but this has him listed as an \u2018LB\u2019<\/a>, the same designation given to Dean.<\/p>\n

Typically, you want a standup outside linebacker to be about 250 pounds and have at least 33-inch arms. Walker is about 10 pounds too light and is nearly half an inch below the arm length threshold, so it\u2019s not like he fits the physical profile. Also, I didn\u2019t see any pass-rush moves that would translate to him playing on the edge when I watched his tape.<\/p>\n

I think Walker sticks at inside linebacker. He has good size, strength and athleticism at that spot; he just struggles with the mental part of the position. Reuniting him with Dean, who likely wears the green dot and takes on the responsibility of getting everyone lined up, can help take the thinking off Walker\u2019s plate and let his natural ability flourish. In my opinion, that\u2019s why those two were so good together at Georgia.<\/p>\n

Q: What\u2019s the Raiders\u2019 starting defense look like at the moment?<\/p>\n

A: Edge: Crosby and Paye, with Koonce being the designated pass-rusher<\/p>\n

NT: Draft pick (likely 36)<\/p>\n

DT\/DEs: Wilson and Jonah Laulu, with Tonka Hemingway competing for a spot<\/p>\n

CB: Eric Stokes and Darien Porter, with Johnson as the nickel<\/p>\n

S: Jermey Chinn and a draft pick<\/p>\n

Q: What do you think of the Kitty Paye signing, and where will he line up in the 3\/4? How does he compare to Boye Mafe, who signed for more money?<\/p>\n

\"BALTIMORE,<\/a><\/p>\n

BALTIMORE, MD – AUGUST 7: Kwity Paye #51 of the Indianapolis Colts runs around the edge during an NFL Preseason 2025 game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on August 7, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Logan Bowles\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n

A: My thoughts on Paye are above; a good run defender but an underwhelming pass rusher. Some people have asked about him playing the DE\/DT role, but those guys are typically 280 to 300 pounds, and he\u2019s about 260. Paye\u2019s also a better athlete than the fanbase seems to be giving him credit for. He\u2019s an edge in the 3-4 defense.<\/p>\n

Mafe is definitely the better player of the two. He\u2019s as good of a run defender and has had at least 40 pressures in each of the last three seasons, per Pro Football Focus<\/a>, while Paye has been under 40 every year<\/a>. That\u2019s why the former is making $4 million a year more.<\/p>\n

Q: Trusting Jackson Powers-Johnson (always hurt) and Caleb Rogers to be the starting guards seems dicey, no?<\/p>\n

A: I definitely agree with you and am surprised Spytek hasn\u2019t signed one more starting-caliber offensive lineman. Granted, that might have been in the plans until the salary cap situation changed on him\u2026<\/p>\n

If it doesn\u2019t happen by the time this publishes, I\u2019d like to see the Raiders bring in a veteran guard who can at least compete for a starting job to push JPJ and Rogers at some point next week. Either of the Browns guys mentioned above is a good option, in my opinion.<\/p>\n

Q: Will Jordan Meredith be brought back to compete at guard or be a reserve?<\/p>\n

A: We should get a firm answer in the next week or two. The Raiders placed the original round restricted free agent tender on Meredith (h\/t ESPN\u2019s Ryan McFadden<\/a>). Since he was undrafted, that basically just gives them the chance to match any offer he gets from another team. So, there\u2019s a decent chance Meredith is back in Las Vegas next season. And if he is, he\u2019ll be competing with Powers-Johnson and Rogers for one of the starting spots.<\/p>\n

Q: Do the Raiders end up finding a WR1 this year?<\/p>\n

A: Again, I\u2019ll never say anything is 100 percent when it comes to this franchise, but I\u2019m about 99.9 percent confident that Brock Bowers will be the closest the Raiders have to a \u201cWR1\u201d this year.<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t a good offseason to need a true No. 1 receiver, especially in Las Vegas\u2019 case, since Fernando Mendoza is probably already looking for a house in Summerlin. I still like my long-game idea of seeing how this season plays out and potentially going after Ohio State\u2019s Jeremiah Smith in next year\u2019s draft.<\/p>\n

Q: I have heard stories that the Raiders are interested in signing Kirk Cousins and letting Fernando come along slowly. Why wouldn\u2019t they sign a younger, familiar DC4 to mentor Mendoza? Makes more sense to me. Cousins is older and less mobile. Derek would be a great mentor to the young QB.<\/p>\n

A: For starters, the Saints still own Carr\u2019s rights, so the Raiders would have to give something up for him, while Cousins was released by the Falcons this week and is a free agent. Also, Carr recently said if he\u2019s going to come back and play, it\u2019d be for a contender<\/a>, and the Raiders are in a rebuilding year.<\/p>\n

On top of all that, if the organization is going to sign a quarterback to be a bridge gap and primarily serve as Mendoza\u2019s mentor, it wants as little attention on said player as possible. Adding Carr, who has a long history with the franchise, would be the opposite of that. It\u2019s almost better to sign someone who may not be as good a player. That way, if Mendoza struggles, there\u2019s not a bunch of outside noise about making a quarterback change.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Cousins has more experience working with Kubiak and in Kubiak\u2019s offense than Carr does, and he doesn\u2019t have a connection with the fanbase where people will call for him to start.<\/p>\n

Plus, Cousins has seen it all as a quarterback in the NFL. He began as a backup, earned the starting job, dealt with high-profile contract negotiations, has been a starter for several teams and coaches, and has even been benched. He\u2019s battle-tested and seen it all to be a good sounding board for a young QB.<\/p>\n

A: For clarity, I\u2019m assuming this is in reference to guys like Robert Spillane, Tre\u2019von Moehrig, etc. So, the 2024 and the 2025 offseason losses.<\/p>\n

Immediately better, no. I think Dean and Walker could eventually be better than Spillane, but the latter is the superior player right now. Granted, Dean could be better next season if he can stay healthy. Also, Las Vegas is still searching for the pass-rush production that K\u2019Lavon Chaisson gave them, hoping that Koonce returns to his 2023 form with another \u201cprove-it\u201d contract.<\/p>\n

At nickel, I could see Nate Hobbs and Johnson being a wash, especially since Hobbs continues to battle injuries and was bad for the Packers last season. Granted, Green Bay was playing him out of position. The Raiders haven\u2019t added a safety yet, so the void from Moehrig is still there. Same with nose tackle and John Jenkins.<\/p>\n

So, there\u2019s still some work to do, and Spytek has been targeting younger players who have more upside rather than established veterans. But the team wasn\u2019t going to get completely fixed in one offseason, and the goal this spring should be to get younger and build for the future, which Spytek has done so far.<\/p>\n

A: Someone replied \u201cquarterback\u201d to this question, and that gave me a good laugh. Technically, that\u2019s true since Aidan O\u2019Connell is the only one left on the roster. But, as mentioned above, we all know it\u2019s just a matter of time until Mendoza is holding up a silver and black jersey.<\/p>\n

The weakest part of the offense is right tackle, with guard being a close second and wide receiver not too far behind.<\/p>\n

I go with right tackle over guard because I\u2019m worried about Glaze being the starter again, and we\u2019ve seen more from Rogers than Grant so far. So, I\u2019m not confident about either spot right now, but I have more reason to believe in Rogers than any of the other question marks. A similar statement could be made about the receivers, where Jack Bech, Tre Tucker or Nailor could break out this season, but none are proven commodities at this point.<\/p>\n

That\u2019ll do it for this week\u2019s mailbag. Thank you all for submitting questions and, as your weekly reminder, if you\u2019d like to have your questions answered in a future column, tweet them at me, @MHolder95<\/a>, email them to SBPQuestions1@gmail.com<\/a> or look for our weekly call for questions on the site. The latter will continue to publish on Thursdays.<\/p>\n