Raiders cap space if notable defenders re-sign Silver And Black Pride

The Las Vegas Raiders are currently projected to enter the 2025 offseason with the second-most cap space in the NFL at about $92.5 million, per Over The Cap.

However, what makes that number somewhat deceiving is that the Raiders have eight significant defensive players whose contracts are about to expire: safeties Tre’von Moehrig and Marcus Epps, linebackers Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo, cornerback Nate Hobbs, defensive end Malcolm Koonce, and defensive tackles Adam Butler and John Jenkins.

In a recent mailbag column, a Silver and Black Pride community member asked how much cap space would be left if all eight defenders above get re-signed. While it’s unlikely that the Raiders will retain all the guys mentioned above, it’s an interesting experiment that could give us a good example of how much funds it would take for the club to add several starters or key players in free agency.

Projection: $15 million per year

OTC’s valuation model (which is based on production) placed Moehrig at about $6.5 million last year. However, that’s likely going to be several million short of what he’ll get this offseason as it would rank 25th among safeties currently. A more realistic number would be around $15 million per year as that would rank sixth at the position before fellow pending free agents Justin Reid and Jevon Holland get new deals.

Robert Spillane

Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Projection: $9.5 million per year

This time, OTC’s model feels pretty spot on. Spillane’s 2024 production was worth just under $9.5 million which would place him as the 11th-highest-paid linebacker annually in the current market. The 29-year-old finished third in the league with 158 total tackles last season, so that figure feels fairly accurate.

Malcolm Koonce

Projection: $18.75 million per year

Koonce’s contract is difficult to project since he’s coming off an injury and didn’t play last fall. Pro Football Focus has him slated to make $18.75 million which feels a little high, but pass-rushers typically get paid well in the offseason and that would rank 16th among current edge rushers. So, we’ll keep that figure to avoid undervaluing Koonce.

Nate Hobbs

Projection: $8 million per year

Taron Johnson, the Buffalo Bills’ nickel corner, got an extension worth $10.25 million last season. Primarily due to his struggles staying on the field in recent years, isn’t quite the same player Johnson is. But the 2021 fifth-round pick is still a quality slot corner to justify a generous raise.

Divine Deablo

Projection: $5.5 million per year

Deablo’s contract shouldn’t be too expensive as OTC’s model had him at about $2.75 million last year. Doubling that figure would put him in the solid starting linebacker range, sandwiched between Alex Singleton ($6 million) of the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots’ Jahlani Tavai ($5.33 million).

Adam Butler

Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images

Projection: $6 million per year

Butler is coming off a career year that OTC valued at over $8.1 million. However, he does turn 31 years old in April which should bring his number down on the open market. At $6 million, he’d be on the lower end of veteran starting defensive tackles.

Marcus Epps

Projection: $4.5 million per year

Another player who missed the majority of the season with an injury, Epps is also difficult to project. He made $6 million per year on his previous contract and turns 29 next week. So, $4.5 million feels about right as that’s what Jimmie Ward (who turns 34 this summer) is making with the Houston Texans.

John Jenkins

Projection: $3 million per year

To be honest, it’s hard to see Jenkins re-signing. He turns 36 in the offseason and regressed in 2024, making him expendable and it wouldn’t be surprising if the well-tenured veteran retires. But for the sake of this exercise, we’ll say he gets a $250k pay raise from last season.

Cap Space

Remaining cap space: $22.25 million

Retaining the defenders above would cost $70.25 million using these figures. In theory, that would mean it is feasible for the Raiders to re-sign several key defenders and still have some cash left over to address the other side of the ball. Also, the organization can create even more cap space by moving on from players like Gardner Minshew and Andre James.

For comparison’s sake, $22.25 million would rank 19th in the NFL with the current cap figures.