Winners and losers after Raiders' first wave of free agency: Vegas helped and hurt some players already on the roster

The Las Vegas Raiders spent some good money in free agency. With these acquisitions, we now have a clearer view of how the roster is shaping up for 2026, as well as which needs remain for the 2026 NFL Draft.

We can now see which current players benefit from these moves and which do not. In this business, we call them winners and losers. Who are the winners and losers from the first wave of free agency? These are all players already on the roster.

Raiders winners and losers

Winner: CB Darien Porter

The second-year cornerback didn’t have the best rookie season, which was expected. He only recently switched to defense and has more work to do. He benefits because the Raiders brought back Eric Stokes, a veteran and perfect teacher. Stokes has experienced being a high draft pick who didn't start his career as well as he hoped. Keeping continuity around Porter is smart.

Loser: OLB Malcolm Koonce

This is a loss for Koonce because he likely hoped to make more in free agency. Instead, he returns to the Raiders on another one-year deal, which keeps his future uncertain. Koonce probably wanted a longer-term deal elsewhere. This will likely be yet another prove it year for Koonce.

Winner: RB Ashton Jeanty

Adding Tyler Linderbaum should open up Jeanty’s run game. Linderbaum’s run blocking is among the best, though he’s also strong in pass protection. Last year, he had nearly 1,000 blocking snaps with only 17 blown blocks—just six in the run game, per Sports Info Solutions. He stands out for his ability to reach the second level and handle defenders. His football IQ in the run game will further benefit Jeanty.