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The Las Vegas Raiders showed financial strength on the first day of the NFL’s legal tampering period.
The Raiders came in with a record $111.91 million when the legal tampering period opened Monday, and they wasted no time revamping their roster in a variety of ways, including striking a record deal.
Center Tyler Linderbaum was perhaps the best offensive lineman available on the market, and the former Baltimore Ravens first-round pick is headed to Sin City after agreeing to terms on a three-year, $81 million contract with $60 million guaranteed. He is now the highest-paid interior offensive lineman in NFL history, according to ESPN.
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Tyler Linderbaum of the Baltimore Ravens looks on before the game against the New England Patriots at M&T Bank Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Linderbaum, 25, established himself as one of the league’s best centers coming out of Iowa, providing a steady presence handing the ball to two-time league MVP Lamar Jackson while in Baltimore.
But with John Harbaugh parting ways, making way for the hiring of head coach Jesse Minter, Linderbaum’s return to the Ravens was never a done deal. He was expected to get a big, long-term contract somewhere in the NFL, but Las Vegas, a team that struggled on the offensive line throughout last season, made the move to the AFC West worth it.
But it wasn’t just Linderbaum. Players from all over were lured to the Raiders, who opened the coffers to sign key free agents, including linebackers Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean.
Dean agreed to terms before Walker, as the former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker is set to make $36 million, including $20 million guaranteed. But Walker ultimately got more: a three-year, $40.5 million deal, including $28 million guaranteed, according to his agents.
Walker, a first-round pick of the Green Bay Packers in the 2022 NFL Draft, is coming off a career year, having collected 128 tackles to help a strong defensive group in Green Bay. He is a stalwart tackler, scoring at least 100 in each of his first four seasons. Only one Packers player since 1975 has achieved this.
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean (17) reacts after sacking Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Philadelphia. (Matt Slocum/AP Photo/)
As for Dean, the 25-year-old Georgia product has 226 total tackles in 47 games with the Eagles, including 7.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and 19 tackles for loss.
Staying on the defensive side, Kwity Paye bolsters the interior line, as the Indianapolis Colts’ 2021 first-round pick came to terms on a deal worth $48 million over three years with $32 million in guaranteed money. Paye is known for his ability in run defense, doing a great job of giving his defense the edge to secure short gains.
Cornerback Eric Stokes (three years, $30 million) and defensive end Malcom Koonce (one year, $11 million) also return to the Raiders, creating an even bigger defensive reinforcement on the roster.
Finally, the offensive passing game received a sneaky upgrade, as former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor agreed to terms on a $35 million deal, with $23 million guaranteed over three years as well.
November 27, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; Green Bay Packers linebacker Quay Walker (7) comes out of the tunnel for action against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. (Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports)
The Raiders may not be done with their spending spree yet, as they have more room to work with. They also have the first overall pick in next month’s NFL Draft, where they are expected to take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza to begin a new era under head coach Klint Kubiak, who is coming off a Super Bowl title with the Seattle Seahawks.
In a tough AFC West division, it feels like the Raiders are ready to turn things around, hoping to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2021. Las Vegas has a combined record of 7-27 since 2024.
