Raiders Mailbag: Key discussions on strengthening the secondary and running game before free agency
“Are they planning on re-signing Moehrig and Spillane?”
With free agency set to begin next week, the Raiders are placing equal importance on retaining their current players and bringing in new talent. In the past two weeks, they have re-signed safety Isaiah Pola-Mao and secured a multi-year extension for star edge rusher Maxx Crosby.
The team will likely aim to retain Tre’von Moehrig and Robert Spillane, given their success under defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, though nothing is guaranteed.
General Manager John Spytek emphasized the importance of keeping talented players, particularly younger ones, stating, “we don’t want to let any good players walk out of our building.” Ultimately, how many they can keep remains to be seen.
Spillane, linebacker and team captain over the last two seasons, was tied for third in the league in total tackles (154) in 2024 plus added 10 tackles for loss and two interceptions. Moehrig finished the season with 64 solo tackles, 10 pass deflections and two interceptions. He’s currently ranked No. 22 on NFL.com’s Top 101 Free Agents list.
“Sign Jevon Holland in free agency and then draft Ashton Jeanty at 6 and Jalen Milroe in the second round.” Said Jacob Jefferson.
Jacob might be cooking with this one.
Jevon Holland has been one of the best young safeties in the league since being drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 2021. He’s totaled at least 40 solo tackles in each of his four seasons, along with five career interceptions and five sacks. If the Raiders do indeed re-sign Tre’von Moehrig or Marcus Epps, the path to Holland would be more difficult. However, Holland’s game would allow him to excel at strong or free safety and be the perfect fit in Patrick Graham’s system.
As for Ashton Jeanty, mock drafts have been predicting him to become a Raider for weeks now. The Boise State running back also said he had an enjoyable meeting with Pete Carroll and company at the NFL Combine. The Heisman Trophy finalist was arguably the most explosive running back in the nation with 29 rushing touchdowns his junior season.
“I think there’s a lot of really good players at that position,” Spytek said at the Combine. “And I think it’s a really critical position as well. I mean, you saw what the Eagles did this year, right? Saquon [Barkley] is a different animal, but the emphasis on the run game and the physicality that comes with it. And for running backs, I think people get really caught up on speed, which is great. If you can find Chris Johnson that runs 4.28 or whatever he ran, and nobody can catch him, awesome. But to me, it’s more about the guys that have great instincts, great vision, that are hard to get on the ground.”
Alabama’s Jalen Milroe would also benefit the ground game as he’s labeled as one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in this draft class. Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly has also found great success revolving his system around dual-threat quarterbacks in his college and NFL coaching career – including Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota, Michael Vick, Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Will Howard, who’s also draft eligible this year.
Gavin Kevin from California asks:
“Do the Raiders have any interest in drafting Tyler Warren to pair with Brock Bowers & Michael Mayer in order to create matchup nightmares for opposing defenses?”
Realistically speaking, there’s a close to impossible chance of this happening in my opinion especially after the season Brock Bowers had. But let’s have some fun for a minute, Gavin.
Watching the way Penn State used Warren at H-back is almost identical to the way Bowers was used at Georgia and with the Raiders. The two tight ends have a lot of similarities with their ability to break open on routes and also do damage out the backfield. The Nittany Lions All-American finishing with 1,233 receiving yards on 104 catches and 12 total touchdowns his senior season. While I’d consider Bowers a more polished pass catcher coming out a college last season, I’d argue Warren is a more punishing run blocker.
