Raiders' Top Contract Extension Priorities Entering Training Camp

Contract extensions are an oft-overlooked aspect of roster building in the league. As Tom Telesco wraps up his first offseason as the Las Vegas Raiders general manager, identifying who should get an extension and when will be critical.

Handing out new contracts can be a tricky game. Wait to long to lock up an ascending player and you could wind up paying for it. The markets for players are rising across the league along with an ever-increasing salary cap.

But locking up a player too early could be a mistake too. Many bad contracts you see in the league right now are the result of a franchise handing a player a massive extension before they actually did enough to earn it.

That makes training camp a good time to stop and take stock of who could be up for a contract extension before the season starts, who the team might want to extend during the season and who they should wait until the 2025 offseason.

Let's break down their top three contract extension candidates heading into training camp.

3. LB Robert Spillane

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Robert Spillane

Robert Spillane's inclusion on this list has more to do with continuing to build on the culture and success this team had under Antonio Pierce last season. Pierce was promoted from linebacker coach to interim head coach so he has worked closely with Spillane since he came over to Vegas last season.

It's been a mutually beneficial pairing. Pierce has obviously ascended to the position of full-time head coach while Spillane has practically transformed as a player.

Spillane spent four years with the Pittsburgh Steelers and was never more than a spot-starter and special teamer. He made 16 starts over four seasons and posted 191 tackles and one interception.

In just one season with the Raiders he started all 17 games, had three interceptions to go with 3.5 sacks and racked up 148 combined tackles.

It isn't likely that Spillane would see big dollars if he hits the open market in 2025. He'll be heading into his age-30 season with just two years of production at a devalued position if he is able to repeat his 2023 success.

That puts a little less pressure on the Raiders to get a deal done before, during or after camp. It's good to develop a reputation as a franchise that rewards players for outperforming their contracts, but this is a case where the Raiders are likely to bring the player back regardless of when it happens.

2. CB Nate Hobbs

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Nate Hobbs

If Nate Hobbs were able to build on his impressive rookie season there's a chance that he would have already been extended. After all, the Raiders are clearly still building their secondary and the 25-year-old allowed just 6.4 yards per target.

However, he's dealt with some injury issues since then, playing in 13 games last season and just 11 in 2022. He struggled to adjust to playing on the outside more in 2022 when he was healthy, giving up a passer rating of 120.2 with five touchdowns allowed.

Hobbs did rebound in 2023. When he was healthy he allowed just 6.2 yards per target and gave up a 69.9 percent completion percentage which was even better than his rookie season.

The only drawback for Hobbs is that he seems to have proven that he's best utilized in the slot. That skillset obviously goes for less on the open market than outside corners.

But that's not necessarily a bad thing in terms of giving him an early extension. The Raiders are at a point where they just need some continuity and long-term answers in the secondary.

Making Hobbs the long-term nickel corner with a sensical extension should be a priority in that regard.

1. Edge Malcolm Koonce

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Malcolm Koonce

Malcolm Koonce is a perfect example of how difficult the right timing can be for a contract extension. The 26-year-old plays a premium position and emerged as a highly productive sidekick for Maxx Crosby on the defensive line last season.

Koonce was an afterthought in the first two years of his career. He played just five games as a rookie, picking up two sacks. He followed that up by playing in all 17 games in his second season but registering no sacks and nine tackles.

Then he exploded in Year 3 with eight sacks. More accurately, he broke through at the end of the season with six sacks over the final four games. He was one of the most improved players once Antonio Pierce took the reins as interim head coach.

Thus, the Raiders have a contract conundrum.

Koonce is set to play the final season of his rookie contract for $1.6 million this season. If he goes out and builds on that season with double-digit sacks, his price will skyrocket. However, extending him now could leave open the possibility that his four-game stretch of dominance was a mirage.

Ultimately, the value for an extension now would be hard for both sides to agree on. It's more realistic that both sides would like to see what Koonce can do this season before coming to an agreement next offseason.

So while he's No. 1 on this list, it really goes to show that Telesco doesn't need to be handing out any extensions right now.