NFL free agency: Raiders spend big with record contracts on day one

The Las Vegas Raiders showed off their financial might on the first day of the NFL’s legal tampering era.

The Raiders came in at a league-high $111.91 million when the legal tampering period began on Monday, and they wasted no time in revamping their roster in multiple ways, including finalizing a record-breaking deal.

Center Tyler Linderbaum was perhaps the best offensive lineman 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 deal with $60 million guaranteed. He is currently the highest-paid interior offensive lineman in NFL history. per ESPN.

CLICK HERE TO GET MORE SPORTS NEWS ON FOXNEWS.COM

Linderbaum, 25, established himself as one of the league’s best centers coming out of Iowa and was a steady presence in Baltimore, getting the ball to two-time league MVP Lamar Jackson.

But Linderbaum’s return to the Ravens was never a done deal, as John Harbaugh parted ways, leading to the hiring of head coach Jesse Minter. He was expected to land a big long-term deal in the NFL, but Las Vegas, a team that struggled on the offensive line throughout last season, was worth the move to the AFC West.

But it wasn’t just Linderbaum. Players from all over have been enticed by the Raiders, who have opened the vaults for key free-agent additions including linebackers Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean.

He agreed to terms before Dean Walker, as the former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker was scheduled to make $36 million, with $20 million guaranteed. But Walker ended up getting more: a deal worth $40.5 million over three years, with $28 million guaranteed, according to his agents.

Walker, the first-round pick of the Green Bay Packers in the 2022 NFL Draft, is coming off a career year, making 128 tackles to help a solid defensive group in Green Bay. He is a reliable tackler and scored at least 100 points in each of his first four seasons. Only one Packers player has accomplished that feat since 1975.

Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean (17) reacts after sacking Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff during the second half of an NFL football game in Philadelphia, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (Matt Slocum/AP Photo/)

As for Dean, the 25-year-old Georgia product totaled 226 tackles in 47 games with the Eagles, including 7.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and 19 tackles for loss.

Defensive end Kwity Paye bolsters the interior line as he signed the Indianapolis Colts’ 2021 first-round pick worth $48 million over three years with $32 million in guaranteed money. Paye is known for his ability in run defense and does a great job of setting the boundaries of his defense to create short gains.

Cornerback Eric Stokes (three years, $30 million) and defensive end Malcom Koonce (one year, $11 million) also return to the Raiders, creating even more defensive reinforcements on the roster.

Finally, the offensive passing game got a sneaky upgrade when former Minnesota Vikings receiver Jalen Nailor agreed to a $35 million deal with $23 million guaranteed over three years.

November 27, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker Quay Walker (7) comes out of the tunnel to tackle the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. (Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports)

CLICK TO REACH THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION

The Raiders’ spending spree may not be over yet because they have more cap space to work with. They also have the first overall pick in next month’s NFL Draft, where they are expected to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza to begin a new era under head coach Klint Kubiak, who is fresh off a Super Bowl title with the Seattle Seahawks.

In the tough AFC West division, the Raiders appear poised to turn the tide, hoping to make the playoffs for the first time since 2021. Las Vegas is 7-27 overall since 2024.

Follow Fox News Digital Sports streaming on X and subscribe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.