Raiders Cut Starters Add Former Seahawks, Eagles Players

The Las Vegas Raiders have been actively reshaping their roster ahead of the 2025 NFL season, focusing on bolstering both their offense and defense with players familiar to head coach Pete Carroll. They acquired Kenny Pickett, a quarterback previously with the Eagles, and claimed safety Tristin McCollum off waivers from the same Super Bowl champion team, while waiving former starting safety Thomas Harper. Offensive tackle Stone Forsythe, who started for the Seahawks under Carroll, also joined the Raiders after being released by the Giants. Despite these moves, the Raiders continue to struggle with their cornerback situation, lacking a clear starter opposite Eric Stokes and relying on a rotation including rookie Darien Porter and Kyu Blu Kelly, while former top cornerback Jakorian Bennett found success after leaving the team. The team made significant defensive changes by bringing in veterans like Jeremy Chinn, Lonnie Johnson Jr., and Jamal Adams but still faces challenges in the secondary, with speculation about potentially adding veteran cornerback Shaquill Griffin, another Carroll protégé recently released by the Seahawks. General Manager John Spytek emphasized the importance of solidifying the quarterback position and managing injuries, such as placing Aidan O’Connell on injured reserve, as the Raiders prepare for the upcoming season.