Shane Buechele
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Thomas Booker hitting Shane Buechele.
The Las Vegas Raiders have been among the biggest spenders in free agency so far, but there’s still plenty of money left to spend. Though the team was bad last season, the defense showed signs of life at times.
Defensive tackle is a significant need, but the Raiders like a player they acquired last year. When the team had to cut Christian Wilkins last offseason, they decided to swing a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles for Thomas Booker.
He played all 17 games for the Raiders in 2025, starting 13 of them. He’s not much of a pass rusher, but he’s a solid run defender. He was set to be a free agent this offseason, but it looks like the Raiders want him back.
According to Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap, Las Vegas has used the original round restricted free agent tender on Booker. That means if another team wants to sign him, they’re going to have to send the Raiders a fifth-round pick.
This is a wise move for the team to make. Either they get a fifth-round pick, or they get to keep Booker for another season. Defensive coordinator Rob Leonard coached Booker as the team’s defensive line coach last season, so he could be eager to work with him again.
Jordan Meredith Also Tendered
The Raiders are also tendering another player. Offensive lineman Jordan Meredith is getting a standard restricted free agent tender, per Fitzgerald.
Since he was an undrafted free agent, the Raiders don’t get anything if he signs elsewhere, but they do have the right of first refusal. Meredith isn’t going to be a hot free agent, so he’ll likely be back in Las Vegas.
He previously showed promise at guard during the 2024 season, but the new coaching staff decided to put him at center. That didn’t work, and he struggled mightily. Tyler Linderbaum is going to be the team’s center going forward, so the Raiders likely see Meredith as a guard.
Perhaps he could even have a chance to compete for a starting job next season. When he wasn’t playing out of position. Meredith looked like a solid player.
Raiders Defended Over Linderbaum Contract
There were some criticisms over the Raiders spending so much money on Linderbaum. They made him the highest-paid interior offensive lineman ever.
The team wouldn’t have spent so much if they weren’t bidding against other franchises, but not everybody was on board with how much they spent. However, The Athletic’s Ted Nguyen understands why the move had to be made.
“The price was hefty, but this was a position that new head coach Klint Kubiak values more than most,” Nguyen wrote. “A great center is vital in an outside-zone blocking scheme because most runs will cut vertically or back. Also, in his system, the center makes the protection calls, mike checks, and run-blocking adjustments. Linderbaum has ample experience doing those things. He’ll bolster the run game and make presumed first pick Fernando Mendoza’s life a lot easier. The overpay was an investment in making sure the rookie quarterback has a strong ecosystem to step into.”