The Las Vegas Raiders are clearing up some salary cap space before the start of free agency. It has already been reported that quarterback Geno Smith is going to get cut, which will save $8 million in salary cap.
The Raiders are also moving on from another key addition from last offseason. The team announced that offensive guard Alex Cappa has been cut.
Cappa was the first signing that general manager John Spytek made after getting the job. Despite the fact that he’s had success in the past, it has been a few years since he was a capable starter.
The Raiders gave him plenty of chances last season. He played in all 17 games, starting eight of them. The good news is that most of his guarantees are already up. Cutting him only saddles the team with a $1 million dead cap hit, but it clears up $6 million.
That will add to the Raiders’ ample cap space, which they are expected to use to address the offensive line. Cappa is 31 now, so it remains to be seen if he’ll continue playing. He has played 119 games in his career, so he could have value as a depth piece for a team. This further reinforces that the Raiders are embracing youth.
Raiders Expected to Pursue Tyler Linderbaum
With so much salary cap space, the Raiders have to be big spenders in free agency. The most obvious fit is Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum.
He’s going to cost a ton. There are a lot of teams around the NFL that are interested in him. However, most of those teams can’t afford to pay Linderbaum as much as the Raiders can. Levi Edwards of Raiders.com discussed Linderbaum as a fit in Las Vegas.
“Signing the Baltimore Ravens center would be like, all pun intended, hitting jackpot for a Raiders offense in dire need of improvement,” Edwards wrote. “Lindenbaum has yet to turn 26 years old and has already been selected to three consecutive Pro Bowls since being drafted in 2022. He’s only missed two games in his career to date, and earned a 0.9 percent sack rate in 509 pass blocking snaps in 2025, per Next Gen Stats.
“Considering he’s already protected for two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson, his experience could make a seismic impact. Linderbaum has also proven he can excel in a zone blocking scheme, an offense that Kubiak has adapted dating back to his days under Kyle Shanahan and his father Gary Kubiak.”
Could Raiders Try to Develop Young OL?
Signing Linderbaum would be a no-brainer. The Raiders need a center, and adding a proven veteran like Linderbaum allows the team to put Jackson Powers-Johnson at guard.
Now, the Raiders should want an upgrade at the other guard spot and right tackle. That said, Caleb Rogers and Charles Grant showed some flashes last year, and the team could want to see what they could do with a bigger opportunity.
This isn’t a great free agent offensive line class outside of Linderbaum, so the Raiders may not feel excited about spending too much money on other positions outside of center.
Raiders Cut Ties With $11 Million Veteran Who Started 8 Games in 2025