One of the best draft picks the Las Vegas Raiders have made in recent years was selecting cornerback Nate Hobbs in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He’s started 31 games for the team in three seasons and has emerged as one of the best nickel cornerbacks in the NFL.
Hobbs is entering the final year of his contract and it’s unlikely the Raiders will allow him to become a free agent. When asked which players could get a contract extension this offseason, The Athletic’s Vic Tafur offered some insight.
“I think [Nate Hobbs] is a lock. And [Robert] Spillane. Malcolm Koonce earned an extension as well,” Tafur wrote in a March 29 mailbag.
Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II just earned a contract as the highest-paid nickel cornerback in the NFL, worth $10 million a season. It’s unlikely that Hobbs will receive that much money but he could feasibly receive around $8 million annually. He’s also been asked to play on the outside in the past, where cornerbacks earn more money. That could affect his final asking price, but it’s unlikely he will make more than Moore. Regardless, the Raiders should be motivated to pay Hobbs this offseason before his price increases.
Robert Spillane Extension?
Vic Tafur also mentioned that linebacker Robert Spillane could be a lock for a new contract. The Raiders just signed him last offseason but only gave him a two-year contract so he’s on an expiring deal. He outperformed expectations in a major way last season.
Spillane led the team with 148 combined tackles while also catching three interceptions and recording 2.0 sacks. He was a versatile impact player for the Raiders last season and arguably the best linebacker they’ve had in years. Spillane is only making $3.5 million a year on his current contract and is likely in line for a significant pay raise, especially if he plays well again in 2024.
He’s not enough of a pass rusher to command a massive contract, but he should get closer to $10 million a year on his next deal. The Raiders may also want to let him play out his contract just to ensure that his breakout in 2023 wasn’t an anomaly.
Is It Too Early to Pay Malcolm Koonce?
Malcolm Koonce was the third player whom Vic Tafur mentioned could be in line for an extension. The young defensive end is a little bit more difficult to make a decision on. He was essentially non-existent his first two years in the league as he combined for just 2.0 sacks.
However, he was very impressive in 2023 and recorded 8.0 sacks – 6.0 of which came in the final four games. Koonce appears to be an ascending player, and the Raiders retained much of their defensive coaching staff, so there’s no reason to believe there will be a drop in performance.
Deciding on a possible extension is one of the toughest choices for the Raiders this offseason. If Koonce excels in 2024 and exceeds the 8.0 sacks he had in 2023, he’s going to get a substantial contract. Currently, his price would likely still be relatively low, but it’s still risky to extend him. If the Raiders do decide to give him an extension, that will be a strong sign that they believe his best football is ahead of him.
