LAS VEGAS - By the time the Raiders got onto the field just after 7:30 a.m. PT, it was already 96 degrees.
The heat was one thing. The more interesting part was what showed up in practice: a handful of early camp clues about where this roster is headed.
The biggest one centers on first pick overall Fernando Mendoza, who has apparently done everything the team could have wanted away from the field. He’s living in the building, and by all accounts he’s been relentless about the work. On the field, he’s currently working mostly with the second team, though he has a chance to push for first-team reps in the next couple weeks.
What stands out early is a trait he carried over from college - what was described as “proprioceptive feel” (yes, I had to look up the spelling). In plain football terms, it means he can sense the rush and understand where his outlets are when all five eligibles are out.
That kind of feel can’t be taught. Neither can the way he responds after mistakes; in Sunday’s practice, he threw a pick six and then came right back the next snap and ripped one down the seam.
Mendoza is still a rookie, and there’s no hiding that. Kirk Cousins is still clearly the best quarterback in Klint Kubiak’s offense, and Mendoza still has plenty to learn, including how to operate under center and with his back to the ball.
Whether he plays this year is still an open question. In my mind, that comes down to two things: whether he’s ready, and whether the team is ready to support him.
The Raiders do have some real foundational pieces around him. Tight end Brock Bowers, running back Ashton Jeanty and tackle Kolton Miller are giving the team exactly what it needs from its best players, and all three have looked strong coming back from injury.
Jeanty, in particular, has trimmed down to 207 pounds after changing his diet, and he’s showing explosion and violence as a runner even without pads. If that carries over, he could be a major piece of what Kubiak wants to build on the ground.
Center Tyler Linderbaum belongs in that group too. His athleticism and range fit the offense, and his intelligence in making calls should help the whole operation - especially later on if Mendoza ends up playing. He isn’t the loudest guy in the room, but he’s already earned a reputation internally for doing everything right.
That said, there’s still plenty to sort out on offense. Right guard is unsettled, assuming 49ers import Spencer Burford locks down the left guard spot. That leaves Jackson Powers-Johnson and Caleb Rogers in the mix on the other side.
Receiver is another spot worth watching. Free agent addition Jalen “Speedy” Nailor brings a useful element, and sixth-round pick Malik Benson is making his case with a bunch of plays, strong work habits and a chip on his shoulder.
Defensively, the front seven should be improved, with Quay Walker, Nakobe Dean and Kwity Paye giving Maxx Crosby more help - Paye opposite him and Walker and Dean behind him. How much better that group becomes may hinge on what happens inside, where the Raiders are still dealing with some of the fallout from the Christian Wilkins saga last year.
One name to keep an eye on there is 2025 fourth-round pick Tonka Hemingway. He’s flashing the kind of natural athleticism that had South Carolina coaches and teammates talking to NFL people a couple years ago, and he looks like he could develop into a real force at 3-technique.
In the secondary, the Raiders like the intelligence and knowhow of safeties Jeremy Chinn and Isaiah Palo-Mao, and cornerbacks Eric Stokes and Taron Johnson, both from Buffalo, have had solid offseasons. That leaves right corner as another key battle.
Second-year corner Darien Porter is fighting two rookies for the job. Fourth-round pick Jermod McCoy might have been the first corner selected in April if not for a degenerative knee condition, but he made it through the spring and now four camp practices without needing a day off to manage it. The bigger surprise so far has been fifth-round pick Hezekiah Masses, who has pushed himself into the competition.
That kind of emergence matters for this team. With flashes from Benson and Hemingway as well, the Raiders have reasons to believe they’re finding and developing young talent - something Kubiak and GM John Spytek need to keep doing as camp moves along.
In Other News...
Raiders Receiver Battle Just Got More Complicated For Dont'e Thornton
The fourth day of Raiders training camp brought another look at an offense still sorting through its pieces, with the staff spending time on specific game plans and quarterbacks under the microscope. Mendoza had a rough practice, capped by an interception returned for a touchdown, while veteran Kirk Cousins continues to be part of the quarterback conversation as the team works through its early camp evaluation.
For Dont'e Thornton, the day added another layer to a receiver battle that was already going to be competitive. He has the size and upside to keep in the mix, but camp moments like this matter, especially when the Raiders are trying to narrow down roles and build consistency. He still has time to develop, yet practices like this one are reminders that every rep is being watched closely. [Read more 🡒]
Jackson Powers-Johnson Gets A Defining Raiders Chance He Can't Waste
Jackson Powers-Johnson enters this season at a pivotal point in his young Raiders career, with the team still trying to sort out what his best role looks like after injuries and coaching changes slowed his development. The upside has always been clear, and Las Vegas has continued to view him as a lineman worth investing in as it reshapes the interior of the offensive line.
John Spytek has backed that belief publicly, and the next step is for Powers-Johnson to turn that support into a job he can keep. He is in the mix at right guard and will have to win the competition for the spot, with the Raiders asking him to show the consistency and reliability that were harder to establish during the turmoil around him. [Read more 🡒]