The Raiders head into 2026 with plenty still to sort out, but at tight end, the picture is much clearer. Las Vegas has spent the past few seasons assembling one of the NFL’s strongest groups there, with Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer leading the way. The problem has been turning that talent into consistent production, especially with the constant coaching turnover that has followed Mayer through the first part of his career.
Now, though, Mayer looks set up for his best shot yet.
A new staff has spent camp and the offseason building around the roster changes in place, and Mayer has been a clear part of the offensive plan. Even if the ball doesn’t come his way on every snap, the Raiders have made it obvious that he matters in how this offense is supposed to function.
That’s a big shift for a player who has had to deal with instability around him since entering the league. But Mayer isn’t putting the focus anywhere except on himself.
“I think it's on me though. I need to be ready.
I need to know the offense like the back of my hand, and I need to keep my head down and I need to work. I know there's going to be mistakes, I can't let mistakes ruin the day," Mayer said after training camp.
"I can't let them ruin the rep, I can't let them ruin the period. I've got to move on, mistakes happen.
So I'm very, very excited for this season. I just need to keep working hard, keep my head down, and good things are going to happen.
Really good things are going to happen."
That mindset matters because the Raiders’ offense under Klint Kubiak is built to spread the work around and keep every pass-catching option live on any given play. In that kind of setup, Mayer should have chances to find space and be one of the dependable targets the offense needs.
The committee approach also plays right into his opportunity. With more options around him, Mayer doesn’t have to carry the entire load - he just has to be one of the players who makes the system go.
He’s buying into what he’s seen so far.
“I really love this offense, I really love Klint [Kubiak]. I really love Luke Steckel, the tight ends coach, it's year three for him here.
When I heard he was coming back, I was very delighted. I love that man to death, and he knows how to coach,” Mayer said.
“He's one hell of a coach, and it's just about being comfortable, being the type of player that I can be, and going out there and showing people. But Steck [Luke Steckel] gets me right. Klint's done a fantastic job, and really, it's about me putting the best version of myself out there and doing anything I can."
There’s also the contract piece. Mayer is in the final season of his deal, which leaves his future in Las Vegas unresolved. But this year gives him the clearest path he’s had to make his case since he arrived.
What happens next could decide whether he stays with the Raiders or lands somewhere else. Either way, 2026 feels like the season that will define his direction.
The Raiders have done their part to create the opening. Now Mayer has to walk through it.
In Other News...
Raiders Send Maxx Crosby A Message After Camp Line Was Crossed
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Kubiaks decision to pull both players from Saturdays session underlined the point the Raiders wanted to make: accountability applies no matter the name on the back of the jersey. Crosby and Cousins were involved in the kind of short-lived confrontation that can happen in camp, but the equal punishment makes clear the team was more interested in reinforcing standards than letting the matter linger. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders QB Battle Just Got More Complicated For Kirk Cousins
The Raiders quarterback competition has taken another turn as training camp rolls on, with Klint Kubiak making clear that Kirk Cousins, Fernando Mendoza and Aidan OConnell are all being prepared to play. The head coachs comments suggest the team is keeping the door open on multiple options, and they also underline how much of this battle is still about evaluation rather than a settled depth chart.
Cousins has handled all of the first-team reps so far, but Kubiak still has not named a starter. Mendozas progress has drawn enough attention that the rookie is being treated as ready to handle NFL responsibilities, even as Kubiak noted how hard it can be for first-year players to adjust to the league. For now, the Raiders are still sorting through the picture, and the most important decision in the room remains unfinished. [Read more 🡒]
Maxx Crosby Just Put Raiders Camp Intensity In The Spotlight
Training camp can bring out a little edge, and the Raiders got a reminder of that when Maxx Crosby and Kirk Cousins got into a brief shoving match before teammates stepped in. It was the kind of fast-moving flare-up that usually says more about the heat of camp than any real lingering issue, especially when two established leaders are trying to set a tone on their side of the ball.
Crosby has long been one of the NFLs most relentless players, but he has also talked about the challenge of keeping that intensity from spilling over into penalties or unnecessary chaos. Cousins, meanwhile, has brought a competitive presence to the offense, which is part of why these moments stand out at practice, even if the bigger message from the staff is simple: play hard, stay locked in, and keep it from going any further. [Read more 🡒]