Klint Kubiak arrives in Las Vegas with something the Raiders offense has been missing for years: credibility. But the bigger point for this group may be even simpler. He knows how to get tight ends involved, and that could turn Michael Mayer from an overlooked piece into a real problem for defenses in 2026.
Brock Bowers has already drawn the spotlight in camp, and for good reason. His value looks like it can go straight through the roof.
That attention, though, has a way of hiding Mayer, who still feels like the Raiders’ best-kept secret. He hasn’t come close to reaching his ceiling, and Kubiak’s work this summer suggests that won’t last much longer.
The preseason gave a clear hint of what’s coming. In 16 preseason snaps with Mayer on the field and Las Vegas throwing the ball, he caught four passes on four targets for 27 yards and a touchdown.
That wasn’t window dressing. He was being used as a real part of the plan, and he answered.
That lines up with what Kubiak has been saying all offseason. He has made it clear that the “five best eligibles” need to be out there, and he backed it up throughout camp. For a Raiders offense that isn’t getting much from its receiver group, Mayer could end up being asked to do a lot more than casual observers expect.
Mayer’s NFL start hasn’t matched the promise of his draft slot. Taken in the second round in the 2023 NFL Draft, he has dealt with injuries and off-the-field issues over his first three seasons, while Bowers’ emergence has made it harder for him to carve out a bigger role. Even so, he remains one of the best pass-catching weapons on the roster, in addition to being a strong run-blocker.
Kubiak’s track record points to a bigger role for him. In 2025 with the Seattle Seahawks, he used 12 personnel - two tight ends on the field at the same time - at the eighth-highest rate in the NFL.
Seattle’s EPA per play in that grouping was the second-best in the league, according to Sumer Sports. The Raiders also leaned on 12 personnel under Chip Kelly last season, but they were among the worst teams at executing it.
That’s the difference here. Las Vegas has tried to make Mayer part of the passing game before.
It just hasn’t worked. Under Kubiak, the setup looks different.
With Bowers drawing attention, plus Tre Tucker and running backs Ashton Jeanty and Mike Washington Jr. in the mix, Mayer should have chances to slip free and make plays.
His first three seasons produced 83 catches for 788 yards and three touchdowns. With better quarterback play and a better play-calling environment, it wouldn’t be a shock if he gets close to those yardage and touchdown numbers in 2026 alone.
It’s also a contract year, which only adds to the pressure and the opportunity. If Kubiak’s offense works the way it looked like it could in camp and the preseason, Mayer has a real chance to break out, help the Raiders, and set himself up for a payday next offseason, whether that comes in Las Vegas or somewhere else.
In Other News...
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Mike Washington Jr. has gone from a rookie camp curiosity to one of the more interesting developments in Raiders camp, and it happened quickly. The first-year running back has impressed enough in the preseason that general manager John Spytek singled him out as a perfect scheme fit, pointing to the way Washington has handled his opportunities and the efficiency he showed when games started counting toward evaluation.
The bigger wrinkle now is how the backfield gets sorted out while Ashton Jeanty deals with an ankle injury. Washington has been taking first-team snaps in practice, which suggests the Raiders are seriously weighing a larger role for him as they sort through a situation they may not have expected this soon. For a team trying to settle its running game, Washington's rise has turned a depth-chart question into one of the more intriguing decisions left on the table. [Read more 🡒]
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That front could wind up being more important than ever if the back end needs extra help early in the season. The coaching staff is planning to rotate defensive linemen to keep everyone fresh, a move that should help the group hold up across four quarters and cover for vulnerabilities elsewhere on the defense. For the Raiders, the plan is simple enough: let one of their strongest units carry more of the load while the rest of the defense comes together. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Leave The Door Open In A QB Battle Fans Cant Ignore
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Cousins still sits atop the depth chart as the starter, but the real intrigue is in how the backup spots have settled around him. Spytek pointed to Mendozas development and OConnells preseason showing as reasons the Raiders are comfortable carrying all three, and for now the message is simple: both reserves are prepared to step in if called upon, leaving the rest of the evaluation very much alive. [Read more 🡒]