The Las Vegas Raiders have been one of the NFL’s biggest surprises this season, and the early 3-0 start has only sharpened the conversation around what comes next. The roster has talent on both sides of the ball, and the early signs have been strong enough to suggest this is no fluke.
Still, the biggest long-term question in Las Vegas circles is quarterback. Fernando Mendoza is part of that future conversation, but there’s no obvious reason to force him onto the field right away while Kirk Cousins keeps rolling. Unless Cousins suddenly slows down, or something else goes sideways, the path to playing time for Mendoza may stay blocked for a while.
That doesn’t mean the Raiders should stop looking for ways to add more punch to the offense. The current group has solid pieces, but it also feels like there’s room to raise the ceiling with another high-end target.
One name that has surfaced is Marvin Harrison Jr. Bleacher Report floated the Arizona Cardinals wideout as a possible trade candidate, noting both the fit and the concerns surrounding his early struggles.
“Arizona probably won't want to move Harrison at that price point, but he should relish the prospect of a fresh start. Unless something changes dramatically, Harrison risks being labeled a disappointment for as long as he remains with the Cardinals. He's not going to establish himself as a true No. 1 receiver in Arizona either.
“Landing with a team that lacks a true top option could be Harrison's best bet for reestablishing his NFL stock. Ideal Landing Spots: Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers,” Bleacher Report wrote.
For Las Vegas, that kind of move would carry real appeal. Even if it doesn’t change much about this season in the short term, a player with Harrison’s profile would give the Raiders a major swing at unlocking more production on offense.
And if Mendoza eventually takes over at quarterback, the pairing becomes even more interesting. The idea of Harrison and Mendoza growing together gives the Raiders something to dream on beyond this surprising start.
In Other News...
Raiders Fans Face A Familiar Allegiant Problem Before Chiefs Game
When Allegiant Stadium opened, Raiders fans were told it would give the team a true home-field edge in Las Vegas. Instead, Sundays against Kansas City have often turned into a familiar sight, with plenty of red in the stands and visiting fans making the trip well in advance of kickoff. With the Chiefs coming to town again on Sunday, the Raiders are once more bracing for a crowd that will not look especially friendly.
Raider Nation Radio host JT the Brick has been pushing a message Raiders fans have heard before: keep the tickets in Raiders hands and do not let them end up with opposing fans. Projections suggest 64 percent of the crowd will be wearing silver and black, which would make the Chiefs contingent a little smaller than in some previous meetings, but the bigger question for Las Vegas remains the same. At Allegiant, the home crowd has had to fight to sound and feel like one for a while now. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Get A Brock Bowers Twist Right Before Chiefs Game
Brock Bowers popped up on the injury report Friday with an illness, giving the Raiders a late-week wrinkle heading into Sundays matchup with the Chiefs. The rookie tight end has quickly become one of the more important pieces of Las Vegas offense, and the timing of any concern around him is less than ideal with Kansas City on deck.
The good news for the Raiders is that Bowers is still expected to play, even after being listed questionable. He already worked through an early-season absence after a meniscus trim and came back with a strong showing in Week 3, so Las Vegas has reason to believe this latest issue is more of a brief nuisance than a real setback. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Make Intriguing Chiefs Gameday Shakeup With Young Talent Involved
Aidan OConnell is back in the mix for the Raiders on Sunday, and his return to emergency third-quarterback duty was part of a noticeable Week 4 shuffle as Las Vegas adjusted its game-day roster for the trip to face Kansas City. The bigger personnel wrinkle for the Raiders came on the defensive side, where rookie Dalton Johnson was active for the first time and stepped in at safety, giving the coaching staff a fresh look in the secondary.
Las Vegas also turned to JJ Pegues over Jonah Laulu, another sign that the Raiders were willing to make some young-player decisions on a short week of roster management. It all comes against a Chiefs team missing starting left tackle Josh Simmons, a development that could influence how the matchup unfolds up front even before the Raiders get a chance to test their own new combinations on defense. [Read more 🡒]