The Raiders are already being linked to a major swing at the top of the 2027 NFL Draft, and the name attached to that idea is Texas tackle Trevor Goosby.
In Sports Illustrated’s latest projection from Justin Melo, Las Vegas is slotted to take Goosby at No. 5 overall. SI’s model has him as the top-ranked tackle prospect heading into the season, with the evaluation centered on the kind of force he brings in both the run game and pass protection.
It’s only a projection at this stage, of course, with an entire college season and the real draft order still ahead. But it does point to where outside eyes believe the Raiders’ biggest issue will be.
That issue starts and ends with Fernando Mendoza.
The No. 1 overall pick in April is now the face of the franchise, and everything Las Vegas builds from here is tied to keeping him upright. The Raiders have already poured premium resources into talent around him, including Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty, but the offensive line - especially at right tackle - still looks unsettled.
There are young players in the mix, but general manager John Spytek still doesn’t have a clear long-term answer there. Spending a top-five pick on a player like Goosby would send a pretty clear message: the Raiders know they can’t afford to let Mendoza absorb extra punishment behind a line that still has holes.
It also makes sense from a roster-building standpoint. Right tackle is one of those rare spots where Las Vegas could attack need and value at the same time, instead of forcing a reach for a luxury option while a starting-level blocker is sitting there.
For now, the picture figures to keep shifting. Mock drafts will likely keep bouncing between offensive line help and wide receiver support for Mendoza throughout the fall, and that debate may hinge on how the Raiders’ current tackles hold up once the season gets going.
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Raiders Suddenly Have A Backfield Decision They Didn't Expect
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 🡒]
Raiders May Need Their Biggest Strength More Than Ever
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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
The Raiders entered this stretch with one of the leagues more closely watched quarterback rooms, and John Spytek made it clear the team has no plans to trim it down yet. Las Vegas is keeping Kirk Cousins, Aidan OConnell and Fernando Mendoza on the roster, a move that underscores how much the organization values the competition and the different things each passer brings as the group works through camp and the preseason.
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 🡒]