Training camp is about to get rolling for the Las Vegas Raiders, and one of the most interesting fights on the roster has nothing to do with the quarterback spot.
The bigger question, at least for me, is who ends up starting at cornerback opposite Eric Stokes.
That job feels wide open enough to matter. Jakorian Bennett Porter was an eye-catching rookie last season, but he was drafted for the previous coaching staff’s scheme, and that alone creates some uncertainty as the Raiders move forward under Klint Kubiak. Porter’s not automatically out of the picture, but the door is clearly open for someone else to push him.
The newcomer with the best shot is Darien Porter McCoy, the Raiders’ fourth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Las Vegas took him even though he was viewed as a likely top 10 talent in the class, with knee injuries knocking him down the board. The Raiders still believed in the health and the upside, and they rolled the dice.
McCoy has already been working in OTAs, and if his knee checks out, there’s no reason he can’t make a run at the starting job as a rookie. If he hits, the Raiders could end up with a difference-maker in the secondary they haven’t had since Charles Woodson.
Porter, though, has his own case. He logged 607 snaps last season, mostly on the outside, and according to Pro Football Focus, he was targeted 31 times, gave up 19 catches for 256 yards, allowed no touchdowns and broke up three passes. He’s got the size and athletic traits teams want at the position, and at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds with a 4.3, he’s the kind of corner who stands out the second he steps on the field.
That’s why this battle has real juice. Porter has the experience.
McCoy has the upside. And if Kubiak truly gives everyone a fair shot, this could turn into one of the most compelling competitions in camp.
For now, it’s one to watch closely over the next few weeks.
In Other News...
Former Raiders DC Left Crushed By Shocking Interview Ordeal
Patrick Grahams path through the NFL keeps taking him far from Las Vegas, but the former Raiders defensive coordinator is back in the news for a rough episode tied to his head-coaching search. Graham, now running the Pittsburgh Steelers defense, was reportedly left deeply disappointed after a January 2025 interview process with Jacksonville turned into an ordeal that lingered well beyond the meeting itself.
For the Raiders, the coaching carousel has already moved on under new head coach Klint Kubiak, who promoted Rob Leonard to defensive coordinator for the 2026 season. Grahams situation is a reminder of how quickly things change for assistants on the rise, and how a promising interview can still leave a lasting mark even when the job never comes together. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Camp Battle Could Decide More Than Just Week 1
Training camp is arriving with more than a few jobs still up for grabs, and the Raiders most important decisions may come on the offensive line and in the secondary. Depth is part of the conversation, but so is Week 1 readiness, which is why the battles at guard, right tackle and slot cornerback carry so much weight for a team trying to stabilize both sides of the ball before the season starts.
For Las Vegas, these are the kinds of competitions that can shape more than the first depth chart. The AFC West demands clean protection and reliable coverage in the middle of the field, so the Raiders need answers from players who can handle real pressure, not just survive camp reps. A few roster spots are still open, and the way those jobs are settled could say a lot about how competitive this team can be when the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Camp Just Got More Tense At Quarterback And Cornerback
Fernando Mendoza and Jermod McCoy are finally under contract, which removes one of the small but meaningful camp distractions as the Raiders settle into the first stretch of training camp. Rookies and veterans have been around the facility since camp opened July 23, with Maxx Crosby among those present, and now the focus can stay on the two spots that were always going to draw the most attention: quarterback and cornerback.
Mendoza enters a quarterback competition that also includes Kirk Cousins and Aidan OConnell, a setup that gives the Raiders plenty to sort through before the preseason picture comes into focus. At cornerback, Eric Stokes is in the mix with Darien Porter and Hezekiah Masses, while McCoy adds another name to a group that already had little margin for error, making the next few weeks especially important for a defense trying to define its depth chart. [Read more 🡒]