Anticipation is ramping up around the Las Vegas Raiders as training camp gets ready to open, and there’s a different kind of energy around this team heading into the 2026 NFL season. After an encouraging offseason under John Spytek and Klint Kubiak, the Silver and Black are about to find out how much of that momentum actually holds up once the real work starts.
The biggest reason for the optimism is simple: the Raiders have a potential franchise quarterback on the roster. That alone has changed the mood, giving fans plenty of reason to feel better about where things are headed. There’s real belief that Las Vegas is moving in the right direction again, even if the full picture won’t come together overnight.
That leaves a few major questions hanging over camp, and they’re the kind that could shape the season before it even begins.
The first one centers on Kirk Cousins and just how long he can hold onto the starting job. Reports have suggested he could keep it all season, but the more immediate issue may be how long his leash will be if things go sideways. Cousins has spent about eight full seasons as a starter without missing time, but he’s now stepping into a situation with an offensive line still in flux and a fanbase ready to push for Fernando Mendoza the moment Cousins shows signs of slipping.
On the other side of the ball, Rob Leonard is stepping into a new role, and the question is whether he’s ready to steer the defense. Leonard has worked alongside some of the most successful names in the sport, which should help as he takes on the job. The Raiders have often struggled defensively over the years, but this time around he’s got more help to work with.
Still, not everyone is buying an immediate turnaround. Several outlets have projected the Raiders’ defense to land in the bottom third of the league entering the season.
The Raiders did their part by addressing every position on defense, either by adding new starters or deepening the roster, but Leonard’s challenge is clear: move this group up the ladder gradually. This is not going to be fixed in one shot.
Then there’s the bigger-picture question of whether the Raiders can actually contend in the AFC West. The Denver Broncos still look like the team to beat, the Los Angeles Chargers are right behind them, and the Kansas City Chiefs are expected to be back in the mix after a down year.
Las Vegas has improved, but the road to surprising people in the AFC’s toughest division is still a steep one. It doesn’t help that the Raiders are trying to balance the oldest starting quarterback with the youngest coach tasked with rebuilding the franchise.
The longer view feels more realistic, especially with young offensive weapons and John Spytek’s vision for what this team can become. If the plan stays on track and avoids setbacks, the Raiders can start thinking about the postseason and more in year two or three of this regime.
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 🡒]