The Raiders are walking into the season looking nothing like the team that finished last year, and cutdown day only sharpened that reality. Even compared with the group that played the final preseason game a week ago, Las Vegas has been reshaped in a big way.
At quarterback, the Raiders believe they have the deepest group they’ve had in years. Cousins’ comfort level with Kubiak and offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko has already helped speed up the adjustment to a new staff and a new offense.
Mendoza showed the kind of flashes that explain why Las Vegas drafted him first overall, but camp and preseason also made clear there’s still work to do. O'Connell remains a steady option if the Raiders need someone to step in.
Running back is already under pressure because Jeanty is working back from a recent injury. That leaves Washington carrying a heavy load until Jeanty returns, with Laube also in line for more work at the position.
The Raiders have also brought back a fullback into the offense. Heyward won’t pile up big numbers, but his value is in what he opens up for everyone else around him.
Tight end could be one of the stronger spots on the roster, but only if health holds and Thomas keeps catching the balls that come his way. If that happens, it’s one of the top groups in the league.
Wide receiver, though, comes with far more uncertainty. Nailor is still finding his place in the offense, Thornton has been dealing with injuries, and the whole group has more questions than answers.
Bech has taken a step forward and Benson has beaten expectations for a sixth-round pick, but both still have plenty left to prove. The Raiders need them to keep climbing.
Tucker is entering his fourth season and his fourth head coach, and this staff may be the best fit yet. Kubiak and Janocko should give him a real chance to produce like a top option, and a career year is in play.
Up front, the Raiders are trying to balance stability with a need to plan ahead. Miller remains a key piece, but the team knows the drop to Grant is steep if Miller gets hurt. Spencer Burford has basically locked down a starting spot since arriving, but the Raiders also need to start thinking about the future there.
The center position got a major boost with Linderbaum, and Las Vegas paid for it, handing him a record-breaking deal that makes him about $10 million a year more than the next highest-paid center. Trey Zuhn III is expected to back him up, but the Raiders are counting on Linderbaum to be there.
He has missed only two games in the past four seasons. Mafi has improved since last year, but if Powers-Johnson goes down, Las Vegas would be in trouble.
Glaze has started nearly all of the team’s games over the past two seasons, though he still needs to improve, and Zuhn is expected to handle reserve work at multiple spots.
Defensively, the Raiders are still sorting out pieces, but there’s upside in the mix. Hemingway may open as the starter, though the exact order may not matter much because Fatukasi could move up the depth chart. Paye is expected to be used in a variety of ways, and Johnson is viewed as the better option than rookie Keyron Crawford at this point.
Dean’s arrival should make a real difference, and the Raiders want Eichenberg on the field early and often so he can develop while also being ready if Dean gets hurt. That would also give Dean a chance to rest and preserve his energy.
Walker stands out as one of the biggest additions Las Vegas made this offseason, and maybe even one of the best players on the roster. The secondary still leans heavily on veterans.
Stokes has to stay dependable and healthy, while Luter and McCoy need to get up to speed quickly. Johnson is another veteran the Raiders are counting on in a defensive backfield that still lacks proven answers.
Pola-Mao and Stukes will both see the field, sometimes together depending on the plan, and Stukes could be the long-term answer at the spot. Chinn will be deployed all over the field again, with Johnson developing behind him.
Gay turned in a solid camp and preseason, and Cole remains one of the league’s best after what the Raiders saw in the road loss to Denver last season. Tucker, Laube, and others will also be expected to contribute on special teams, where the Raiders have multiple players capable of filling those roles.
In Other News...
Raiders QB Plan Already Comes With One Big Problem
The Raiders have already settled one of the biggest questions of their 2026 offseason, and the answer comes with a familiar kind of comfort. Klint Kubiak is going with Kirk Cousins as the starter over rookie Fernando Mendoza and Aidan OConnell, banking on Cousins experience and leadership to steady a team that has spent too much time searching for stability under center.
But the move only makes sense if the protection holds up, and that is where the real concern starts to creep in. Las Vegas is still dealing with questions along the offensive line, and if that group cannot keep the pocket clean, the safer long-term bet may wind up being Mendoza anyway, especially if the Raiders want a quarterback who can grow with whatever comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Get Encouraging Ashton Jeanty Update Before A Big Backfield Decision
Ashton Jeantys sprained ankle has been trending in the right direction since Aug. 23, and the early read out of his recovery is enough to keep the Raiders optimistic heading into opening week. ESPNs Adam Schefter reported that Jeanty is on track to potentially be available for the season opener against the Miami Dolphins, a development that matters not just because of his health, but because of what he was expected to bring to Las Vegas offense right away.
Mike Washington Jr. made a strong enough impression in the preseason to complicate the backfield picture, and the Raiders now have a decision to make if Jeanty is ready in time. The possibility of a timeshare would give the staff options, but it also puts a spotlight on how quickly Jeanty can get back to full strength and whether the team wants to ease him in or lean on the rookie duo from the start. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Offensive Staff Overhaul Says Everything About Last Seasons Problems
The Raiders offseason work on offense has pointed back to one of the biggest reasons last season went sideways: the line never stabilized, and the coaching behind it drew harsh internal reviews. Las Vegas answered by bringing in Rick Dennison to coach the offensive line, a move aimed at tightening up fundamentals and technique after a year in which the units performance never really settled into place.
Mike Sullivans arrival as quarterbacks coach adds another layer to the reset, giving the staff a veteran voice with plenty of NFL experience and a prior working relationship with offensive coordinator Kubiak. It is the kind of staff reshaping that tells you the Raiders did not view last seasons offensive problems as a matter of one bad stretch or one injured player, but as something deeper that needed a full coaching rethink. [Read more 🡒]