The Raiders keep stacking wins, and the depth chart is starting to tell its own story.
After knocking off the Los Angeles Chargers, Las Vegas moved to 2-0 and now has a shot at opening the season 3-0. That much is clear. What’s also becoming clear is which parts of this roster are already humming and which spots still need a little polish.
At quarterback, Cousins is rolling. The Raiders have every reason to keep riding that wave.
In the backfield, Jeanty is getting healthier, and Washington could have a bigger workload this week against the New Orleans Saints. His game fit last week was never ideal against the Chargers, so this matchup should give him a better chance to matter. It should also be worth watching which of the two backs makes the stronger case on Sunday.
The receiving group has already answered one major question. Tucker, Bech, and the rest of the Raiders’ wideouts have shown they can carry out the plan the front office had in mind when it built this roster.
Up front, the offensive line has taken real shape. Miller turned in several strong blocks on Sunday and looks like himself again.
Burford appears to be exactly the kind of piece Las Vegas needed between Miller and Tyler Linderbaum. Powers-Johnson is starting to look like the player everyone, minus Pete Carroll and his coaching staff, thought he could be, and his progress seems to have come with some honest self-reflection.
The Raiders will want that upward trend to continue. Glaze has also kept improving as the rest of the line has settled in around him.
At tight end, Bowers was at practice on Wednesday, but it is still unclear whether he’ll be able to play Sunday. If he can’t go, Mayer is ready to handle the starting job, with Thomas bringing steady blocking and reliable enough hands.
The defensive front has been aggressive through two weeks, and the Raiders have been feeding off it. Once that unit starts causing problems, Crosby, Koonce, and Paye are usually right there to clean it up.
The interior line is basically an equal-opportunity operation, with all three of those players expected to stay in the mix on most Sundays. Hemingway and Laulu should keep holding things down, while Paye and Johnson continue to bookend a deep group.
At linebacker, Dean made his presence felt in a big way against the Chargers, responsible for two of the Raiders’ top plays. His work in the middle of the field has changed things fast. Walker and Dean have both helped reshape this defense, and if they stay healthy, this linebacker room may be deeper than it first looked.
The cornerback group has been playing well behind the upgraded pass rush, with Stokes leading the way. Porter was limited in Wednesday’s practice, but Masses earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after a standout game against the Chargers, and his two interceptions were huge in the win.
Even if Porter is ready to return, it may not make sense to rush him back into a starting role when Masses just delivered that kind of performance. Either way, the Raiders seem to have this spot in good shape.
Johnson has also given Las Vegas a different look in the slot, bringing a level of quickness and shiftiness the team hasn’t had there in a while.
At safety, Stukes and Pola-Mao are both likely to see the field Sunday and beyond, depending on Stukes’ health. The rookie still has work to do as he continues adjusting his body to the pro game.
Chinn quietly remains one of the most valuable players on the defense. He finished tied for the fourth-most tackles on the team against the Chargers, and with free agency coming after the season, the Raiders will have to start thinking about what comes next. The more he proves, the more expensive he’s likely to become.
Cole, of course, is still one of the best in the business. Gay has already chipped in during both Raiders wins, and they’ll be hoping that keeps going.
The Raiders also appear settled at this position group, even if they could mix and match several players there. Benson still has a chance to make a bigger impact, and returning punts looks like his best path to doing it.
In Other News...
Raiders Cornerback Battle Just Got A Lot More Interesting
Klint Kubiak had plenty to say about the Raiders young cornerbacks after Week 2, and the conversation around the secondary only got more interesting. Hezekiah Masses turned heads with two interceptions, giving the rookie a real case to keep climbing the depth chart, while Jermod McCoy remains in the middle of his development plan and Darien Porters return gives the staff another evaluation point as the defense keeps sorting out its pieces.
For a Raiders team that is still trying to define roles on the back end, the cornerback battle now has some real texture beyond simple training-camp speculation. Kubiaks praise for Masses suggests the door is open for a bigger opportunity, but the staff is clearly weighing more than just one hot game as it looks at how McCoy grows and how Porter fits back into the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Suddenly Look Deeper Than Anyone Expected
The Raiders offseason overhaul is starting to show up in the sort of way that gets attention early in the year. A new coaching staff and a series of roster upgrades have given Las Vegas a sturdier look on both sides of the ball, and the defensive line in particular has been disruptive enough to sit tied for the league lead in sacks. Even with the usual caveats that come with a fresh setup, the group looks deeper and more complete than it did a year ago.
There is still room for the offense to grow, especially with Brock Bowers sidelined for now, though his return should give the unit another useful piece. Kirk Cousins has kept things moving at quarterback and the early signs have been encouraging, but the bigger long-term question is how much better the group can look once Fernando Mendoza eventually takes over under center. For a team that spent the offseason trying to change its outlook, the early returns suggest the ceiling may be higher than many expected. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Rebuild Already Created A Problem Defenses Didn't Want
The Raiders offseason overhaul at wide receiver has already given opposing defenses a headache, and it has helped fuel Las Vegas unbeaten start. Rather than leaning on one featured target, the offense has spread the ball around, with Kirk Cousins distributing passes among multiple receivers and keeping matchups from tilting too heavily toward any one name.
For defenses, that committee approach is the problem: there is no easy way to take away the Raiders passing game when the target order can change from drive to drive. Las Vegas appears committed to using that depth as a weekly advantage, and it also gives the front office a little more flexibility when the time comes for salary negotiations. [Read more 🡒]