The Raiders’ first official depth chart of 2026 finally put some shape around a roster that had been hard to pin down all summer. With Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins just days away, Las Vegas gave Raider Nation a clearer look at who’s standing where - and in a few spots, who’s won the job.
One of the biggest questions coming out of the preseason was which position battles would actually carry into the opener. That answer is in: Jackson Powers-Johnson is listed as the starter at right guard, and Darien Porter has won the second cornerback spot opposite Eric Stokes.
Those were the names most expected to rise to the top, with Powers-Johnson ahead of Caleb Rogers and Porter ahead of rookie Zeke Masses. Still, being on top of the chart now doesn’t mean the competition is over; the Raiders can still keep pushing both players.
The interior defensive line also got a surprise shake-up. Foley Fatukasi, a name plenty of fans probably weren’t talking about a few weeks ago, has moved into a meaningful role as a second-string defensive tackle.
In a short stretch that included two preseason games and a handful of training camp practices, he jumped both Thomas Booker IV and JJ Pegues, who are now listed behind him as third-stringers. That’s a pretty fast climb, and it sets up an interesting rotation inside.
The depth chart also showed just how much of this roster has John Spytek’s fingerprints on it. The group is loaded with rookies and sophomores, and while only four of Spytek’s 22 selections are projected to start in Week 1, another 11 are listed as second-stringers.
In all, 15 of the 22 starters for Sunday’s game against the Dolphins were brought in by Spytek this offseason or last. As noted previously, more than 70% of the 53-man roster was signed, drafted, claimed or traded for by the Raiders’ new general manager.
There was also some needed clarity in the return game. Tre Tucker had been listed as the top punt and kick returner all preseason, but that always felt like a risky setup with the No. 1 wideout also taking on extra work in a role where injuries can happen fast.
The new chart changes that picture: Dylan Laube and Dareke Young are set to handle kick returns, while Malik Benson is listed as the punt returner with Laube backing him up. Young was brought in to be a return specialist, and now he’ll finally get that chance.
And at free safety, the preseason buzz has turned into something official. Stukes is now listed ahead of Isaiah Pola-Mao, meaning Stukes will start against Miami. After hearing the whispers through camp and the preseason, that move is now confirmed.
In Other News...
Brock Bowers Suddenly Leaves Raiders With A Big Week 1 Problem
Brock Bowers knee situation has quickly turned into one of the biggest early storyline shifts around the Raiders, because the tight end is not just another piece of the offense. After undergoing a meniscus trim, he is expected to miss one or two games, leaving Las Vegas to navigate the start of the season without one of its most important playmakers.
For a Raiders team trying to get its footing in Week 1, the timing is far from ideal. Bowers had already dealt with a knee issue earlier in 2025, and his absence has even moved the betting market for the upcoming matchup with the Miami Dolphins, a reminder of how much pressure now falls on the rest of the offense to pick up the slack. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders May Be Ready To Use Brock Bowers Very Differently
The early read on Brock Bowers in Las Vegas is that the Raiders may not be treating him like a conventional tight end at all. Head coach Klint Kubiak is expected to feature the first-round pick heavily in the offense, and the buzz around the league has only grown as former coaches and media voices have described him as the kind of weapon who can shape how a passing game is built.
That shift matters for a team that took plenty of heat when it used a first-round pick on Bowers in the first place, only for the move to start looking smarter to outside evaluators. The more intriguing question now is how far the Raiders are willing to go in pushing his role beyond the traditional tight-end label, especially with some around the game already talking about him in terms usually reserved for wide receivers. [Read more 🡒]
Ashton Jeanty Just Changed A Key Raiders Week 1 Question
Ashton Jeantys status has gone from a looming Week 1 concern to a possibility the Raiders still can plan around. The rookie running back is practicing and could be available against the Dolphins, according to coach Klint Kubiak, which at least gives Las Vegas a chance to think beyond a backup plan as it heads into the opener.
Kubiak said Jeantys workload will be tied to how he looks in practice, and the team has not made a final call yet. His not landing on injured reserve mattered, too, because it left the door open for a return at any point this season, even if the Raiders are still sorting out what that means for Sunday. [Read more 🡒]