The Las Vegas Raiders are closing in on training camp, and the first year under Klint Kubiak has plenty of people around the team buzzing.
A big reason for that optimism is the offense. The Raiders’ front office has spent the rebuild stripping things down and piecing together a new core they hope can grow into something much better down the road. Kubiak brings real credibility to that effort after calling a Super Bowl-winning offense last season, and that championship background is part of what makes this setup so intriguing.
There’s also the run game, which is where the excitement really starts to build. Seattle ran the ball efficiently under Kubiak in his only season there, and Las Vegas is hoping that same kind of production shows up in the Silver and Black after how rough the Raiders were on the ground last year. Rick Dennison’s presence in helping develop a stronger offensive line only adds to that belief.
Ashton Jeanty is expected to make a jump in his second season after a rookie year that was flashy but inefficient. With Kubiak designing the rushing attack and Dennison working with the line, the Raiders have reason to believe the ground game can come out strong.
But that’s not a reason to stop shopping.
The Raiders can’t simply assume Jeanty is going to break out, then move on like the problem is solved. They need some insurance behind him, because the offense can’t afford to fall apart when he leaves the field.
That’s why a veteran running back still makes sense. Las Vegas drafted Mike Washington Jr. in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, but banking on a day-three rookie to carry the load if Jeanty doesn’t hit right away is shaky process. A more established back would give the team a steadier option and let Washington settle in as the third back in the rotation.
There are still dependable backs available on the market, and this is the point in the offseason when teams start taking a hard look at where they need help. One name that fits is Nick Chubb.
Even if it’s only for a year, he would bring a veteran presence with a history of being a star. He’s not the same player he once was, but he can still help as a depth runner and as a receiver.
The Raiders still have a few weeks before they really know what they have on the roster, so General Manager John Spytek and the team have time. A veteran addition isn’t a must right this second, but it’s absolutely something worth considering.
In Other News...
Raiders New Staff Is Already Sorting Young Keepers From Cut Candidates
The Raiders new staff is already making early judgments on the young players left over from the previous regime, and the list splits pretty cleanly between keepers and candidates who may not have much runway. With one to three years of NFL experience, Charles Grant, Jack Bech and Donte Thornton Jr. stand out as developmental bets worth time and coaching, while the team is also weighing whether some of the younger depth pieces are worth carrying into a new scheme.
Grant is the most intriguing of the bunch because he still has a path to matter on the offensive line, and Bech looks like the kind of receiver this staff can shape into a useful slot presence. Thornton brings a different kind of upside with his size-speed profile, but the tougher calls are on the other side of the ledger, where the Raiders have to decide whether the fit has already gone stale for players such as Will Putnam, Decamerion Richardson and Greedy Vance as the roster gets reshaped around the new vision. [Read more 🡒]
Maxx Crosby Put The NFL On Blast After Midgame Demand
Maxx Crosby turned a routine uniform issue into a talking point during the Raiders 2025 game against the Eagles, when NFL officials told him his pink cleats did not meet league rules. The edge rusher later said the moment underscored how tightly the NFL polices player style, especially when compared with other leagues that give athletes more room to show personality on the field.
Crosby used the episode to push for a little more freedom from the league office, pointing to the NBAs looser approach to footwear and the NFLs own My Cause My Cleats initiative as examples of what is already possible. For a player who has become one of the Raiders most visible voices, it was another reminder that his influence stretches beyond sacks and pressures, even if the leagues uniform standards still have the final say. [Read more 🡒]