The Las Vegas Raiders suddenly have something that’s been missing for a while: a believable path forward.
That’s the part that stands out most about this team right now. First-year head coach Klint Kubiak brings an offensive-minded approach, and he appears to be on the same page with general manager John Spytek about what this roster should look like and how to build it. That kind of alignment matters, especially for a team trying to climb out of the middle and into something more dangerous.
There’s also real talent here. The Raiders have players who can start and help them win games, and they’ve got enough young pieces to make the roster feel more promising than it has in years. That’s why the 2026 Raiders bring to mind the 2025 Jacksonville Jaguars, a team that turned a messy situation into a legitimate breakthrough.
I spent the past two years covering the Jaguars, and their transformation was impossible to miss. Two seasons ago, they were one of the league’s most disorganized teams, with talent on the roster but no clear direction. Then came the reset: Liam Coen arrived as head coach, James Gladstone took over as general manager, and the whole operation changed.
The results followed fast. Coen’s coaching, a strong staff, and Gladstone’s roster moves helped Jacksonville go 13-4, win the AFC South, and reach the playoffs before losing in the first round to the Buffalo Bills. Trevor Lawrence finished fifth in MVP voting, and the defense finished with the top run unit in the sport.
That’s the kind of leap the Raiders can dream about, even if they’re not there yet.
Kubiak and Spytek are both young in their jobs, and that gives the setup a different feel. There’s an innovative edge to it, and the hope is that it can bring more aggression and discipline to the whole organization. Kubiak’s staff adds to the intrigue, with Andrew Janocko as offensive coordinator and Rob Leonard as defensive coordinator, both in their first year in those roles.
The talent base is part of what makes this interesting. Maxx Crosby, Kolton Miller, Tyler Linderbaum, and Brock Bowers give the Raiders legitimate cornerstone players on both sides of the ball.
Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft this spring, has the physical tools to grow into a terrific passer quickly. On defense, there’s plenty of youth in the secondary, along with the possibility of better play from the pass rush and linebacker groups.
There’s more to like beyond that, too. Ashton Jeanty could take a step in his second season, the defensive front looks solid, and the pass-catchers may keep improving their production. Put that together, and the Raiders could win more games than people expect.
Still, this is not a finished product. Las Vegas is not built to be a 13-win team right now, and that’s the reality check.
But a season in the seven- to eight-win range, with a few upset wins and visible progress, feels within reach. That would be enough to set up a more aggressive push in 2026.
That’s the ceiling here, and it doesn’t feel far-fetched. Kubiak could turn out to be the next Coen, and if that happens, the Raiders would be on a much better track than they’ve been on in years. For Raiders Nation, that’s the kind of hope worth holding onto.
In Other News...
Raiders Suddenly Have An Aidan O'Connell Decision They Can't Dodge
The Raiders quarterback room is starting to come into focus for 2026, and it leaves Aidan OConnell in an awkward spot. Kirk Cousins is the presumed starter, rookie Fernando Mendoza is expected to be the future answer when he is ready, and OConnell sits in the middle as the most obvious odd man out, even though he still profiles as a usable NFL backup.
That is what makes his situation worth watching before the season begins. OConnell is viewed as a potential trade piece, and there are teams around the league believed to be interested in him, but Las Vegas has to decide whether keeping him as insurance is worth more than turning him into value now. For a quarterback in a contract year, spending the season buried on the depth chart would not help his case, so the Raiders may have to move before the choice gets made for them. [Read more 🡒]
Thomas Booker IV Is Becoming A Bigger Part Of The Raiders Rebuild
After a 3-14 season, the Raiders spent the offseason trying to reshape both the roster and the coaching infrastructure, and one of the quieter moves has turned into a meaningful one up front. Thomas Booker IV arrived in a trade with Philadelphia and quickly worked his way into the mix on the defensive line, giving Las Vegas another body it can trust as it tries to build something sturdier around a unit that needs more than just a few standouts.
Bookers value has shown up in the kind of role the Raiders want to lean on more often, with defensive coordinator Rob Leonard stressing the importance of depth and rotation along the line. Booker also logged a full seasons worth of availability and starting experience in his first year with Las Vegas, which is exactly the sort of reliability a rebuilding team can use while it sorts out the rest of the front. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Need This Camp Answer Before The O Line Derails Them
Training camp is set to decide a lot for the Raiders, but the biggest question may be the right side of the offensive line. Under new head coach Klint Kubiak, the team is looking for more stability up front after a 2025 season in which protection issues kept hanging over the offense, and the focus now is on sorting out who fits best next to the rest of the line before the preseason starts to matter.
The right guard competition could stretch through Caleb Rogers, Jackson Powers-Johnson, Trey Zuhn III and possibly Jordan Meredith, while DJ Glaze looks like the frontrunner at right tackle unless Charles Grant makes it much closer than expected. ESPN has already raised concerns about pass protection on that side, and the Raiders need a cleaner answer there before the line becomes the kind of problem that can undo whatever progress the new staff is trying to build. [Read more 🡒]