The Raiders have spent the offseason trying to reshape the roster, and that makes the final cutdown to 53 players one of the most interesting parts of the summer in Las Vegas. Klint Kubiak’s first year as head coach comes with a revamped defense, a new quarterback setup, and a lot more competition for jobs than the Raiders had a year ago.
That kind of turnover usually creates a few uncomfortable conversations, and three names stand out as possible surprises when the roster gets trimmed before Week 1: Aidan O’Connell, Dont’e Thornton and Isaiah Pola-Mao.
O’Connell’s spot looks especially shaky after the Raiders added both Kirk Cousins and rookie Fernando Mendoza. Vegas went into the offseason determined to solve its quarterback issue, and those moves changed the math for the former starter in a hurry.
O’Connell, known as AOC, had a promising rookie year in 2023 when he threw for 2,218 yards with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 11 games. But his production has declined every season since then, and he never managed to lock down the job for good.
That leaves the Raiders with a simple question: do they want to carry three quarterbacks into the regular season? If the answer is no, O’Connell is the one who could be pushed out. The team could choose to use that roster spot elsewhere, and the most realistic landing spot for him might be the practice squad.
Thornton is another player who has slipped into dangerous territory. The Raiders drafted him in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but his rookie season produced just 10 catches for 135 yards.
He never turned that opportunity into a bigger role, even though the receiver room wasn’t exactly packed with established options. This offseason brought a new chance to climb, especially with Jalen Nailor added in free agency and a new coaching staff in place, but Thornton has not moved up.
Instead, he now sits behind Nailor, Tre Tucker and Jack Bech on the depth chart. He’s battling Malik Benson, Noah Brown and other backups just to hang onto a roster spot. If he can’t force his way into the mix, a preseason cut would not be a surprise.
Pola-Mao is the name that would sting the most if he were actually let go, but the path there is clear enough to see. The veteran free safety entered the offseason looking like a starter for 2026, yet the Raiders’ draft move changed the picture. They used a second-round pick on Treydan Stukes, and Pola-Mao is now in the final year of his contract.
That makes him an obvious candidate in a numbers game. The new regime didn’t draft him, and it just brought in a player who could replace him right away.
There’s also some uncertainty about where Stukes fits best. The Raiders may prefer to use him in the slot, but with Taron Johnson expected to start there, Stukes could end up at free safety simply to get on the field.
Pola-Mao has been solid when he’s played heavy snaps over the last two seasons. Still, the Raiders are clearly thinking about the future, and that focus could cost him either his starting job or his place on the final roster.
In Other News...
Malik Benson Just Put His Raiders Opening Week Case In Trouble
Fernando Mendozas preseason outing against the Texans had its bright spots and its ugly ones, but for Malik Benson, the tape will mostly be remembered for the missed chances. The Raiders rookie wide receiver, who has flashed enough in training camp to generate some optimism, managed one catch for 18 yards while also putting two passes on the ground in a game where every clean rep mattered.
Benson came into the summer with a real opening to strengthen his case for regular-season snaps, especially as a late-round pick trying to carve out a role. Instead, the kind of mistakes that can linger in the minds of coaches showed up at an inopportune time, leaving his path to Week 1 looking a little less secure than it did before this preseason test. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Fans Will Notice How Fernando Mendoza Responded To One Brutal Mistake
Fernando Mendozas preseason debut for the Raiders had the kind of jolt that can change a game in a hurry, and it came on a play he would probably like to forget. The rookie quarterback threw an interception that Houston Texans rookie linebacker Wade Woodaz turned into an 80-yard touchdown, a swing that immediately put Mendoza under a brighter spotlight as he continued working through the early stages of his NFL career.
What stood out, though, was the way Mendoza reacted after the mistake. Instead of easing up, he chased Woodaz and tried to make the tackle before the score was complete, a small but telling detail about how he handled the moment. Troy Aikman also noted on the broadcast that the play may have been the result of a miscommunication rather than a simple misread, which leaves the Raiders with a familiar preseason question - how much of a costly turnover was a quarterback mistake, and how much was just the kind of timing issue young passers have to clean up. [Read more 🡒]
Aidan OConnell May Have Just Ended A Raiders QB Debate
Aidan OConnell got the second-half chance in the Raiders preseason game against the Texans and made it count in a way that could matter long after August. He completed 15 of 24 passes for 166 yards, posted an 83.0 passer rating and even added a rushing touchdown, then capped the night by guiding Las Vegas on a 98-yard game-winning drive in a 22-20 win.
For a team still sorting out its quarterback pecking order, that kind of finish carries real weight. OConnell has been working to lock down the No. 2 job behind Kirk Cousins, and a poise-filled comeback drive in the preseason is exactly the sort of showing that can tilt a debate in his favor, even if the final call is still waiting to be made. [Read more 🡒]