The Raiders’ 2-0 start has not stopped John Spytek from keeping one eye on the rest of the league, and Week 3’s scouting list points to two very different kinds of help: a big-name receiver whose role has shrunk fast and a safety option for a secondary dealing with immediate injuries.
The most intriguing name on the board is Marvin Harrison Jr. The Arizona Cardinals receiver has become part of the conversation after head coach Mike LaFleur addressed his low target total over the first two weeks.
" I know it's just 'get some easy completions and get going,' and that's fine. You also have Trey McBride, who's one of the best underneath guys in the world, and there's only about 60 to 65 plays a game.
And you've got to run the ball. You've got Kendrick [Bourne], who works underneath pretty well, too.
Everyone's kind of got their role right there."
Harrison’s usage has been hard to ignore. In Arizona’s Week 2 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, he was targeted once, and Jacoby Brissett has thrown his way only four times through two games. That, along with criticism of Harrison’s route running, has pushed the trade chatter into overdrive.
Harrison didn’t duck the noise, but he made clear he’s not changing his approach.
" I see everything and everybody's entitled to their own opinions, and you get platforms to kind of speak your mind and that's OK with me. So, I'm going to continue worry about my team and my process and helping the team win the best we can."
The Cardinals’ passing game is crowded. Trey McBride is a centerpiece, Michael Wilson recently landed a three-year, $75 million extension, and Kendrick Bourne has 11 targets, which ranks him third on the team. Even rookie running back Jeremiyah Love has been thrown to more often than Harrison, with seven targets.
That’s a strange spot for a former No. 4 overall pick who produced 62 catches, 885 yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie in 2024. Right now, his trade value is depressed, and if Arizona doesn’t make a point of getting him more involved, it may not climb much this season. The recommendation here is simple: Spytek should at least make the call and see whether a Day 2 pick gets the conversation started.
For Las Vegas, the fit is obvious. Harrison is only 24, and in a Raiders offense that has been revived by play-calling head coach Klint Kubiak, he could step in as a lead receiver and grow with a young roster.
The other area the Raiders need to monitor is safety, where the depth chart is already under strain. Treydan Stukes is in concussion protocol and will miss Week 3, leaving Las Vegas thin against the New Orleans Saints.
Without Stukes, the Raiders may lean on Isaiah Pola-Mao, who had trouble in coverage last season, giving up six touchdowns and a 120.7 passer rating. He’s played 31 percent of the defensive snaps in two games, and those reps have come with Stukes unavailable.
Dalton Johnson, Stukes’ former Arizona teammate, could also make his on-field debut as a stopgap. Pro Football Focus lists him with 352 college snaps at free safety.
If the Raiders want a more proven option, Lathan Ransom is worth a look. He’s stuck behind eight-year veteran Nick Scott, despite a rookie season that included 51 tackles, two tackles for loss, two pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble. In coverage, Ransom allowed just one touchdown and a 76.4 passer rating last season, and PFF says he played 334 of 354 snaps at free safety.
Ransom would give Las Vegas a cleaner answer than Pola-Mao in the back end. If the Raiders would rather avoid surrendering trade capital, Jalen Mills is another name to keep in mind as a short-term fix while Stukes recovers. Mills has 10 years of experience and has logged 669 snaps at free safety, 794 in the box and 3,632 at cornerback, giving him the kind of versatility that fits a young secondary and brings some much-needed experience with it.
In Other News...
Raiders 3-0 Push May Depend On One Saints Weakness
The Raiders head into their matchup with New Orleans looking for a third straight win, and the path could run straight through Tyler Shough. Las Vegas has already made a habit of leaning on pressure under defensive coordinator Rob Leonard, and that approach makes sense here against a quarterback who has spent the season under constant duress.
Shough has been the leagues most pressured passer so far and has taken eight sacks in two games, a combination that has helped expose how much trouble he can get into when the pocket breaks down. For the Raiders, the challenge is turning that weakness into the kind of disruption that can shape the game, because their chase for 3-0 may hinge on whether Leonards fronts and blitzes keep forcing mistakes. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Head Into Saints Game With Key Availability Still Unsettled
The final injury report is in, and the Raiders are still sorting through a few moving pieces ahead of their Week 3 trip to face the Saints. Several players were listed as limited or questionable, but the expectation is that most will be available, giving Las Vegas a chance to keep some continuity on both sides of the ball while it heads into another early-season test.
The one clear absence is rookie safety Treydan Stukes, who remains out with a concussion, and veteran Isaiah Pola-Mao is set to start in his place. Between that shuffle in the secondary and the possibility of Brock Bowers returning, there is still a fair amount for the Raiders to monitor before kickoff, especially with Klint Kubiak and Kirk Cousins both pointing to how important the defensive response will be in New Orleans. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Face A 3-0 Test Against A Saints Wrinkle They Must Solve
The Raiders head into Week 3 with a chance to build on a 3-0 start, but the Saints present a specific kind of problem that has already shown up on film. Under coordinator Brandon Staley, New Orleans has leaned into a blitzing concept against teams that operate from under-center looks, and it helped create pressure problems for the Ravens. For Las Vegas, that means this is not just another early-season test, but a matchup that could hinge on how well the offense handles a wrinkle designed to disrupt timing before a play can fully develop.
One possible answer is to lean into personnel that can help steady the picture and give the offense more flexibility. The Raiders may turn to fullback Connor Heyward in 21 personnel, a setup that could help them counter the Saints pressure looks while opening up more options around the formation. It is the kind of adjustment that does not guarantee clean answers, but it does give Las Vegas a path to keep its offense from getting boxed in by a defense that is clearly looking to force one. [Read more 🡒]