The Raiders have spent the offseason trying to turn a mess into a foundation, and for once in a long while, the work looks organized. With training camp approaching, Las Vegas has reshaped key parts of the roster and coaching staff in a way that gives the franchise a far clearer direction than it had a year ago.
The biggest swing came on the sideline. Pete Carroll was out after one season, and the Raiders’ 3-14 finish left them with the No. 1 overall pick.
In his place, the team brought in Klint Kubiak, a move that stands out as one of the major coaching upgrades of the offseason. Kubiak arrived after winning a Super Bowl as the Seattle Seahawks’ offensive coordinator, and the Raiders clearly viewed him as more than just a fresh voice.
He was, by the source’s account, the top coaching candidate on the market, and he has already left his mark during offseason work.
Las Vegas also attacked free agency harder than anyone else in the league, spending the most money of any team while loading up on defensive help. Nakobe Dean, Quay Walker, and Kwity Paye were among the additions. The Raiders may have paid a premium for that trio, but the expectation is that all three can become major pieces on that side of the ball.
Then there was the Maxx Crosby situation, which ended up giving the Raiders another boost without them having to make a move of their own. Baltimore backed out of the agreed-upon trade for the 28-year-old pass rusher, leaving Crosby in Las Vegas and effectively giving the defense a centerpiece on the front line. Put that together with the free-agent additions, and the Raiders’ front seven suddenly looks like a group that can create real problems.
The offensive line needed just as much attention, if not more. In 2025, the Raiders allowed a league-worst 64 sacks in 17 games, and that kind of leakage can wreck everything else around it.
The front office tried to fix the issue in the 2026 NFL Draft, and the biggest prize was Tyler Linderbaum, who was widely regarded as the top center available. Getting an elite center in place matters even more when the offense is expected to work with multiple incoming quarterbacks and a new scheme.
Quarterback, in fact, is another area where the Raiders have tried to stop the bleeding. Geno Smith lasted only one season in Las Vegas after being acquired last offseason, and the team moved on from him soon after the year ended.
This time around, the Raiders signed Kirk Cousins and used the No. 1 overall pick on Fernando Mendoza. Cousins may be past his peak and Mendoza is still a rookie, but the combination at least gives Las Vegas something it has lacked: stability and competency under center.
In Other News...
Ravens Just Dragged Raiders Back Into The Tyler Linderbaum Drama
Baltimore is moving quickly to shore up the middle of its offensive line after Tyler Linderbaum left for Las Vegas in free agency, turning to veteran center Ethan Pocic on a one-year deal. The move gives the Ravens an experienced option at a spot that suddenly needed one, and it comes with a little extra intrigue because Pocic is still working back from an Achilles tendon tear suffered in December.
Even with that recovery timeline, Pocic is expected to be part of training camp, pending the final physical, which makes this a calculated bet rather than a simple stopgap. It also fits into a broader offseason pattern for Baltimore, which has already shown it is willing to pivot after missing on Maxx Crosby and landing Trey Hendrickson instead, leaving the Linderbaum ripple effect very much alive for the Raiders to watch. [Read more 🡒]
Another Raiders Line Gamble Just Turned Into A Much Bigger Problem
The Raiders brought in Alex Cappa last year hoping a veteran blocker could stabilize a line that needed help, but the fit never really took hold. He bounced between spots, never locked down a consistent starting job and struggled to find much traction as injuries and lineup changes forced him into different roles.
Now, with training camps approaching, Cappa is already off the roster and still looking for his next opportunity. His recent tape has drawn poor marks, and the conversation around him has shifted from what position he might hold for Las Vegas to whether there is still a place for him anywhere in the league. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Made A Massive Bet To Fix Their Biggest Problem
The Raiders spent the offseason trying to clean up the mess that has lingered around their offensive line, and the move to bring in Tyler Linderbaum was the clearest sign they were done treating it like a secondary issue. After years of shuffling pieces and searching for stability up front, Las Vegas made the center position a priority and expects Linderbaum to be the kind of anchor that changes how the entire offense functions.
Klint Kubiak has already pointed to the value Linderbaum brings beyond the snap itself, noting the way he handles line calls, protection checks and the leadership work that happens when coaches are not in the room. The Raiders are betting on more than just talent here, because if Linderbaum settles in the way they think he can, he could quickly become one of the most important players on the roster. [Read more 🡒]