The Raiders are entering a season where development matters as much as anything else, and that means the new staff can’t treat every young player the same. Klint Kubiak’s group is built to teach, but there’s still a line between prospects worth nurturing and players who may not fit the direction Las Vegas is heading.
Charles Grant is one of the names worth keeping close. The third-round tackle from 2025 should be in the mix at right tackle this season, and there’s even a path for him to eventually challenge Kolton Miller on the left side. Grant brings size, power and movement skills that fit Kubiak’s scheme, and he already showed well in limited action last year.
Jack Bech belongs in the same bucket. The Raiders didn’t get much help from their skill players in a year defined by shaky quarterback play and a struggling offensive line, so Bech shouldn’t carry too much blame. He may not profile as a classic No. 1 receiver, but he can still carve out a real role as a physical slot option, part tight end, part receiver, and a strong blocker who brings reliable hands, toughness and value after the catch.
Dont'e Thornton Jr. is another player who deserves more runway. A rough rookie season has already pushed some fans to move on, but a 6-foot-5 receiver who runs a 4.3 is not something teams just replace.
If Thornton Jr. settles in as a Z receiver who can pop for the occasional big play and use his length around the goal line, that still has real value for a fourth-round pick. Kubiak’s staff should get a chance to work with him.
On the other side, Will Putnam looks like a player whose path in Las Vegas has narrowed. He’s been around through multiple coaching staffs and brings a nasty, versatile presence inside, but the Raiders have invested heavily on the interior and seem to have moved past him. He didn’t do much with the snaps he got last year, and he doesn’t look like a central piece of the rebuild.
Decamerion Richardson is in a similar spot. He saw plenty of action as a rookie and had some solid moments when injuries hit the secondary, but he was also getting picked apart too often.
That can happen to a Day 3 rookie. What stands out is that he didn’t appear to take a step forward in Year 2, and his role faded as Las Vegas reshaped the secondary.
Greedy Vance also appears to be on the outside looking in, though the issue is more about fit than a direct judgment on his game. The Raiders seem to be moving toward a “super nickel” under Rob Leonard - a bigger, more physical, more versatile type - and the 5-foot-9, 177-pound Vance doesn’t match that profile. With other options available for that spot, he may have a better chance to stick somewhere else.
In Other News...
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 🡒]
Raiders Face One Crucial Backfield Decision Before Training Camp
Training camp is approaching with a new offensive voice in place, and the Raiders have a backfield question worth watching as they settle in under Klint Kubiak. His background with a Super Bowl-winning offense and a productive run game in Seattle gives the team reason to believe the rushing attack can be more efficient, especially if Ashton Jeanty takes a step forward in his second season with help from offensive line coach Rick Dennison.
The bigger issue is whether Las Vegas wants to add another proven runner before camp opens, giving the offense more insurance behind Jeanty and rookie Mike Washington Jr. A veteran addition would change the shape of the depth chart and could make the group more stable if injuries hit, but for now the Raiders are still weighing whether the current mix is enough or whether one more move is needed to round out the room. [Read more 🡒]