The Raiders spent the offseason reshaping their offense, and Jalen Nailor may be one of the biggest beneficiaries of all that movement.
Las Vegas has rebuilt its quarterback room and added talent across the roster, but The Athletic’s Sam Warren singled out Nailor as the team’s breakout candidate for 2026. That’s a notable call for a receiver who arrives in a situation that looks far more open than the one he just left in Minnesota.
“Nailor has surprisingly been the lone premium addition the Raiders have made at receiver this offseason after trading away top target Jakobi Meyers in November,” Warren wrote. “While that may leave many scratching their heads, it gives Nailor an opportunity to produce like never before. The fifth-year veteran had a solid final two seasons in Minnesota, but was always a tertiary option behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.”
Nailor’s recent production gives that prediction some real weight. In 2025, he caught 29 passes for 444 yards and four touchdowns, numbers that closely matched what he did in 2024. The consistency is part of what makes him interesting now: he has already shown he can be a steady piece of a passing game, and now he may get a much bigger slice of the pie.
That opportunity could grow even more if Kirk Cousins is the starter in Week 1. Nailor and Cousins already have established chemistry from their time together with the Vikings, and he also has that same connection with head coach Klint Kubiak.
“He now comes into Las Vegas carrying established chemistry with quarterback Kirk Cousins and head coach Klint Kubiak from their Vikings days and no solidified WR1 ahead of him,” Warren added. “All signs point to Nailor having a chance to post career numbers in his first season with the Raiders.”
Nailor still won’t be the centerpiece of the offense. Brock Bowers is expected to draw a heavy target load, and Ashton Jeanty should be plenty involved as well. But there’s still room for Nailor to carve out a meaningful role, and maybe more than that, if the Raiders’ passing game finds its rhythm.
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