The Raiders are heading into Week 1 with a roster that looks a lot different than the one that’s dragged them through the last few seasons, and Sunday’s opener against the Miami Dolphins should give the clearest first read yet on what all those changes actually mean.
For a team that has spent recent years dealing with one of the league’s least talented rosters, this offseason was about more than just adding names. It was about closing a gap that has been obvious against almost every opponent.
Las Vegas entered the year with major holes, and those shortcomings were a big reason the Raiders have dropped nearly 30 games over the past two seasons. The front office attacked that problem hard.
General manager John Spytek made a point of being aggressive in free agency, bringing in some of the best available talent at positions of need and starting the work of reshaping the roster. Tyler Linderbaum, Quay Walker, Nakobe Dean, and others are expected to help push the Raiders toward the more competitive team they want to become.
Spytek also made clear that the roster-building process goes deeper than simply collecting talent. Shortly after the team revealed its initial 53-man roster, he laid out the thinking behind the approach.
“I don't think that they're my guys, I think they're our guys. This is a collective effort by so many people in this building to bring the right kind of person in.
I count on this guy and everybody upstairs, second floor, the first floor. I think that we have a plan in place.
We were very intentional about it; we know what we're looking for," Spytek said shortly after announcing the team's initial 53-man roster.
“We know what we will not compromise on. We know the standard that we have to uphold.
That requirement is due every day. We have to remind ourselves of the guys that we will take, the guys that we won't take, and we are committed to building this the right way with the right people, so that when we do have success, we can we can sustain it, and it requires the right kind of people."
That overhaul has included nearly 20 players added across the last two drafts, with the Raiders expecting that group to grow into meaningful roles as the rebuild moves forward.
Sunday’s game will be the first real test of that entire plan. The Raiders have finished their preparation, and now the answers start coming.
Which additions are ready right away? Which moves need more time?
That’s the kind of evaluation Week 1 delivers.
There are still plenty of unknowns. Brock Bowers will not play, and Ashton Jeanty’s health is still up in the air. But most of the new faces brought in at other spots should be on the field, giving Las Vegas a chance to see how much of the offseason work can translate immediately.
The timing adds another wrinkle. With one fewer preseason game than teams used to have, Week 1 now feels like the fourth exhibition for a lot of clubs.
Nobody is fully settled yet. That’s true across the league, but especially for a Raiders team that has changed so much in both the roster and the coaching staff.
Even so, the opener matters. The Dolphins come in with their own new pieces, and the matchup gives Las Vegas a winnable home game to measure itself against right away. It’s early, and the season is long, but this one should tell the Raiders plenty about where they stand.
For Las Vegas, the hope is simple: the new wave of talent shows up in a big way on Sunday and gives this team a cleaner starting point under Kubiak.
In Other News...
Raiders Face An Early Brock Bowers Problem They Can't Ignore
Brock Bowers wont be available when the Raiders open the season against the Dolphins, and that puts an immediate spotlight on how Las Vegas plans to move forward without one of its most important young playmakers. Head coach Klint Kubiak confirmed the tight end has been ruled out after undergoing a meniscus trim surgery on his knee, a development that leaves the team to adjust its Week 1 plans before the games even start.
The bigger concern for the Raiders is that no specific return timeline has been set, which makes Bowers absence feel less like a short detour and more like the start of a cautious waiting game. Given the teams awareness of his previous knee issues, this is clearly a situation Las Vegas is handling carefully, but it also means the offense has to be ready for an early stretch without the player it was built to feature. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Week 1 Inactives Include One Surprise Fans Didnt See Coming
The Raiders first game of the season brought one notable wrinkle before kickoff, as the clubs Week 1 inactive list against the Dolphins included linebacker Cody Lindenberg. Las Vegas also ruled out quarterback Aidan OConnell, who is serving as the emergency third quarterback, along with tight end Brock Bowers, safety Dalton Johnson, defensive tackle JJ Pegues, cornerback Darrell Luter Jr. and interior offensive lineman Bryce Cabeldue.
For a team sorting through roster decisions and health questions in the opening week, the inactive list offered an early look at how the Raiders want to shape the sideline mix against Miami. Some of the names were expected because of injury or recent acquisition status, but Lindenbergs designation stood out as the one fans probably did not have circled when the day began. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Face One Big Maxx Crosby Question Before The Deadline
The trade chatter around Maxx Crosby has only grown louder as the November 10 deadline nears, and it all starts with how close the Raiders came to dealing their star edge rusher in the first place. The Ravens backed out of a trade agreement after Crosby failed a physical, which instantly reset the market and sent other contenders back to the table. The Rams were among the most aggressive teams to circle back, but Crosby made it clear he wants to stay in Las Vegas.
Even with that stance, the phone lines are not likely to go quiet. The Eagles, Cowboys and 49ers have all shown interest, and Dallas has emerged as the club that could make the strongest push if it decides to act before the deadline. For the Raiders, the question is no longer whether Crosby has value. It is how long they can hold onto one of the leagues most coveted pass rushers while the rest of the market keeps probing. [Read more 🡒]