The Raiders’ updated Week 10 depth chart points to a team in transition, and the biggest change sits right where the spotlight always burns hottest. Sunday against the Seahawks will be Mendoza’s first start as a professional, a milestone that instantly gives this game a different kind of weight for Las Vegas.
That’s the headline, but it’s not the only moving part. Klint Kubiak’s Raiders are heading into a matchup with his former team, and Seattle brings plenty of problems with it. Still, the depth chart shuffle has made a few things clearer about where this roster stands right now.
Mendoza’s first start comes with a lot attached to it, and the Raiders’ offense will need to help him settle in. The line has to open more running lanes, but the young backs have to finish the job too. The receiver group could also get a little extra life this week, and it will be worth watching how much of an impact that group makes with Mendoza under center.
Miller may benefit from having a more mobile quarterback behind him. If that doesn’t show up on Sunday, then the Raiders have a bigger conversation on their hands.
Up front, the guard spots remain a mess on both sides. Trey Zuhn is expected to start at right guard if he’s healthy enough to play, and there could be some musical chairs around him depending on how things shake out.
There is at least one part of the offense that still looks strong on paper. Even after two costly fumbles last week, the tight end group remains, as the source puts it, arguably the best in the league. It may not be very arguable.
The defense, meanwhile, keeps leaning on Maxx Crosby to carry the standard. Crosby keeps doing what he always does, but the Raiders need to be more competitive around him so the pass rush has a chance to matter the way it should.
That front has some important pieces in place. These three should be in a healthy rotation on Sunday, and Butler’s expected return should help the group.
Hemingway gives the middle of the line a solid presence, though he keeps getting banged up, and that has left the Raiders thin inside. That shortage has shown up in their struggles against the run.
Paye is another player the Raiders need more from. Las Vegas needs him to make an impact on the pass rush even when Crosby and the others are not forcing the action his way.
At linebacker, Dean has been a steady leader for the defense this season, while Eichenberg needs more snaps. Walker’s coverage ability is better than what the Raiders have gotten from that spot in recent seasons, but it still remains a problem. The source suggests that may be something Las Vegas has to address with a few offseason moves to get the most out of him.
The back end is under the microscope now, too. Stokes, McCoy, and the rest of the secondary are the group to watch moving forward.
Stokes has struggled lately, and the Raiders need McCoy to keep developing - and to develop faster. Johnson also has to keep improving, just like the rest of the defensive backfield.
Treydan Stukes continues to get tested every week, but not because offenses overlook him. It’s the opposite. Teams respect him enough to keep coming at him, and he has to keep winning those battles more often than not.
Chinn’s veteran presence remains important, and Johnson’s growth is still worth tracking.
Special teams has been one of the steadier areas for Las Vegas. Cole is averaging over 50 yards per punt this season and has done his job consistently.
Gay has made 19 of his 21 field goals, including the kick that helped keep the Raiders in last week’s game. And Laube has emerged as one of the league’s best kickoff return specialists.
Technically, he might be the best.
In Other News...
Raiders May Finally Be Ready To Unleash Ashton Jeanty
Ashton Jeantys rookie season has already shown both sides of what makes him such an important piece for the Raiders. His rushing efficiency has dipped since Week 1, with injuries and uneven offensive line play helping to slow the ground game, but his impact has hardly disappeared. Even as the carries have been less explosive, Jeanty has become a major part of the passing attack, entering Week 10 as the NFLs leader among running backs in receptions and receiving yards.
Now the Raiders appear to be setting him up for a bigger second-half role after their trade for rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza. For a team that has been searching for more rhythm on offense, the move could open more space for Jeanty and give the running game a better chance to find traction. If the passing game and backfield usage start to sync up, Las Vegas may finally be ready to lean into the kind of weapon Jeanty was drafted to be. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Defensive Mess Now Puts Rob Leonard In The Spotlight
Following the loss to the 49ers, Rob Leonard found himself answering for a defense that has been too easy to score on and too inconsistent to trust. The Raiders defensive coordinator said he appreciated coach Klint Kubiaks public backing, but the bigger issue is the units play on the field, where Las Vegas has been giving up a league-worst 29.8 points per game this season.
Leonards comments landed on a day when Kubiak also made another notable call, announcing Fernando Mendoza as the starting quarterback for the next game. For a Raiders team trying to steady itself on both sides of the ball, the defensive conversation is now impossible to separate from the larger urgency around the roster, and Leonard is the one carrying the spotlight until the group starts showing more consistency. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Trade For Kirk Cousins Looks Different After Vikings Decision
Minnesotas decision to keep Kirk Cousins under center in Week 10 adds another layer to a trade that already had plenty of weight for Las Vegas. The Raiders sent Cousins to the Vikings in a deal that brought back a third-round pick, and the move now looks even more consequential given how much of the offense he had handled in 2026 before the swap.
For the Raiders, the trade was never just about moving on from a veteran quarterback, it was about betting on the value of the return and the direction of the roster. Cousins had started nine games in Las Vegas, completing 64.1 percent of his passes with 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions, so Minnesotas willingness to put him back in the lineup only sharpens the question of what the Raiders gave up and what they still need to answer at the position. [Read more 🡒]