The Raiders’ 2026 season may not be defined by the win column alone. After a three-win year, Las Vegas looks like one of the offseason’s most improved teams, but that doesn’t automatically mean a huge jump in victories is coming. The schedule is still tough enough that simply doubling last season’s total would be a lot to ask.
So if the record doesn’t tell the full story, what should count as progress?
One obvious benchmark is Fernando Mendoza getting on the field. The Raiders signed Kirk Cousins this offseason, and Mendoza can absolutely spend time learning behind him.
That part of the plan makes sense. But the idea of him sitting all year without playing a snap in the regular season feels like a missed opportunity, especially if he’s the kind of talent worthy of going first overall.
His rookie-scale deal won’t last forever, and if he becomes what the Raiders hope he can be, the money picture gets big fast with Mendoza, Ashton Jeanty, and Brock Bowers all in the mix. Las Vegas should make the most of that cheap window while it lasts.
Another major checkpoint is pass-rush production. Maxx Crosby is coming off an injury, but the expectation is still that he can get to double-digit sacks in 2026, particularly with a stronger linebacking group behind him. The real difference-maker would be another player stepping up as a true partner in crime and grabbing seven sacks on his own.
Kwity Paye looks like the clearest candidate for that role. He had eight sacks in 2024 before dropping to half that total last season. If that kind of production returns, or if one of the younger players finds that level, it would give the Raiders’ defense a real boost.
Then there’s the offense, which simply didn’t create enough fireworks last season. Klint Kubiak was hired as head coach with the idea that he could change that.
If he helps the Raiders play above expectations, that would be one thing. But even without a dramatic leap in the standings, just giving Raider Nation a steady stream of exciting plays would be a meaningful step forward.
In Other News...
Raiders QB Plan Already Comes With One Big Problem
The Raiders have already settled on their quarterback plan for 2026, putting Kirk Cousins at the top of the depth chart over rookie Fernando Mendoza and Aidan OConnell. Klint Kubiaks decision leans heavily on Cousins experience and leadership, a sensible enough place to start for a team trying to steady itself and avoid another season of uncertainty under center.
But the choice still comes with an obvious catch for Las Vegas, because the biggest question around the offense may not be who is taking the snaps so much as who is keeping the pocket intact. If the offensive line continues to be an issue, the case for Mendoza as the longer-term answer only gets stronger, and the Raiders could find themselves weighing present-day stability against a future built on better protection. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Offense Suddenly Has One Touches Question Fans Can't Ignore
The Raiders head into 2026 with an offense that looks very different from the one fans have been sorting through for the past few seasons, and the roster changes give this group a very different kind of ceiling. Kirk Cousins brings the passing-game structure, Brock Bowers remains the kind of weapon defenses have to account for on every snap, and Ashton Jeanty adds a layer of backfield power that can shape how the whole unit is used. Add in young pass-catchers like Tre Tucker and Malik Benson, plus Mike Washington Jr. as another name to watch in the mix, and there are enough moving parts here to make the offense feel loaded with possibilities.
What makes it interesting is how tightly all of those roles may connect once the season starts. If Cousins is throwing at a steady clip, Bowers and the receivers can feed off that volume, while Jeantys workload could determine how balanced or pass-heavy the offense becomes from week to week. For bettors looking at individual markets, that creates a familiar Raiders question with a new cast: which player is actually set up to get the touches that matter most, and which one is going to be left waiting for opportunity? [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Offensive Staff Overhaul Says Everything About Last Seasons Problems
The Raiders changes on offense say plenty about how the organization felt about last seasons problems, especially up front. Las Vegas struggled with its offensive line in 2025, and internal sources described the coaching there as among the worst they had seen, a stinging assessment that helps explain why the team moved quickly to reset that side of the ball.
Rick Dennison arrives as the new offensive line coach for 2026, with the expectation that he can bring cleaner fundamentals and better technique to a unit that badly needed both. The overhaul did not stop there, either, as the Raiders also upgraded at quarterbacks coach by hiring Mike Sullivan, whose long NFL background and prior working relationship with offensive coordinator Kubiak should give the staff more continuity as it tries to stabilize the offense. [Read more 🡒]