The Las Vegas Raiders can make a real case that they’re the most improved team in the NFL going into next season. They spent the preseason addressing most of their roster needs, and for the first time in a while, the franchise has some forward momentum.
That doesn’t mean the roster is clean. There are still major holes, and the biggest ones sit on offense.
Wide receiver is the most obvious problem. Outside of Brock Bowers, the Raiders don’t have a clear go-to target, and their receiver group could end up among the league’s weakest, with only the Miami Dolphins mentioned in the same breath. Tre Tucker or Jalen Nailor may wind up leading the room by season’s end, but neither is being sold as a true star.
That reality makes 2027 a more interesting conversation than 2026. Fernando Mendoza is expected to be the starter, and if the Raiders ever want to give him a true primary receiver, they’d suddenly have star-level pieces at every offensive spot.
The offensive line is another lingering concern. It was one of the main reasons Las Vegas ended up with the first overall pick to draft Mendoza in the first place, and Klint Kubiak clearly tried to shore it up. Still, questions remain about whether the work was enough.
Tyler Linderbaum is unquestionably a quality player, and a healthy Kolton Miller would be a major boost. But calling the line good would be a stretch. Spencer Buford and DJ Glaze don’t inspire much confidence that opposing pass rushes won’t find success, especially against quarterbacks who aren’t particularly mobile.
That’s what makes Mendoza the central issue. Kubiak can keep stacking talent around him, but none of it matters if the quarterback can’t maximize it. His development is the biggest question facing the Raiders right now, and there’s a real chance the answer won’t come this season.
There’s also a strong argument for keeping Mendoza on the sideline to open his rookie year. The Raiders have no reason to rush him and risk hurting his growth.
What they need now is for him to be the same calculated player who led the Indiana Hoosiers to an undefeated season. If not, the Raiders could be looking at the second time in franchise history that they used the first overall pick on a quarterback who didn’t work out.
In Other News...
Raiders Are Betting Kirk Cousins Can Buy Time At Quarterback
Kirk Cousins gives the Raiders a very different kind of answer at quarterback, one built less on long-term projection and more on steadiness right now. With Fernando Mendoza tucked behind him as a backup and developmental option, the move signals that Las Vegas is trying to manage the position with experience while the younger passer continues to learn rather than be thrown into the fire.
The offensive line being only average helps explain the caution. Cousins has spent enough time around tough quarterback situations to handle some early turbulence, and the Raiders are counting on that as they look to buy time at the position. For Mendoza, the path is still clearly about development, and the organization appears determined not to rush him before he is ready to start. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Depth Battle Just Got More Interesting Before Final Cuts
The preseason ended with a loss to the 49ers, and now the real work starts for the Raiders as they move toward roster cuts and the regular-season opener against the Dolphins. One of the clearest decisions still to sort through is right guard, where Klint Kubiak has spent the summer weighing Jackson Powers-Johnson against Caleb Rogers, with Powers-Johnson looking like the favorite to handle the job when the games count.
There are other spots worth watching, too, as the backfield picture includes Mike Washington Jr. and Dylan Laube in roles that could still shift before the opener. And while the focus turns to trimming the roster, rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza has also given the staff something to evaluate after a preseason that offered a first real look at his development. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Offensive Line Faces One Real Test Fans Still Worry About
The Raiders spent the offseason trying to make the offensive line a real strength, bringing in Klint Kubiak and Rick Dennison while also investing in Tyler Linderbaum. Through the preseason, the first-team group has looked the part, giving the quarterback better protection and helping the run game function with a level of consistency that was missing at times before.
Charles Grant and Trey Zuhn III offered some encouraging moments when they were paired with veterans, but the bigger question sits behind the starters. The second unit had its rough patches, and until the Raiders see whether that group can hold up when the regular season starts to stress the depth chart, the line still feels one injury away from becoming a concern again. [Read more 🡒]