The Raiders’ preseason has already started to draw a clear picture, and it’s a roster that looks nothing like the one that opened a year ago. With Klint Kubiak trying to sort talent into 53 spots, Las Vegas has built around a revamped quarterback room, a fortified offensive line and a defense that suddenly has more speed in it. The hard part now is trimming all of that down.
At 1-1 through two exhibition games, the Raiders have seen both sides of the preseason coin. They opened with a 27-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals at Allegiant Stadium, then answered with a 22-20 road win over the Houston Texans. Those games have given quarterback Fernando Mendoza valuable snaps, and he’s shown poise against Arizona before working through early struggles in Houston.
A few other names have also pushed themselves into the conversation. Wide receiver Malik Benson, defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway and running back Dylan Laube have all carried camp momentum into game action, which only makes the final preseason matchup against San Francisco more significant.
The top of the roster looks stable enough. The back end?
That’s where the real fight lives.
Kirk Cousins is still the starter, with Mendoza and Aidan O’Connell behind him. Cousins gives Kubiak the veteran presence he wants, Mendoza remains a long-term piece, and O’Connell is the tricky part of the equation because carrying three quarterbacks costs a spot elsewhere. Even so, his experience keeps him in the mix as insurance.
The backfield would feature Ashton Jeanty, Mike Washington Jr, Dylan Laube and Connor Heyward. Jeanty is the centerpiece, pending a return from injury, while Washington offers early-down help and Laube has done enough to stay in the discussion.
Heyward’s value comes from how many different jobs he can handle. The Raiders could go lighter here, but his special-teams work and schematic versatility make him tough to cut.
Benson’s rise has changed the receiver room the most. He now looks like a real roster lock after a dominant camp, and his vertical burst plus route precision give the Raiders another threat who can stretch defenses. Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton Jr. round out the group, with Dareke Young taking the last spot because of special teams.
At tight end, the room starts with Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer. Bowers is the focal point of the position and of the offense itself, while Mayer gives Kubiak a second tight end who can block and catch. Ian Thomas adds a more traditional inline option.
The offensive line is where the Raiders’ investment really shows. The projected starting five has Kolton Miller at left tackle, Spencer Burford at left guard, Tyler Linderbaum at center, Jackson Powers-Johnson at right guard and Delmar “DJ” Glaze at right tackle.
Linderbaum’s arrival gives the interior a stabilizing presence. Trey Zuhn III, Charles Grant, Caleb Rogers and Jordan Meredith supply the kind of flexibility teams need once injuries start hitting up front.
On the edge, Maxx Crosby remains the centerpiece, joined by Kwity Paye, Malcolm Koonce and Keyron Crawford. That’s the group carrying the pass-rush load.
Inside, Tonka Hemingway has been one of the preseason’s biggest winners and earns a place with Adam Butler, Jonah Laulu, Folorunso Fatukasi, Thomas Booker IV and Brandon Cleveland. Fatukasi brings the run-stopping force, while the rest help keep the rotation fresh.
Linebacker gets a speed injection with Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker. Cody Lindenberg and Tommy Eichenberg also make the cut, with both players adding special-teams value.
In the secondary, Taron Johnson fills the slot role, while Eric Stokes and Darien Porter project as the main outside depth. Decamerion Richardson, Hezekiah Masses and Jermod McCoy complete a six-man corner group, helped along by Chigozie Anusiem’s move to injured reserve.
The safety group includes Jeremy Chinn, Isaiah Pola-Mao, Treydan Stukes, Dalton Johnson and Tristin McCollum. Chinn’s versatility stands out, Pola-Mao provides depth, and Stukes and McCollum help on special teams.
Matt Gay is the kicker, AJ Cole is the punter and Alex Ward is the long snapper.
In the end, the projected roster is built around versatility, speed and flexibility. Benson’s breakout is the biggest development, while Hemingway and Laube have also improved their cases with preseason production.
The Raiders have the look of a team with real upside. The challenge now is turning that into the right 53-man group.
In Other News...
Tom Brady Just Sent Raiders Fans A Loud Fernando Mendoza Message
Tom Brady has been making headlines again around the Raiders, this time with a move that has plenty of layers beyond the usual memorabilia chase. The teams part-owner recently went after a one-of-one Fernando Mendoza rookie card, a piece that carries Mendozas first NFL autograph and checks every box for a high-end collector. The deal took weeks of back-and-forth to complete and reportedly included both cash and an autographed jersey before Brady was able to land the card and show it off publicly.
For Raiders fans, the intrigue goes beyond the card itself and into what Brady seems to be signaling about Mendozas future. He views the purchase as more than a collectors trophy, treating it as a bet on Mendozas potential with Las Vegas. Whether it is savvy investment or simply a loud show of confidence, Bradys move adds another layer to the growing attention around the rookie and the role he could eventually play for the franchise. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Already Moved On From Their Newest Receiver Addition
The Raiders latest wide receiver swing lasted only a week, with Noah Brown coming in, getting into a preseason game, and then being released after a single catch for 11 yards. It was a quick turn for a player who had just been added to a position group that has been shaped all summer by injuries and the constant search for reliable depth.
Las Vegas did not immediately bring in another receiver after moving on from Brown, which makes the timing worth watching as the roster settles in. With injuries forcing adjustments and another wideout expected back soon, the Raiders appear to be sorting through numbers and roles rather than making a long-term commitment at the bottom of the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]
Former Raiders Specialist Just Walked Into A High-Stakes Kicker Battle
The Saints are adding a familiar name to a kicking competition that had already been drawing attention, bringing in veteran Daniel Carlson to challenge for the starting job. Carlson spent years with the Raiders and built a reputation as one of the leagues most reliable specialists, earning two All-Pro nods before landing back in the middle of a training camp battle in New Orleans.
Charlie Smyth had been viewed as the frontrunner, with Tanner Brown also in the mix, but Carlsons arrival changes the feel of the race. For the Saints, it turns a straightforward camp story into a pressure-packed evaluation, with a proven veteran now trying to carve out a spot before the regular season arrives. [Read more 🡒]