The Raiders still have some unfinished business before training camp opens late in July, and the work isn’t limited to their rookie contracts.
Las Vegas’ first order of business should be getting first-round pick Fernando Mendoza and fourth-rounder Jermod McCoy signed. But with $23.6 million in cap space, according to Over the Cap, GM John Spytek can also keep digging in the bargain aisle for veterans who can steady a few thin spots on the roster.
That kind of shopping makes sense because the Raiders still need help on defense and competition on the offensive line. A few low-cost additions could serve as insurance for injured players, cover for starters who don’t hold up, or simply push a job battle in the right direction.
One name that fits cleanly on the outside is cornerback Rasul Douglas. By the time rookies report on July 23, Las Vegas is expected to have McCoy under contract, but the bigger question is what McCoy can do in 2026. The Raiders gave him time off during the spring while he deals with a degenerative knee issue, and Vincent Bonsignore of the California Post reported that McCoy is "on target" to be a full participant at training camp.
Even so, that doesn’t guarantee McCoy is ready to beat out second-year corner Darien Porter for a starting job on the boundary. Douglas would give the Raiders a proven answer if they need one.
He’s been a primary starter for four teams since 2020 - the Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins - and in 2025 he led the Dolphins with 13 pass breakups and two interceptions while allowing a 73 passer rating in coverage. That kind of résumé makes him an easy plug-in if McCoy needs a year on injured reserve or Porter doesn’t grab the job.
The offensive line also deserves a hard look, especially at right tackle. DJ Glaze is not in a headline-grabbing fight for the starting role, but the Raiders shouldn’t treat the spot as locked down. Pro Football Focus said Glaze allowed a team-high 48 pressures and was second on the roster with 10 sacks allowed last season, and while the old coaching staff deserves some blame, the current regime has no reason to simply hand him the job.
That’s where Kendall Lamm comes in. The 11-year veteran didn’t log much playing time last year, but PFF says he didn’t allow a sack across 336 pass-blocking snaps with the Miami Dolphins in 2024.
He’d be a useful test for Glaze, and if Glaze wins the job, Lamm could still stick around as a veteran swing tackle. He’s a career backup who has played more than 1,000 snaps at both left and right tackle, which gives the Raiders flexibility if 2025 third-rounder Charles Grant isn’t ready for that role.
Safety is the other spot that jumps off the page. The Raiders drafted Treydan Stukes and Dalton Johnson in the second and fifth rounds, and both played safety and slot in college. But they spent far more time in the box than in deep coverage, and according to PFF, Stukes and Johnson combined for just 391 snaps at free safety.
That’s why Taylor Rapp belongs near the top of the list. Jeremy Chinn and Isaiah Pola-Mao allowed 10 touchdowns combined in coverage last season, along with passer ratings above 120, so the Raiders could use a veteran who can handle the back end.
Rapp dealt with a knee injury until the Buffalo Bills put him on injured reserve last October, but even then he allowed a 78.6 passer rating in coverage in 2025. He’s also kept opposing offenses from hitting him for multiple touchdowns in four of his seven seasons, and PFF says he has played 2,268 snaps at free safety.
For a team still sorting out its summer depth chart, Rapp looks like the kind of center-field defender the Raiders should be chasing.
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Raiders Fans May Not Like What Kubiak's Offense Means For Jack Bech
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Kubiaks background suggests the Raiders could lean heavily on two-tight-end looks, with Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer positioned to soak up snaps while Tre Tucker and Jalen Nailor handle important receiver roles. Nailor arrived on a three-year, $35 million deal, a sign the new staff already has clear plans for the passing game. For Bech, the issue is less about whether he belongs and more about whether there will be enough room for him to move beyond a limited rotation. [Read more 🡒]