Training camp is about to put the Las Vegas Raiders back under the microscope, and plenty of the attention will land on the shiny new pieces. There’s a new era starting, head coach Klint Kubiak and general manager John Spytek are on the same page about building a championship-contending program, and the offseason brought a wave of additions - headlined by quarterback Fernando Mendoza going at the top of the NFL Draft this spring.
But while the Raiders have clearly upgraded in a lot of spots, there’s still a long list of questions hanging over the roster. Mendoza’s future, the offensive line, a linebacker group that could look very different, and a young secondary all sit in the “we’ll know more later” bucket. The same goes for the run game, where Ashton Jeanty could help spark a major jump, and for the receiver room, which still has to prove it can raise the ceiling for whoever is throwing the ball.
The question that keeps getting buried, though, is the one on the edge of the defense.
Maxx Crosby remains the face of the Raiders’ pass rush, but the bigger issue is whether Las Vegas has finally found someone who can line up opposite him and matter. For years, Crosby has done the heavy lifting without a true No. 2 edge threat beside him. Malcolm Koonce looked like he might be that answer before a torn ACL stalled his rise a couple of years ago, and he’s still working his way back.
This offseason brought two more names into the mix. The Raiders signed former Indianapolis Colts first-round pick Kwity Paye to a three-year deal, and then added Auburn pass rusher Keyron Crawford in the third round of the draft as a developmental option. Both have a path to becoming Crosby’s running mate, and both will have to show it under defensive coordinator Rob Leonard.
Crawford may have the highest upside of anyone on the edge besides Crosby. His twitch, his pass-rush package and his potential against the run make him the long-term bet if everything comes together. Paye, though, brings experience, production and power, which gives him a real case as well.
Then there’s Koonce, who could simply get back to his 2023 level and wipe out the whole debate.
That’s why this feels like such an important question, even if it isn’t getting nearly enough attention. The Raiders have plenty of flash elsewhere, but the edge spot opposite Crosby could end up being one of the most revealing battles on the roster as the season approaches.
In Other News...
These Overlooked Raiders Have A Realer Shot Than Fans Think
A few of the Raiders quieter roster battles are starting to look a lot more interesting than they did when camp opened, especially among the players trying to force their way onto the back end of the roster or at least stick around on the practice squad. Carter Runyon has already shown enough in a previous preseason to keep him in the conversation at tight end, Shedrick Jackson brings special teams value and a little bit of offensive upside, and Tristin McCollum arrived with a path that suggests the front office sees something worth developing. Cameron McGrone and Brennan Jackson fit the same mold, each needing a strong summer to turn overlooked status into something more tangible.
What makes this group worth watching is that their chances are tied not just to their own flashes, but to how the rest of the roster settles around them. Runyon has a chance to make things uncomfortable for the tight ends ahead of him, Jackson could matter if the young receivers do not seize their opportunities, McCollum is in the mix at safety after being claimed by John Spytek, and McGrone is in a direct fight for linebacker snaps. Brennan Jackson, meanwhile, is the kind of edge defender who can benefit if the Raiders depth there stays thin, which means a few strong practices and preseason reps could change the picture quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Finally Have A New Direction In Their Biggest Problem
The Raiders spent much of their offseason trying to change the conversation around the most stubborn problem on the roster, and the front office made it clear the fix would come from the offensive side of the ball. Klint Kubiak was hired to steer the attack, while Mike McCoy and Andrew Janocko joined the staff to help sharpen the details around quarterback play, from mechanics to anticipation, as Las Vegas looks for a cleaner foundation heading into camp.
For a team that has cycled through uncertainty at the position in recent seasons, the emphasis now is on teaching and repetition rather than patchwork answers. The additions give the Raiders a new direction, but the real test will come when the offense gets on the field and those offseason ideas have to hold up under pressure. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Fans Wont Like This Justin Jefferson Trade Rumor
A fresh bit of speculation around the Raiders has put a familiar name in the middle of the conversation, with a report from Hondo Carpenter suggesting there is at least some potential interest in a major trade idea. The note is careful to frame it as exactly that, though, with nothing imminent and no indication that anything is close to happening.
Still, the timing is enough to get attention in Las Vegas because the Raiders just hired Klint Kubiak as head coach, and any connection between a new staff and a high-end offensive player is bound to spark chatter. For now, it remains a hypothetical swing rather than a move on the board, but it is the kind of rumor that will linger as long as Kubiak is settling in. [Read more 🡒]