The Raiders have one more roster question hanging over them before Week 1 of Klint Kubiak’s first season arrives, and it sits right at the top of the offense: who is going to be the true go-to receiver?
That issue looks even sharper after Monday’s move, when Las Vegas released Noah Brown just eight days after signing him. General manager John Spytek is still shaping the roster, but the receiver group is suddenly thin on proven production and heavy on young players.
Jalen Nailor, signed earlier this offseason, is in line to be part of the starting mix, while Tre Turner and Jack Bech also appear set to open the year as starters. Dont'e Thornton Jr. and Malik Brown, the sixth-round pick from this past April’s NFL Draft, are also expected to have featured roles in Kubiak’s offense.
There’s talent in that room, but there isn’t an obvious alpha. That’s the problem.
One of the young receivers could grow into it, but the Raiders would be far better served landing a proven No. 1 now rather than waiting for the answer to develop on its own. With veteran Kirk Cousins handling quarterback duties for the moment, Las Vegas also doesn’t need to push 2026 No.1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza into action.
If the Raiders are looking for a trade target who could fit that mold, Jacksonville’s Brian Thomas Jr. stands out.
Thomas Jr., the Jaguars’ 2024 first-round pick, burst onto the scene with an electric rookie year: 87 catches, 1,282 yards and ten touchdowns. Even though Jacksonville missed the playoffs, the feeling around the team was that the pieces were there to rebound. After Liam Coen was hired as head coach last offseason, expectations for Thomas Jr. climbed even higher, with plenty of people expecting a huge second season.
Instead, 2025 was a rough step back. Injuries and ineffectiveness slowed him down, and in 14 games he finished with 48 receptions for 707 yards and two touchdowns. That kind of drop-off is exactly why his name has started popping up in trade chatter as he enters year three.
A change of scenery could be the reset he needs, and Las Vegas would have room to give him that chance. Kubiak helped Jaxon Smith-Njigba post a career year last season, which makes Thomas Jr. an especially intriguing fit, even if there’s no guarantee the same jump would follow him into this system. Still, pairing a receiver with Thomas Jr.’s upside with Mendoza down the line could be the kind of move that gives the Raiders a real offensive foundation.
And the pieces around him are starting to stack up. Ashton Jeanty is in the backfield.
Brock Bowers is there at tight end. Tyler Linderbaum anchors the middle.
If Spytek can land Thomas Jr. - or another receiver with true top-end potential - the Raiders’ offense starts to look a lot more dangerous.
In Other News...
Raiders Center Just Offered A Telling Read On The QB Battle
Joint practices have given the Raiders a useful early window into Fernando Mendoza, and Tyler Linderbaum likes what he has seen from the rookie so far. The center said Mendoza is starting to take command of the huddle and is picking things up quickly, which matters as much as any throw in a competition still taking shape. Linderbaum also pointed to the snap exchange as a key part of the job, a reminder that for a young quarterback, the basics can be every bit as revealing as the highlight plays.
Kirk Cousins remains the standard in the room from a preparation and experience standpoint, and Linderbaum made clear that comparison is part of what Mendoza is working against and learning from. For the Raiders, the comments add a little more texture to a quarterback battle that is still unfolding, with the rookie showing signs of readiness while still having plenty to prove before anything is settled. [Read more 🡒]
Tom Brady Just Sent Raiders Fans A Loud Fernando Mendoza Message
Tom Brady has found a new way to stir up Raiders buzz, and it comes through a piece of memorabilia tied to Fernando Mendoza. The Raiders part-owner recently landed a one-of-one Mendoza rookie card that includes the quarterbacks first NFL autograph, and the deal took weeks of negotiation before Brady finally secured it with a cash payment and an autographed jersey.
Brady then showed off the card publicly, turning a collectors prize into a pointed message about what he sees in Mendozas future. For Raiders fans, it reads like more than just a flex from a Hall of Famer. It is also a sign that Brady views the young quarterback as both a desirable collectible and a possible long-term asset for the team. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Already Moved On From Their Newest Receiver Addition
The Raiders latest receiver shuffle lasted barely a week, with Noah Brown moving on almost as quickly as he arrived. Brown had appeared in a preseason game and finished with one catch for 11 yards, but Las Vegas decided to release him without immediately bringing in another player, a reminder of how quickly the back end of the roster can change in August.
Receiver depth has been a moving target for the Raiders, especially with injuries affecting the group and another wideout expected back soon. Browns departure fits the kind of short-term adjustment teams often make this time of year, when every spot is under review and even a recent addition can become the odd man out in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]