Before the Las Vegas Raiders turn their attention to Week 3 against the New Orleans Saints, it’s worth taking a first look at how the team’s offseason veteran additions are holding up. This stock report is meant to track the Raiders’ free-agent class the same way the weekly rookie report cards do, giving a snapshot of how general manager John Spytek and his staff spent the cap space they had this spring.
The early returns include a little bit of everything: a practice-squad pickup who turned into a big-play threat, a linebacker making impact plays all over the field, and a veteran quarterback who looked much sharper in Week 2 than he did in the opener. Those three stood out most in the Raiders’ 26-14 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Cody White was the surprise name at the top of the list. The Raiders brought him in after the Seattle Seahawks cut him during final roster moves, and Klint Kubiak clearly saw a fit for the 27-year-old receiver.
Tre Tucker led the team with five catches and 119 receiving yards, but White grabbed the headlines by scoring touchdowns on both of his receptions. He had only 11 offensive snaps in Week 1, then played just seven offensive snaps in Week 2 and made the most of every chance he got.
Nakobe Dean continued to show why he belongs in the conversation whenever the Raiders’ defense comes up. The offense has drawn plenty of attention through two weeks, but Dean has been making noise on the other side too, with a mix of pass-rush juice and work against the run.
Against the Chargers, he finished with nine tackles, including six solo stops, and a half-sack. His biggest moment came late in the fourth quarter when he attacked Omarion Hampton, forced a fumble, and set up Jeremy Chinn’s 43-yard recovery return deep into Chargers territory.
Through two games, Dean has 16 tackles, including two for loss, along with 1.5 sacks and three pressures.
Kirk Cousins rounded out the group with a cleaner, more explosive outing than he had in Week 1. Entering Week 3, he’s one of four quarterbacks in the NFL with six touchdown passes, and he showed he can still attack down the field.
Pro Football Focus credited him with going 8-of-12 for 181 yards, three touchdowns and an interception on throws of 10 or more yards. The Chargers didn’t seem to account for his ability to push the ball vertically, and Cousins made them pay for it.
In Other News...
Raiders Rally Around Aidan OConnell During A Heartbreaking Family Moment
Aidan OConnells off-field reality took center stage this week, as the Raiders quarterback shared the news on social media that his father, Jim OConnell, has died. OConnells post included a tribute to his dad and a request for prayers as his family navigates the loss, a deeply personal moment that came with the team still in the middle of its season and OConnell working as Las Vegas third-string quarterback.
For a player who has already been through family hardship before, the response around him has been immediate, with teammates and other players around the league offering support. In a sport that can move quickly from one week to the next, this is the kind of moment that pulls everything back to what matters most, and the Raiders now face the human side of a difficult stretch for one of their own. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Face A Secondary Problem They Can't Ignore Vs Saints
Treydan Stukes status has become one of the quieter but more important issues for the Raiders heading into Week 3. He left the Week 2 game early with a concussion, and he has not practiced since as he works through concussion protocol, leaving Las Vegas with a real question in the secondary before facing the New Orleans Saints.
The uncertainty matters because the Raiders are already weighing defensive adjustments if he cannot go. That kind of shuffle can ripple through the back end of the defense, especially this early in the season, and it puts added pressure on the coaching staff to find a workable answer before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Tonka Hemingway Has A Big Chance To Force The Raiders Hand
Tonka Hemingway has spent the early part of the 2026 season making himself harder to ignore. The Raiders defensive tackle has shown steady improvement in run defense, pass rushing and even coverage, while bouncing around multiple spots on the interior line. For a team still sorting out the best answers up front, that kind of versatility has real value, especially with a favorable Week 3 matchup against the Saints interior offensive line on deck.
The bigger question now is whether Hemingway can turn those flashes into something the Raiders have to seriously account for beyond one good stretch. His recent performances have put him in position to make a stronger case for a larger role, and the context around him only helps: the more he can affect plays inside, the harder it becomes for Las Vegas to keep treating him as just another rotational piece. Week 3 could be the kind of game that shifts the conversation. [Read more 🡒]