The Raiders have plenty to sort through in training camp, and a few familiar names are walking into summer with their starting jobs far from guaranteed.
At nose tackle, Adam Butler is the veteran to watch. He signed a three-year extension with Las Vegas last March, but the front office that handed out that deal is gone. Under Klint Kubiak, the Raiders brought in Benito Jones on a one-year "prove-it" deal, a move that suggests the team wants to get younger and better up front as it tries to improve its defensive line.
Butler clearly had the stronger 2025 season when compared with Jones, and that gap matters. Still, camp will be the real test for Jones: can he make a legitimate push to start next season, or is he simply there to provide depth?
There’s also a youth movement to keep an eye on at the same spot. JJ Pegues, a sixth-round pick last season, saw very little action, but this summer gives him a chance to show he can be the run-stopper on the defensive line.
Gary Smith III is even further down the board as an undrafted free agent from this offseason, though his work at UCLA last season showed real defensive ability. If Kubiak leans toward youth, Smith is at least a name worth tracking.
Tre Tucker is in a different category. He may not fit the classic definition of a veteran, but he is the most experienced receiver in the room.
Even if camp doesn’t change much, he should still have a role in the offense. The bigger question is whether he keeps his standing as the top option in that receiver group.
The Raiders added Jalen Nailor this offseason and have a deep crop of young receivers behind him. That opens the door for one of them to make a big jump in camp and force Kubiak’s hand, earning a larger role on offense.
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Raiders Face A Very Al Davis Decision John Spytek May Hate
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The appeal is obvious for a team that wants immediate help against the run, but the timing is tricky. The player in question is 31 and entering the final season of his deal, with a salary that sits high enough to matter in a rebuilding plan, and the Raiders would likely have to part with draft capital they could use elsewhere. For a front office trying to balance patience with the urge to fix a glaring hole, this is the kind of decision that can define how committed it really is to the long game. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Camp Could Decide More Than Fans Realize At Right Guard
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Powers-Johnson has already tried to make his case by showing up early with the rookies, a small but telling sign of how seriously he is taking the challenge. For Las Vegas, the bigger question is whether that kind of commitment translates into a cleaner, steadier camp once the pads come on and the competition starts to sharpen. [Read more 🡒]