The Raiders’ roster has been ripped apart and rebuilt enough that 2026 is shaping up as a proving ground for more than a few players. With John Spytek reshaping the group and 20 players set to hit free agency in March, next season will go a long way toward deciding who stays in Las Vegas and who gets pushed out of the picture.
That makes contract years a little louder around this team. For six Raiders in particular, 2026 is the kind of season that can change their financial future in a hurry.
Tre Tucker is at the front of that list. His production has climbed every year since arriving in Las Vegas, and with no one else really forcing the issue in the receiver room, he enters 2026 as the clear top target.
Klint Kubiak also seemed determined this preseason to get him the ball early and often. If Tucker puts together a big year, he could set himself up for a strong payday while also giving the Raiders a reason to keep him around as part of a future group built next to a true No. 1 receiver.
Michael Mayer is in a similar spot, though his path looks a little different. He should be in better position to succeed under Kubiak than under any of the coaches he has played for so far.
Brock Bowers will draw the spotlight, and that should help Mayer, too, because opposing defenses are likely to key on Bowers and Tucker. If Mayer turns that into the best season of his career, he’ll have a real case to build a market for himself.
Jeremy Chinn is already playing on a deal that puts him in contract-year territory, since he signed a two-year contract with the Raiders last offseason. His first year in Las Vegas brought both highs and lows, but a better supporting cast in 2026 could help him take another step. If that happens, Chinn can position himself for another multi-year payday, and the Raiders would have to decide whether he’s worth keeping at the right number.
Malcolm Koonce has practically lived in contract-year mode, signing one-year deals with the Silver and Black and now getting further away from the injury that slowed him down. That opens the door for him to finally produce the kind of season that was expected a few offseasons ago. With a fairly deep edge rusher room, though, Koonce could easily play himself beyond what Las Vegas is willing to spend depending on how the year goes.
Spencer Burford may be the clearest example of a player who can turn a cheap deal into something bigger. He signed a one-year contract this offseason, then quickly worked his way into a starting role.
If he performs the way the Raiders expect, a raise will be waiting next offseason. The real question is whether Las Vegas pays up or decides to lean on its young guard room and keep the cost lower.
Then there’s Aidan O’Connell, who brings a different kind of uncertainty. He has made it clear he wants to be a starting quarterback in this league, but that won’t happen in Las Vegas.
If the Raiders want to keep him in 2027 or beyond, they’ll have to pay for that. The twist is that, if things go according to plan, O’Connell may not even see the field in 2026.
So his case is hard to read. If he does get a chance, though, he’ll need to ball out.
In Other News...
Klint Kubiaks Demanding Style Is Already Shaping The Raiders Biggest Decisions
Klint Kubiak has only just settled into the Raiders head-coaching role, but his fingerprints are already showing up in the biggest decisions around the building. General manager John Spytek has praised Kubiaks disciplined, efficient way of communicating, and that approach fits the tone Las Vegas is trying to set as it prepares for a new era under a coach who does not waste words or time.
It is already evident in the quarterback plan. Kubiak has chosen Kirk Cousins to start Week 1 against the Dolphins over first overall pick Fernando Mendoza, a decision that underscores how carefully the Raiders want to bring the rookie along. Mendoza remains central to the long-term picture, but the team plans to develop him patiently, with Kubiak also pointing to the value of Tom Bradys guidance in shaping the roster and the organizations approach to building around it. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Suddenly Have A Clear Veteran Receiver Option To Consider
The Giants decision to release Darius Slayton has put a proven veteran receiver right into the middle of the Raiders offseason conversation. Las Vegas has been searching for help at wideout, and Slayton immediately stands out because he brings more established NFL production than the options currently on the roster. For a team trying to stabilize the passing game, that kind of experience is hard to ignore.
Slayton also comes with the sort of questions that usually follow a player changing teams this late in the process, which is why the fit is being weighed carefully rather than rushed into. The Raiders are reportedly considering the move, but nothing has been finalized, leaving this as one of those roster situations worth watching closely as they sort through whether the upside outweighs the risk. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Make Late Practice Squad Moves Ahead Of Week 1
The Raiders kept tinkering with the bottom of the roster as Week 1 approached, making another set of practice squad moves to shore up a few spots after cutdown day. Las Vegas added rookie nose tackle Tim Keenan III and fullback Patrick Gurd, while parting ways with defensive tackle Gary Smith III and safety Devin Lafayette, a reminder that even after the initial 53-man decisions, the back end of the roster is still very much a work in progress.
Keenan, a seventh-round pick of the Rams, brings some flexibility because he has played multiple spots along the defensive line, even if his preseason production did not jump off the page. Gurd is a familiar face in the building after spending the spring and summer with the Raiders while competing for the fullback job, and his return gives the team another look at a role they kept evaluating throughout the offseason. [Read more 🡒]