The Raiders have spent the offseason building around a promising core, and the outlook in Las Vegas is easy to like. They drafted their quarterback of the future and have a young, proven offensive mind running the show as head coach. The front office has clearly put the team in position to grow.
But even with that kind of momentum, the roster still has a couple of soft spots that will need attention soon.
One of them sits at receiver. The Raiders brought in Jalen Nailor this offseason and are betting on his upside, but he’s not yet the kind of player you pencil in as a true difference-maker.
Tre Tucker is the most established name in that room, and his biggest calling card is reliability. Brock Bowers is the top receiving weapon on the roster, but the issue at tight end isn’t about him alone.
Behind him, the Raiders have a few interesting young pieces in Jach Bech, Dont'e Thornton Jr., and Malik Benson, though nobody can say with confidence how much of that potential will turn into production.
That said, this group doesn’t need to be fixed all at once. The Raiders can enter next season with their current receiver room and feel fine about it.
This doesn’t look like the moment to go all-in on a superstar wideout. The bigger swing may come later, when the timing fits better.
Klint Kubiak worked closely with Jaxon Smith-Njigba last season, and that connection points to a possible move for a receiver of that type in the next couple of years. A trade could even come as soon as next offseason, especially if it helps Fernando Mendoza in what would likely be his first year starting.
The other concern is on the defensive line, where Maxx Crosby remains the tone-setter. He’ll still make the unit better, but the reality is that he was close to no longer being on the roster and he’s only getting older. At some point, his impact will start to fade, and the Raiders don’t have a clear successor waiting in the wings.
That’s a real issue for a franchise that has long leaned on hard-nosed defense. Raider Nation expects that kind of edge from the Silver and Black, and the new regime will almost certainly want to keep that identity intact up front even when Crosby is no longer carrying the load. The Raiders have added young talent through the draft, including Keyron Crawford in the third round, but there’s no guarantee anyone on the roster can reach Crosby’s level.
In Other News...
Nakobe Dean's Early Mendoza Take Says A Lot About Raiders Hope
Fernando Mendozas first months with the Raiders have been about more than arm talent, because the rookie quarterback has already made a strong impression in the building with the way he carries himself. The offseason buzz has centered on his attitude and leadership, and that kind of presence matters for a team that is trying to establish a new tone around its young passer.
Nakobe Deans read on Mendoza only sharpened that idea, since the veteran linebacker made clear that the rookies energy has stood out to teammates and coaches alike. There is still plenty to sort out about what Mendoza becomes once the games start counting, but the Raiders seem encouraged enough by his character and authenticity to believe the support system around him can help bring out the best in him. [Read more 🡒]
Jonah Laulu Is Becoming A Raiders Building Block Up Front
Jonah Laulus rise along the Raiders defensive front has become one of the quieter success stories on the roster. After arriving in Las Vegas following an early exit from Indianapolis, he worked his way into a major role last season and gave the team real production in the middle of the line, holding up against the run and getting after the quarterback with enough consistency to earn a larger share of the workload.
Now the Raiders are looking at a front that includes Adam Butler, Thomas Booker IV, Tonka Hemingway, JJ Pegues and Brandon Cleveland, but Laulu stands out as a player who already looks like more than just a useful piece. He handled a heavy workload a year ago and still left the impression that there is another jump in him, which is exactly the kind of internal development a defense hopes to find up front. [Read more 🡒]
New Raider Sends Powerful Message About Maxx Crosbys Standard
Maxx Crosbys reputation inside the Raiders building keeps growing, and it is not hard to see why. Even as he works back from an injury ahead of the 2026 NFL season, Crosby has stayed around the team every day, getting treatment and rehabbing while still setting the standard for what the locker room should look like. For a franchise trying to build the right habits, that kind of consistent presence matters, especially from a player widely viewed as the tone setter.
One of the newer voices around the team took note of it recently, with linebacker Nakobe Dean pointing to Crosbys work ethic and the way he carries himself. Deans comments underscored how quickly Crosbys influence reaches new teammates, not just as a star pass rusher but as a leader helping others understand what it means to be a Raider. The message was clear enough: if Crosby is the bar, everyone else is going to have to climb. [Read more 🡒]