The Klint Kubiak and Fernando Mendoza era in Las Vegas is upon us. For the first time in decades, the Raiders have legitimate hope of a bright future.
It will take some time to get things squared away, but the new leadership under Kubiak as the head coach, the addition of Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum to anchor the offensive line, the free agent defensive additions of Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean, and, of course, the drafting of Mendoza are promising.
The Raiders have made it clear they are focused on the upcoming steps rather than the finish line but setting a sturdy foundation will be critically important this year.
As they get set to open training camp Tuesday, here are some things to focus on:
Three position battles to watch
Right guard
In the running: Jackson Powers-Johnson, Caleb Rogers
The Raiders appear comfortable at left tackle (Kolton Miller), left guard (Spencer Burford), center (Linderbaum) and at right tackle (D.J. Glaze). But it’s wide open at right guard, where the organization is waiting on Powers-Johnson to prove he can stay healthy and play consistent football. Both have been issues during his first two seasons. Rogers is well regarded in the building and could be poised to push Powers-Johnson aside.
Cornerback
In the running: Darien Porter, Jermod McCoy
The Raiders are set with Eric Stokes at one perimeter corner spot and veteran Taron Johnson manning the slot corner position. It’s less clear opposite Stokes, although some promising candidates are in place: Porter, a third-round pick last year, and McCoy, a first-round talent who fell to the fourth round due to concerns with his surgically repaired knee. McCoy’s knee is more about longevity than current status, and if he’s good to go to start camp, he has a chance to be the most dynamic young cornerback prospect the Raiders have had in years.
WR3
In the running: Jack Bech, Dont’e Thornton, Malik Benson
The Raiders lack a premier WR1, instead running their pass game through Pro Bowl tight end Brock Bowers. For description purposes, Tre Tucker and Jalen Nailor are WR1 and WR2. But the club hopes Bech, Thornton or Benson can claim the third spot. They could combo it by combining the rugged, possession-type receiver skills of Bech with the speed of either Thornton or Benson, too.
Three players who need to step up
OL Jackson Powers-Johnson
Powers-Johnson has been a source of frustration within the building since being drafted in the second round of the 2024 draft. Talent-wise, he has immense potential as an athletic, hard-nosed interior lineman. But he hasn’t been able to stay healthy, and he has bouts with inconsistency. The ceiling and potential are all there, but it’s time for Powers-Johnson to put it all together.
WR Jalen Nailor
Nailor was a victim of circumstance in Minnesota, playing alongside and sometimes behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. But he produced when the Vikings turned to him and averaged 15.8 yards per reception on his 57 catches the last two years. The Raiders envision a much bigger role for him this year, and if he fulfills it, it will make a significant impact on the offense.
RB Ashton Jeanty
This isn’t so much a Jeanty issue as it is the offensive line. Jeanty is a fantastic young talent, but it didn’t help last year that he kept getting hit behind the line of scrimmage. Somehow he still managed to run for 975 yards, albeit at a clip of 3.7 yards per carry. If the offensive line can be his friend rather than enemy, that 3.7 ypc should improve to 4.7, which would mean 975 yards could easily turn into 1,000+ yards.
Reason for optimism
By finally taking an honest look at themselves and realizing their rebuild will take multiple years, the Raiders resisted making short-sighted moves for immediate satisfaction in favor of long-term moves intended to lay a real foundation for success. And for the first time in years, everyone is on the same page. What that means for success this year remains to be seen, but the addition of Kubiak and his staff, either Kirk Cousins or Mendoza at quarterback, a solid draft and a slew of free agent signings should at least mean an improvement over their three wins in 2025.
Reason for concern
If the offensive line remains stagnant and the offense again fails to lift off, nothing else will matter.
