The Raiders averaged a league-worst 14.2 points per game, fielded the NFL’s most feeble run game and allowed quarterback Geno Smith to be sacked an NFL-high 55 times.
Results like that get people fired. That’s exactly what happened when Raiders owners Mark Davis and Tom Brady, along with general manager John Spytek, wiped the slate clean on the coaching front by firing Pete Carroll and his entire offensive staff, and hiring the highly respected young offensive mind Klint Kubiak to replace him.
That set the stage for an offseason in which the Raiders made the Ravens’ Tyler Linderbaum the highest-paid center in league history, selected Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall in the NFL draft and reinforced the offensive line, running back and wide receiver rooms through the draft and free agency.
Here is a look at where things stand, post-draft and free agency, with the Raiders’ offensive depth chart:
Reserves: Fernando Mendoza, Aidan O’Connell, Jacob Clark
The skinny: The Raiders did a complete reset at quarterback, using the first pick in the draft to select Mendoza, the Indiana Heisman Trophy winner and national champion, and signing Cousins, the longtime NFL starter, to serve as the bridge and mentor to Mendoza.
While Brady, Spytek and Kubiak have expressed prudence in not rushing Mendoza, they are not beholden to parking him on the sideline out of any philosophical preference. If he shows he’s capable of being the Day 1 starter, they will not hesitate to give him the keys. If they have any apprehension, they have Cousins, who played the best football of his career when Kubiak was calling the plays in Minnesota, to hold down the fort.
Bottom line: The goal in Las Vegas is to maximize Mendoza to his fullest, and if being patient in getting him on the field is deemed the right approach, that is what they will do. Assuming Cousins is back to close to 100% after suffering a devastating Achilles injury in 2023, he’s more than capable of providing solid quarterback play in the interim. O’Connell’s future is a bit uncertain. When healthy, he can be a capable backup, but where is the path to that role in Las Vegas? He could be a candidate to be traded or released.
Reserves: Mike Washington Jr., Dylan Laube, Chris Collier, Roman Hemby
The skinny: Jeanty didn’t have the breakthrough season many hoped for after being selected sixth overall in the 2025 draft, but given the comical level of help he got from an overmatched offensive line and the poor play design from the Raiders’ offensive staff, it was a minor miracle he was able to rush for 975 yards and catch 55 passes for 346 yards. As he heads into Year 2, he’s got Offensive Player of the Year capabilities, but it will be dependent on improved offensive line play and health. Washington Jr. was just too good to pass up in the fourth round of the draft, and he will get a chance to play an immediate role as a legitimate sidekick for Jeanty. If so, and if the offensive line is better, this room has a chance to be a strength.
Bottom line: If Washington is who the Raiders believe, he and Jeanty have a chance to be a potent one-two punch. Laube and Collier will battle it out for RB3 responsibilities, with Laube’s special teams proficiency a huge advantage.
The skinny: After playing two seasons without a fullback, that position is back in vogue under Kubiak. Heyward could play a big role as a lead blocker for Jeanty.
Bottom line: As long as Kubiak is the Raiders’ coach, the fullback position will be in play in Vegas.
Starters: Jalen Nailor, Tre Tucker
Reserves: Jack Bech, Dont’e Thornton Jr., Phillip Dorsett II, Malik Benson, Dareke Young, Justin Shorter, Shedrick Jackson, Brenden Rice, Chase Roberts, E.J. Williams Jr.
The skinny: The Raiders zeroed in on Nailor in free agency, believing the former Vikings wide receiver could flourish in a much bigger role. Remember, he was the third weapon in a stacked Vikings receiver room and had to wait in line behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. He will get an opportunity to be the Raiders’ de facto No. 1 receiver, although receiver No. 2 behind Brock Bowers, the talented young tight end. The club has talked this offseason extensively about its admiration for Tucker, who had career highs in catches (57) and yards (696) last year. Bech and Thornton Jr., a couple of 2025 draft picks, face big sophomore seasons and need to prove they are ready for bigger roles.
Bottom line: In a mild draft surprise, the Raiders didn’t address wide receiver until the sixth round when they selected Benson. They had a few receivers on their radar but chose to select players at bigger needs throughout the early parts of the draft. It opens an opportunity during the offseason for Bech and Thornton Jr. to prove this room doesn’t need any additions. But the Raiders won’t hesitate to make a move if they have any uncertainty after assessing the situation.
Starters: Brock Bowers, Michael Mayer
Reserves: Ian Thomas, Albert Okwuegbunam Jr., Carter Runyon, Patrick Gurd
The skinny: The Raiders’ passing game runs through Bowers, who should benefit from a system under Kubiak that traditionally creates favorable matchups for tight ends. Mayer has turned himself into an excellent blocker, but the club has done a poor job tapping into his ability as a weapon. That could change under Kubiak. The Raiders brought back Thomas, who has developed into a nice role player, on a one-year deal. Runyon was impressive after sticking around as an UDFA.
Bottom line: The Raiders essentially maintained the status quo at this position. The key is maximizing Bowers, one of the bright young stars in the game, and Mayer, who still has a ton of upside as he heads into Year 4.
Starters: LT Kolton Miller, LG Caleb Rogers, C Tyler Linderbaum, RG Jackson Powers-Johnson, RT DJ Glaze
Reserves: Spencer Burford, Trey Zuhn III, Charles Grant, Jordan Meredith, Will Putnam, Dalton Wagner, Antonio Mafi, Kamar Missouri, Niklas Henning, Isaiah Jatta
The skinny: By no means is that starting five etched in stone. In fact, only Miller and Linderbaum are considered shoo-ins at left tackle and center, respectively. Everything else is up for grabs and will come down to a best-man-wins competition among Rogers, Powers-Johnson, Glaze, Grant, Zuhn III, Burford and Meredith for the two guard spots and right tackle. The Raiders have invested one second-round pick and four third-round picks along the offensive line since 2023 and made Linderbaum the highest-paid center in NFL history. The hope is that those young players are ready to take a big step forward under new offensive line coach Rick Dennison and that Linderbaum and Miller are the anchors of a significantly better unit.
Bottom line: Miller and Linderbaum are top-five players at their positions. If both can stay healthy, they are capable of leading an offensive line revival after multiple seasons of it being a major liability. The time is now for Powers-Johnson, who has missed significant time dealing with injuries in his first two seasons. If not, players like Zuhn III and Rogers could push him out. Grant and Glaze will battle for the right tackle spot, with Zuhn III also a possibility depending on what happens at guard.
