Excitement around the Las Vegas Raiders is running rampant post-NFL draft. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler pinned the Raiders’ as the third-best draft class of any team, with No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza being his favorite selection. The Athletic’s Ted Ngyuen also ranked the Raiders as having the best offseason of any “rebuilding teams” so far.
Much of the enthusiasm stems from the turnover that churned after a 3-14 season. Change isn’t always welcomed for holdovers, though additions in certain areas — or a lack thereof in others — should boost confidence for some. With the draft completed and free agent signings winding down, here’s a look at the biggest winners and losers from the Raiders’ offseason.
Winners
Wide receivers
Las Vegas’ receiving corps have been criticized most often post-draft. It’s a reasonable judgement from the outside looking in. The Raiders shipped out their WR1 Jakobi Meyers at last year’s trade deadline and, essentially, replaced him with free agent Jalen Nailor. They drafted only one receiver, sixth-round pick Malik Benson. No current member of the room has ever had 700 receiving yards in a season, and this comes after the Raiders had the third-fewest receiving yards from the position in 2025 (1,696).
The lack of additions shows that general manager John Spytek believes the potential of the receivers outweighs their past production. He’s made it known that he’s a fan of Tre Tucker, the team’s leading receiver from a year ago. He championed the signing of Nailor, who should get a shot to elevate his play in a more featured role, and he’s said he likes the development of Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton, who should get on the field more than they did during their rookie seasons.
Adding a veteran free agent is still a possibility, but Spytek said in a recent interview with Kay Adams that they’re not going to “force anything” just to bring in more talent. The unheralded receivers should get opportunities to prove themselves this upcoming season.
Ashton Jeanty
Jeanty was already a big beneficiary of the Raiders’ early-offseason moves. Bringing in Klint Kubiak as head coach puts Jeanty in a run-heavy scheme more capable of creating open space. Jeanty was constantly hit in the backfield last season, getting few opportunities to flash his explosiveness. Center Tyler Linderbaum’s arrival gives the Raiders’ offensive line an anchor.
Jeanty was further aided by the draft, as Las Vegas gave him a potential running mate in Mike Washington Jr. Jeanty accounted for 266 carries last season, while the Raiders’ other backs combined for just 41. Washington should be able to shoulder some of that workload and allow Jeanty to expend more energy with his opportunities.
Jonah Laulu
Defensive tackle was a perceived need for Las Vegas, this offseason, as the controversial departure of Christian Wilkins last training camp left a hole up front. But the Raiders passed over free agents, and while they had a choice of top DT prospects with a premium second-round draft pick, Spytek traded back and took defensive back Treydan Stukes. Las Vegas didn’t add an interior D-lineman until the end of the draft, seventh-rounder Brandon Cleveland.
That bodes well for Laulu, who had a breakout year in 2025. The former undrafted free agent had four sacks and 51 combined tackles, most of any Raiders pass rusher not named Maxx Crosby. Laulu should get an opportunity to continue his ascension as he’ll play a big role in Rob Leonard’s defense, which relies on interior pressure.
Michael Mayer
Mayer’s status as the Raiders second tight end was never much in question this offseason. He’s been a solid backup to Brock Bowers, and had some good receiving production when Las Vegas’s TE1 was injured in 2025. But there have been hints that more opportunities could be coming for Mayer.
Spytek said in the same interview with Adams that heavy personnel sets are “at my core.” Kubiak also has an affinity for bigger formations. His Seattle Seahawks offense was among the leaders in two-tight end sets last year. Mayer should see the field alongside Bowers more often and, with the minimal additions at receiver, could be more of a pass-catching threat under Kubiak.
Losers
Defensive backs
Spytek was open about addressing the secondary in the draft, saying safety, specifically, was “something we’ve got to attack.” What wasn’t known was how many defensive backs he would actually pick up.
The Raiders selected four DBs on the draft’s final two days, starting with Stukes in Round 2. Cornerback Jermod McCoy was the first pick of Day 3, and they followed up by taking safety Dalton Johnson and cornerback Hezekiah Masses in the fifth round.
Stukes looks like he could be a Day 1 starter at safety or nickel, leaving the roles of Isaiah Pola-Mao and Taron Johnson in question. Stukes’ chemistry with college teammate Johnson should also help the latter challenge for playing time.
Darien Porter earned a starting spot at corner alongside Eric Stokes at the end of last year, but if McCoy is healthy, he could seize Porter’s spot. Masses was impressive in rookie minicamp and touts the ball skills Las Vegas needs. It’s possible that several incumbent Raiders could see a significant decrease in playing time this fall.
Aidan O’Connell
O’Connell’s future in Las Vegas wasn’t bright when the Raiders earned the top pick and the chance to take Mendoza. It dimmed further when Kirk Cousins signed a week before the draft.
Both Spytek and Kubiak expressed their desire to have a veteran quarterback begin this season as the starter and allow Mendoza to learn from the sidelines. O’Connell, who has started 17 games for the Raiders, had his chances to become that bridge QB dashed when Cousins got $20 million guaranteed. The fourth-year signal caller could be kept around in case of injury, but Las Vegas could also trade him to a team with a cloudier depth chart at quarterback.
Jordan Meredith
Meredith lost his starting spot at center last season, in part, due to injury. The signing of Linderbaum ensures he won’t regain it. Other moves could have him on the outside looking in by roster cut-down day.
The fifth-year lineman provides interior versatility for the Raiders, as he can play both guard spots and center. But the Raiders are still invested in Jackson Powers-Johnson inside and they added Spencer Burford, a guard with experience playing for Kubiak in San Francisco — who’s flexibility could be valuable as a depth piece. Las Vegas also drafted Trey Zuhn III, who can play all five positions up front, in the third-round. Zuhn’s addition combined with 2025 third-round pick Caleb Rogers returning could push Meredith further down the depth chart, if not off the roster at some point.
