The Road Ahead for a Young Franchise
The Athletic’s latest preview of the Las Vegas Raiders ahead of the 2026 NFL season sets the stage for a team eager to carve out a distinct identity after years of inconsistency.
At the heart of the offense, tight end Brock Bowers and running back Ashton Jeanty emerge as the most talked‑about pieces, with analysts praising their complementary skill sets and the potential to reshape play‑calling.
Derrik Klassen, a senior analyst, highlighted the duo’s ability to give the Raiders a unique offensive personality, noting that elite tight ends paired with a top‑10 rushing attack could unlock new schemes.
Robert Mays, however, cautioned that the line’s talent remains uneven, describing the unit as a rising‑tide‑lifts‑all‑boats group that still struggles with individual consistency.
Spencer Burford and Caleb Rogers are being evaluated as possible right‑guard options, while DJ Glaze’s recent shortcomings have added urgency to the competition.
On defense, the Raiders have adopted an aggressive front, deploying eight players in the box on nearly half of run plays — a rate that outpaces the league average and signals a commitment to stopping the ground game.
The biggest question mark, though, revolves around quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Dave Helman has suggested the team should have a clear evaluation of his readiness within six weeks of the season, a timeline that echoes concerns about squeezing development into a compressed window.
Some commentators compare Mendoza’s situation to Kirk Cousins’ career arc, debating whether the organization should gamble on a quicker transition or risk stagnation by holding back.