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 andTom 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 madethe Ravens’ Tyler Linderbaumthe highest-paid center in league history, selected Indianaquarterback Fernando Mendozafirst overallin the NFL draftand 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, andsigning 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 tomaximize 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.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
