Las Vegas Raiders offseason winners and losers: Ashton Jeanty in position to thrive

Excitement across the Las Vegas Raiders is working rampant post-NFL draft. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler pinned the Raiders’ as the third-best draft class of any staff, with No. 1 total choose Fernando Mendoza being his favourite choice. The Athletic’s Ted Ngyuen additionally ranked the Raiders as having the best offseason of any “rebuilding teams” up to now.

Much of the keenness stems from the turnover that churned after a 3-14 season. Change is not all the time welcomed for holdovers, though additions in sure areas — or a scarcity thereof in others — ought to enhance confidence for some. With the draft accomplished and free agent signings winding down, this is a take a look at the largest winners and losers from the Raiders’ offseason.

Winners

Wide receivers

Las Vegas’ receiving corps have been criticized most frequently post-draft. It’s an inexpensive judgment from the surface trying in. The Raiders shipped out their WR1 Jakobi Meyers ultimately yr’s commerce deadline and, primarily, changed him with free agent Jalen Nailor. They drafted just one receiver, sixth-round choose Malik Benson. No present 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 additives exhibits that basic supervisor John Spytek believes the potential of the receivers outweighs their previous manufacturing. He’s made it identified that he is a fan of Tre Tucker, the staff’s main receiver since a yr in the past. He championed the signing of Nailor, who ought to get a shot to elevate his play in a extra featured function, and he is mentioned he likes the event of Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton, who ought to get on the sector greater than they did throughout their rookie seasons.

Adding a veteran free agent remains to be a risk, however Spytek mentioned in a recent interview with Kay Adams that they don’t seem to be going to “force anything” simply to convey in extra expertise. The unheralded receivers ought to get alternatives to show themselves this upcoming season.

Ashton Jeanty

Jeanty was already an enormous beneficiary of the Raiders’ early-offseason strikes. Bringing in Klint Kubiak as head coach places Jeanty in a run-heavy scheme extra able to creating open area. Jeanty was continuously hit in the backfield final season, getting few alternatives to flash his explosiveness. Center Tyler Linderbaum’s arrival provides the Raiders’ offensive line an anchor.

Jeanty was additional aided by the draft, as Las Vegas gave him a possible working mate in Mike Washington Jr. Jeanty accounted for 266 carries final season, whereas the Raiders’ different backs mixed for simply 41. Washington ought to have the option to shoulder a few of that workload and permit Jeanty to expend extra vitality along with his alternatives.

Jonah Laulu

Defensive sort out was a perceived want for Las Vegas, this offseason, because the controversial departure of Christian Wilkins final coaching camp left a gap up entrance. But the Raiders handed over free brokers, and whereas they’d a alternative of high DT prospects with a premium second-round draft choose, Spytek traded again and took defensive again Treydan Stukes. Las Vegas did not add an inside D-lineman till the top of the draft, seventh-rounder Brandon Cleveland.

That bodes effectively for Laulu, who had a breakout yr in 2025. The former undrafted free agent had 4 sacks and 51 mixed tackles, most of any Raiders cross rusher not named Maxx Crosby. Laulu ought to get a chance to proceed his ascension as he’ll play an enormous function in Rob Leonard’s protection, which depends on inside stress.

Michael Mayer

Mayer’s standing because the Raiders second tight finish was by no means a lot in query this offseason. He’s been a stable backup to Brock Bowers, and had some good receiving manufacturing when Las Vegas’s TE1 was injured in 2025. But there have been hints that extra alternatives may very well be coming for Mayer.

Spytek mentioned in the identical interview with Adams that heavy personnel units are “at my core.” Kubiak additionally has an affinity for greater formations. His Seattle Seahawks offense was among the many leaders in two-tight finish units final yr. Mayer ought to see the sector alongside Bowers extra usually and, with the minimal additions at receiver, may very well be extra of a pass-catching risk below Kubiak.

Losers

Defensive backs

Spytek was open about addressing the secondary in the draft, saying security, particularly, was “something we’ve got to attack.” What wasn’t identified was what number of defensive backs he would truly choose up.

The Raiders chosen 4 DBs on the draft’s last two days, beginning with Stukes in Round 2. Cornerback Jermod McCoy was the primary choose of Day 3, and they adopted up by taking security Dalton Johnson and cornerback Hezekiah Masses in the fifth spherical.

Stukes appears to be like like he may very well be a Day 1 starter at security or nickel, leaving the roles of Isaiah Pola-Mao and Taron Johnson in query. Stukes’ chemistry with faculty teammate Johnson must also assist the latter problem for enjoying time.

Darien Porter earned a beginning spot at nook alongside Eric Stokes on the finish of final yr, but when McCoy is wholesome, he might seize Porter’s spot. Masses was spectacular in rookie minicamp and all of the ball abilities Las Vegas wants. It’s potential that a number of incumbent Raiders might see a major lower in enjoying time this fall.

Aidan O’Connell

O’Connell’s future in Las Vegas wasn’t shiny when the Raiders earned the highest choose and the prospect to take Mendoza. It dimmed additional when Kirk Cousins ​​signed per week earlier than the draft.

Both Spytek and Kubiak expressed their need to have a veteran quarterback start this season because the starter and permit Mendoza to be taught from the sidelines. O’Connell, who has began 17 video games for the Raiders, had his possibilities to turn into that bridge QB dashed when Cousins ​​obtained $20 million assured. The fourth-year sign caller may very well be stored round in case of damage, however Las Vegas might additionally commerce him to a staff with a cloudier depth chart at quarterback.

Jordan Meredith

Meredith misplaced her beginning spot at middle final season, in half, due to damage. The signing of Linderbaum ensures he will not regain it. Other strikes might have him on the surface trying in by roster cut-down day.

The fifth-year lineman supplies inside versatility for the Raiders, as he can play each guard spots and middle. But the Raiders are nonetheless invested in Jackson Powers-Johnson inside and they added Spencer Burford, a guard with expertise enjoying for Kubiak in San Francisco — who’s flexibility may very well be useful as a depth piece. Las Vegas additionally drafted Trey Zuhn III, who can play all 5 positions up entrance, in the third-round. Zuhn’s addition mixed with 2025 third-round choose Caleb Rogers returning might push Meredith additional down the depth chart, if not off the roster sooner or later.