Las Vegas Raiders 90-Man Depth Chart Projection: John Spytek and Klint Kubiak will have some hard decisions to make
The Las Vegas Raiders have a much better team coming in 2026 than they did this time last year, and a big reason why is the 2026 NFL draft
The Las Vegas Raiders are almost ready to wrap up their minicamps. Then, not long until training camp.
We have a few months until that happens, but the Raiders look like they have a decent team put together. When you look at their projected 53-man roster, this team is undoubtedly better than last year’s. That means that general manager John Spytek and head coach Klint Kubiak will have some very tough decisions to make.
Editor’s note: One * denotes a rookie, two * denotes a UDFA.
Raiders’ 90-man roster projection
Quarterback (4)
Starter: Kirk Cousins
Backup: Fernando Mendoza
Practice Squad/Reserves: Aidan O’Connell, Sawyer Robertson
Is there much needed to say here? I think Cousins gets the Week 1 start, but Mendoza will be the guy by the end of the year. They signed Robertson to a UDFA deal, which means they really like what he brings to the table, likely as a practice squad guy. But, does he beat out O’Connell?
Running Back (5)
Starter:Â Ashton Jeanty
Backups:Â Mike Washington Jr.*, Roman Hemby
Reserves: Chris Collier, Dylan Laube
I didn’t write it on my biggest winners and losers, but Jeanty is one of them. He just got a backup that is going to make his life so much easier. Washington will be the immediate RB2. Hemby’s connection with Mendoza will serve him well, while Laube will just barely lose the battle for that last RB spot due to his ability on special teams.
Wide Receivers (13)
Starters:Â Jalen Nailor, Tre Tucker, Jack Bech
Backups: Dont’e Thornton Jr., Malik Benson*, Dareke Young
Reserves: Justin Shorter, Phillip Dorsett, Shedrick Jackson, Brenden Rice, EJ Williams, Chase Roberts, Corey Rucker
This season, the Raiders will have a new WR in Nailor, who’s much better than the statsheet tells you. They are expecting their rookies to take a leap, too. However, I do think rookie WR Malik Benson makes this group, just maybe not as a starter. I also think there is a chance one of the UDFA WRs will make the last spot. Maybe a guy like Chase Roberts or Corey Rucker. Dareke Young was signed by Kubiak for a reason, he gets the last spot with some special teams ability.
Tight End (6)
Starter:Â Brock Bowers
Backups:Â Michael Mayer, Connor Heyward (FB), Ian Thomas
Reserves: Carter Runyon, Albert Okwuegbunan
This one is pretty standard and doesn’t need much explanation. It’s the same tight end room as last season, just subtracting Ian Thomas. Runyon showed some good things when he did play, and he seems to be a decent run blocker. However, I think they want Heyward in there at FB. I could honestly see any of the bottom four guys making it, but the top two are locked in.
Offensive Line (16)
Starters:Â Kolton Miller (LT), Trey Zuhn* (OG), Jackson Powers-Johnson (OG), Tyler Linderbaum (C), DJ Glaze (RT)
Backups:Â Charles Grant, Dalton Wagner, Spencer Burford, Caleb Rogers, Jordan Meredith
Reserves: Isaiah Jatta, Atonio Mafi, Will Putnam, Layden Robinson, Laki Tasi, Curtis McClendon
The big one here is who starts at both guard spots. And, you can make the case that Charles Grant has a battle with DJ Glaze to be had, too. Some Raiders media assume Trey Zuhn, the third-round pick, will be the starter. Spencer Burford, with 38 career starts, is another contender. Jordan Meredith, who was poor at center last year, performed impressively in 2024 playing guard. Some media expect Zuhn at one spot and Jackson Powers-Johnson competing for the other guard spot, but I see more uncertainty. The key debate is whether draft status alone decides the starter, especially with experienced players also vying for spots. The Raiders will have a good batch of UDFAs to work with, too, and I think any of them could make the practice squad, and maybe work for a final roster spot.
Defensive Line (9)
Starters:Â Adam Butler (DT), Tonka Hemingway (DE), Jonah Laulu (DT)
Backups: JJ Pegues, Thomas Booker
Reserves: Brandon Cleveland*, Gary Smith **, Broderic Martin, Treven Ma’ae
The Raiders have an interesting setup on their defensive line. They found a gem in Laulu and drafted two defensive linemen last season. They traded for Booker, and just traded away Tyree Wilson. The Raiders don’t have a bad defensive line by any means, but they do have one that could certainly get better, and likely will have some additions made via the draft. The spot here is where it starts at DE. Is it Hemingway, or Booker? I think either has a case. I also think there is a world where a UDFA DT beats out Cleveland in camp. I also think Gary Smith could make some noise in camp. His tape is pretty good, all things considered.
Edge Rushers (7)
Starters: Kwity Paye, Maxx Crosby
Backups: Malcolm Koonce, Charles Snowden, Keyron Crawford*
Reserves: Brennan Jackson, Jahfari Harvey
The Raiders are moving to a 3-4 system, which means they will have outside linebackers. Crosby and Koonce fit this mold. Paye, the new edge rusher, will likely be in that role as well, although he does seem a bit bigger and heavier on his feet than the other two. However, them paying him as much as they did vs Koonce tells us he will play more than Koonce. I originally had four spots in this room before the draft. I had to add one because Crawford will find a way to see the field. He is too good in pass-rush situations, and I think we will see him as one of the best on the team by the time the season is almost over.
Linebacker (7)
Starters:Â Quay Walker (WILL), Nakobe Dean (MIKE)
Backups:Â Tommy Eichenberg, Cody Lindenberg, Xavian Sorey Jr.**
Reserves: Jammin Davis, Segun Olubi
The Raiders made two free-agent signings in Walker and Dean, as the LB spot was maybe their biggest hole on defense. How the backups fill out will be interesting to see. These are the only five currently on the roster, so it’s hard to project someone to the roster that’s not on the team. The two Bergs will be the immediate backups, and I think some UDFAs can slot into that final spot. I currently have Sorey with it; however, there’s no doubt in my mind that he and Olubi will be in a battle.
Cornerback (8)
Starters:Â Eric Stokes, Darien Porter, Taron Johnson (NB)
Backups:Â Decamerion Richardson, Jermod McCoy*, Hezekiah Masses*
Reserves: Greedy Vance, Chigozie Anusiem
This is the position group I may have the toughest time with. Even others like the guard position, I know who the ten are, it’s just about who’s the starter or backup. In this one, I don’t know who the six are, if they keep six. They may have to keep seven. But, here’s where I’m at. Either Decamerion Richardson, Greedy Vance, and rookies Jermod McCoy and Hezekiah Masses–one of those is not making the 53-man. That’s if they only keep six, which most teams do.
Do they go the route of having a backup nickel for Johnson and keeping Vance? Or, do they just allow Stukes and Johnson in the safety room to be that backup nickel at times, and instead go with the extra boundary cornerback? They surely won’t keep the two rookies off the 53-man, but if McCoy isn’t healthy and ready to play, then none of this matters anyway. But it’s certainly a huge question.
Safety (6)
Starters:Â Jeremy Chinn, Treydan Stukes*
Backups:Â Isaiah Pola-Mao, Dalton Johnson*
Reserves: Tanner Wall**, Tristin McCollum
Stukes, the No. 38 overall pick, will start at safety. The Raiders will likely use the other guys as depth and even slide them into the nickel from time to time. There’s not really anything crazy or special going on here, besides maybe flipping Stukes with Pola-Mao, or Pola-Mao with Chinn, depending on certain packages.
Special Team (3)
Starters:Â AJ Cole (P), Matt Gay (K), Alex Ward (LS)
Reserves: Kansei Matsuzawa (K)**, Tyler Duzansky (LS)**
This group has undergone its first changes in the last handful of years. Now, it’s Alex Ward after Jacob Bobenmoyer was the long snapper, with Matt Gay taking over for Daniel Carlson. I’d love to see “Tokyo Toe” take on Gay for a kicker battle in camp.
