Klint Kubiak is obviously not happy with what he is seeing from one particular position group, and he’s letting everyone know
The Las Vegas Raiders need their wide receiver room to be better, and Klint Kubiak is letting the whole league know that.
Coming into the offseason for the Las Vegas Raiders, fans called from the rooftops for the team to draft an elite wide receiver in the early rounds. They ended up taking Malik Benson in the sixth round. He’s been great for where he was drafted, but the team still doesn’t have a clear-cut No. 1.
And we are seeing that play out right in front of our eyes. Sure, it’s just preseason, but through two of those games it’s clear the wide receiver room is a bit weak. And the fans and media are not the only ones thinking, let alone saying, this. Head coach Klint Kubiak is, too.
“Yeah, I learned a lot in that we have to get a lot better very fast. That we took a step backward doesn’t mean we can’t go forward. But right now, we are trying to find someone that is accountable and can help us on Sunday. Still looking,” Kubiak told reporters the day after the game.
Kubiak is not playing around about that position group. And, he shouldn’t either. They spent good money on Jalen Nailor, who’s not done much in preseason outside a few catches. Then their two Day 2 picks from last year haven’t done much either. Jack Bech in preseason Week 1 had a touchdown and a huge run block to open up the 53-yard run. But he wasn’t even noticeable on Thursday against the Texans. In fact, one reporter asked Kubiak why Bech didn’t play, and Kubiak said he did. That shows how almost non-existent he was. Then Dont’e Thornton has been injured for a while now. Someone has to step up.
What more are the wide receivers needing to do?
Kubiak didn’t mention what he’s wanting to see more of from the group. But, offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko did mention a few things they look for during camp and practice.
“You talk about any group and apply the same, but from receivers we are looking for guys to get off the ball at the right tempo, precise steps, break points are correct, and make plays,” Janocko told reporters on Sunday after practice.
Whatever it is the Raiders need to see, it’s almost definitely going to have to come from within the building. Whatever they want to see change has to come from this group improving. There’s not much out there in the free agency market. Someone has to step up in 2026, and it needs to be someone already on this roster.
