Silver, Black and Wide Open: The Complete Pros and Cons of the Raiders' 2026 Preseason

The Vibe Shift Is Real

Let's be honest about where this thing was fourteen months ago. The Las Vegas Raiders went 3-14 in 2025, finished dead last in a division that sent three teams to the playoffs, scored 241 points and gave up 432, and fired a Super Bowl-winning head coach seventeen games into a three-year deal. Pete Carroll walked into camp promising "we are going to win a bunch of games" and walked out with the worst record of his coaching life.

That was rock bottom. And rock bottom, in the NFL, is sometimes the most valuable real estate a franchise can own because it comes with the first pick.

Now look at Allegiant Stadium in late August 2026. There's a brand-new head coach in Klint Kubiak, hired February 9 straight off calling plays for a Seattle Seahawks championship offense. There's the No. 1 overall pick in the building, a Heisman Trophy winner who quarterbacked Indiana to an undefeated national title. There's a rebuilt offensive line anchored by a $27 million-a-year All-Pro center. There's Maxx Crosby, still here, still furious, still wearing silver and black after one of the strangest trade sagas in modern NFL history. And there's a 15-year veteran quarterback who has quietly been the steadiest presence in the entire building.

Three preseason games are in the books: a 27-14 loss to Arizona, a 22-20 win in Houston, and a 12-18 loss to San Francisco. A 1-2 exhibition record that tells you almost nothing about the win-loss column and almost everything about the identity of this team.

Preseason Game 1: Arizona Cardinals, 27-14 (Aug. 13, Allegiant Stadium)

The opening drive was a mission statement. Ten plays. Sixty-eight yards. More than five minutes off the clock. Touchdown. Kirk Cousins went 5-of-6 for 50 yards and finished the possession with a 13-yard grab-and-go strike to Michael Mayer, and this is the part that matters, Cousins was untouched in the pocket. If you watched 2025, you know how foreign that sentence is. Kubiak layered in personnel packages and pre-snap motion, attacked all three levels, and looked like a coach who knows exactly what he wants.

Then Fernando Mendoza took over and, on the whole, looked like he belonged. His first drive was jittery, 1-of-3 for 9 yards. His second drive was a glimpse of the future: 4-of-5, including a 19-yard dart to Malik Benson that split three defenders, capped by a six-yard touchdown to Jack Bech. Final line: 10-of-16, 97 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, a 100.3 passer rating, and 3-of-4 on third down. He took shots and got back up. He moved the ball downfield with more ease than any Raiders quarterback did all of last season.

The running game flashed. Ashton Jeanty went 5 carries for 21 yards, a 4.2 average against the 3.7 he averaged on 266 carries as a rookie. And fourth-round rookie Mike Washington Jr. ripped off 63 yards on six carries, including a 53-yard halfball draw that was the longest Raiders preseason run since 2017.

And then the defense happened. Arizona scored on each of its first five possessions, three of them touchdowns, and didn't punt until early in the fourth quarter. Jacoby Brissett went 5-of-5 with a touchdown to Marvin Harrison Jr. on his only drive. Gardner Minshew completed his first 11 passes and finished 14-of-16, hitting two fade-route touchdowns over rookie corner Jermod McCoy. 368 total yards allowed. Arizona converted all four first-half third downs. Seven Raiders penalties for more than 70 yards by halftime.

Big caveat: Maxx Crosby didn't play, and new coordinator Rob Leonard's game plan was described as vanilla. Bright spots did exist, undrafted rookie edge Cian Slone posted 6 solo tackles, 3 QB hits and 2 sacks, and Patrick Johnson was disruptive. Kubiak's own verdict on the defense: "not good enough."

Preseason Game 2: at Houston Texans, 22-20 (Aug. 20)

This was the growing-pains game, and the comeback game, and honestly the most Raiders game of the three.

Kubiak sat Cousins entirely and handed Mendoza his first professional start. It went sideways fast. On the opening drive, from the Houston 24, Mendoza worked a play-action fake, got a clean pocket, felt pressure break through, and threw late over the middle to Washington. Texans linebacker Wade Woodaz undercut it and returned it 80 yards for a pick-six. Mendoza chased him down the field and dove, he didn't stop him, but the effort told you something about the kid. Afterward, he owned it completely: he should have hit fullback Connor Heyward in the flat, "not a good throw," he and Washington "were not on the same page."

Final line: 8-of-15, 86 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, 42.6 rating, 1 sack, 6 pressures. It should have looked better, Malik Benson dropped a third-down out route that would have gone for chunk yardage, and Tremon Smith poked away another. There was real good in there too: a 22-yard leaping completion to Jalen Nailor over the middle, an 18-yard shot to Benson down the left sideline, and he worked under center repeatedly, something he never did in college, and passed the footwork test.

Aidan O'Connell then stole the show. He played the second half, led three touchdown drives, and engineered a game-winner from the Raiders' own 4-yard line with 1:37 left down 20-16: five straight completions, a 33-yard leaping grab by Brandon Johnson with under 30 seconds and no timeouts, then a QB sneak with an impromptu tush-push assist from Chris Myarick, 14 seconds on the clock.

Washington Jr. kept his hot streak alive, 9 carries, 56 yards, a 33-yard burst, two 9-yard receptions, and a 3-yard run where he flat-out demolished linebacker Jamal Hill.

And the defense got better. Houston's opening drive was rough (Woody Marks ran for 37 yards and a 20-yard score), but Houston finished at just 3.1 yards per carry. The young secondary looked far more composed, Treydan Stukes, Hezekiah Masses and Jermod McCoy all held up and undrafted rookie Devin Lafayette picked off Brett Rypien to seal the win. Kubiak called the coverage "sticky."

Preseason Game 3: San Francisco 49ers, 18-12 (Aug. 27, Allegiant Stadium)

Wayne Crow, an original Raider who punted and played defensive back in the franchise's first two seasons, lit the Al Davis Memorial Torch before kickoff. Perfect framing for a night about lineage and patience.

Cousins took the first two series and was clinically efficient: 8-of-11, 51 yards, no turnovers. Two field goals, no touchdowns, and Cousins' own honest assessment that the offense left "meat on the bone."

Mendoza then played five series into the fourth quarter and had his hardest night. He threw an interception on his second snap, a high ball that bounced off Jalen Nailor's hands, ricocheted, and got picked, leading to a San Francisco field goal. From there he shrank: heavy checkdown reliance, late throws, overthrows, two sacks, fewer intermediate and deep attempts as the night went on. 7-of-14, 57 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, 31.0 rating, and the longest net gain on any Mendoza-led play was a 19-yard pass interference call. USA TODAY graded him a C-.

Important context: He was not playing behind the projected starting line. Rookie Trey Zuhn III was at center in place of Tyler Linderbaum, and there were plenty of blown blocking assignments. And he still showed the athleticism, a 7-yard scramble where he put 49ers defensive tackle C.J. West "in the spin cycle."

Mendoza's full preseason: 25-of-45 (55.5%), 240 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT, 67.6 rating, 4 sacks across 14-plus series.

The Pros: Eight Reasons for Optimism

1. The Offensive Line Finally Got Fixed And It Changes Everything

GM John Spytek attacked the NFL's worst offensive line without hesitation, landing Tyler Linderbaum on a three-year, $81 million deal with $60 million guaranteed, roughly $27 million per year, for a center who ranked fourth among interior linemen in ESPN's pass block win rate in 2025 and is regarded as a top-three NFL center. Add Spencer Burford, third-rounder Trey Zuhn III, and a healthy Kolton Miller at left tackle. In camp, the unit built solid pockets for Cousins and created running lanes Jeanty simply never saw as a rookie. Everything else on offense is downstream of this.

2. Klint Kubiak's Scheme Is a Legitimate Upgrade

This is a coach who just called plays for a championship offense in Seattle. He moved fast on staff, elevating Rob Leonard to defensive coordinator and hiring Andrew Janocko as offensive coordinator. The preseason tape showed motion, condensed formations, multiple personnel groupings, and a play-calling identity that actually resembles modern football.

3. Brock Bowers Is Back to Being Brock Bowers

The star tight end was the hands-down standout of training camp, getting open on seemingly every snap and looking clearly healthy. He caught two of Cousins' five red-zone touchdowns in a single camp practice. ESPN's read: healthy Bowers puts up big numbers no matter who's throwing.

4. A Two-Headed Backfield Nobody Saw Coming

Jeanty has been named to NFL.com's All-Breakout team for 2026 and is openly chasing a "big jump." Behind him, Mike Washington Jr. piled up 119 rushing yards on just 15 carries across the first two preseason games, a shade under 8 yards a pop with runs of 53 and 33 yards, and ESPN projects a genuine one-two punch.

5. Maxx Crosby Is Still a Raider, and He's Angry

The Ravens agreed to send two first-round picks for Crosby in March, then nullified the deal after his physical and signed Trey Hendrickson instead. Crosby's response in July: "I know the truth." He has been dominant all camp and remains one of the league's premier pass rushers. Fully guaranteed salaries of $30 million in 2026 and $29 million in 2027 say he isn't going anywhere.

6. The Defense Got Seriously Funded

Quay Walker (3 years, $40M), Nakobe Dean (3 years, $36.03M), Kwity Paye (3 years, $48M), Eric Stokes re-signed (3 years, $30M), Malcolm Koonce re-signed. Paye posted 16.5 sacks in 2023-24 and ranked 10th in run stop win rate last year. Dean has become the loudest leader on that side of the ball.

7. The Young Talent Is Showing Up

Cian Slone's two-sack debut. Devin Lafayette's game-sealing interception. Treydan Stukes improving through camp toward a rotational deep-safety role. Malik Benson emerging as a go-to target in practice. Tonka Hemingway winning a starting job on the defensive front.

8. Vegas Thinks the Floor Doubled

The Raiders' win total sits at 5.5 with the over favored around -145 to -150, which is oddsmakers saying a three-win team just about doubled its baseline.

The Cons: Eight Challenges Ahead

1. Third Down Defense Is Still the Open Wound

Arizona converted 4-of-4 first-half third downs in the opener, both starters and backups getting cooked. That's a continuation, not a blip the 2025 Raiders allowed opponents to convert 46.3 percent of third downs, near the bottom of the league. A rebuilding team cannot afford to hand opponents free possessions.

2. Run Defense Is a Live Question

4.3 yards per rush allowed in the opener, with ESPN calling the front's run-stopping "a bit worrisome." Houston's Woody Marks needed one drive to gash them for 37 yards and a score.

3. The Cornerback Room Is Young and Unfinished

Jermod McCoy hadn't played football in over a year due to injury and it showed in the preseason.  He got beaten on both of Minshew's fade touchdowns. Darien Porter, entering Year 2, is still learning the position. ESPN's read: real upside in a season or two, real doubt about consistent coverage right now.

4. Wide Receiver Has No Clear Alpha

Jalen Nailor arrived on a three-year, $35.03 million deal with 14.8 and 15.3 yards-per-catch marks over the last two years. Behind him it's murky. Jack Bech's camp was underwhelming; Benson makes plays but dropped two big ones in Houston; a local beat writer noted nobody stepped up to claim the fifth receiver spot.

5. Offensive Line Depth Is Thin, and Guard/Right Tackle Are Unsettled

The starting five looks good. Behind it, depth problems were bad enough that they actively muddied the evaluation of Mendoza in the finale. Guard and right tackle remain the biggest question marks, with Jackson Powers-Johnson splitting reps with Caleb Rogers and DJ Glaze unproven against elite competition.

6. Discipline

Seven penalties for 70-plus yards by halftime of the opener, mostly false starts and ill-timed defensive flags. Normal for a roster with this much turnover. Fatal if it carries into September.

7. Jeanty's Ankle

He sprained an ankle roughly three weeks before the opener and carried a questionable tag with a 9/13 estimated return. His availability may be the single biggest swing factor in whether this offense starts fast.

8. The AFC West Is a Meat Grinder

Chiefs 10.5 wins. Chargers 10.5. Broncos 9.5. Raiders 5.5. Six games against that division. Playoff odds sit around +600 with missing the playoffs at -900.

The Quarterback Question: Why Cousins Is Right, and Why Mendoza Is Still The Answer

Here's where the whole season lives, so let's be precise about it.

Fernando Mendoza is the future of this franchise, full stop. He led Indiana to an undefeated national championship. He threw 41 touchdown passes, most in FBS against six interceptions, averaging a Big Ten-best 9.3 yards per attempt. Against Alabama and Oregon on the way to the title game, he threw eight touchdowns with five total incompletions. Daniel Jeremiah ranked him the top overall prospect in the draft. He's 22 years old and he's the first quarterback the Raiders have taken in the first round since JaMarcus Russell in 2007. Nobody is questioning the ceiling.

But the preseason answered the timing question honestly. Two interceptions, one touchdown, 55.5 percent completions, a 67.6 rating, four sacks. The trajectory across three games went down, not up: 100.3 rating, then 42.6, then 31.0. In the finale he visibly lost trust in pushing the ball after the early pick and started defaulting to his last checkdown. Kubiak said it plainly: Mendoza and the other rookies "need another three preseason games" games the new three-game format simply doesn't give them.

Now the case for Cousins, which is stronger than his 2025 stat line suggests.

He already speaks the language. Cousins worked with Kubiak in Minnesota from 2019 to 2021, first with Kubiak as quarterbacks coach and then as offensive coordinator. Mendoza is learning this offense for the first time in his life. Cousins has run it in games that mattered. In a season where the offensive line still has holes and the receiver room lacks a true No. 1, having a quarterback who can diagnose a front pre-snap and get the ball out on time isn't a luxury, it's the difference between a functional offense and a disaster.

He's been the better operator in every live setting. Preseason totals: 13-of-17, 101 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT across four series. He ran the ten-play, 68-yard touchdown march in the opener and moved the ball for two field goals against a legitimate 49ers defense in the finale. He threw five red-zone touchdowns in a single camp practice. Kubiak's language has been consistent since July 28: "Kirk Cousins is the starting quarterback. He's the guy" and later, "it's his job to lose."

And the structure is built for exactly this. Cousins' contract was designed as a bridge, reported as functioning like a one-year deal with $20 million guaranteed, with a club option and post-June 1 flexibility in 2027. He signed knowing Mendoza was coming at No. 1. His job description includes mentoring the guy who will take his job.

Here's the argument that should settle it for Raider Nation. Cousins was a fourth-round pick who started nine games in three seasons and didn't become a full-time starter until Year 4. He is now entering Year 15 with 167 career starts, and he went 5-3 in eight starts for Atlanta last season. His own words on the jump from college to the pros: it was significant, it "took some time," and "it's all about the long game. Winning the long game."

That's a living argument for patience. The graveyard of No. 1 overall quarterbacks is full of guys who were thrown behind bad protection in September of their rookie year and never recovered their confidence. Albert Breer's framing is right: the offense needs to be able to support Mendoza before he starts.

Meanwhile, Mendoza is doing everything you'd want from a franchise quarterback in waiting. He writes "tranquilo", Spanish for calm, on his wristband to remind himself to slow down and trust his process. He called NFL edge rushers "monsters" and said playing under duress was valuable because "diamonds are built under pressure." And he said this: "From Snap 1 against Arizona to the last snap I took here against the Niners, I believe I've grown as a quarterback. Although it might not always show on the stat sheet." Also: "It's not always sunshine and rainbows."

That's a 22-year-old with the emotional operating system of a ten-year pro. He is going to be very good. He is going to play this season, the league hasn't kept a No. 1 overall pick on the bench past November of his rookie year since Carson Palmer sat all of 2003. ESPN reported he's shown enough that the Raiders are confident he could step in sooner than expected if needed.

But Week 1, September 13 against Miami at Allegiant, the ball should be in Cousins' hands, his 11th career Week 1 start, and per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, still the expectation despite Kubiak declining to make it official. Cousins buys the line time to gel, the receivers time to sort themselves out, Jeanty's ankle time to heal, and Mendoza time to learn from the sideline with a headset on instead of from the turf with a linebacker on top of him.

Final Thought: A Foundation, Not a Desperation

Preseason records lie. Preseason identity doesn't.

And the identity that showed up over these three August nights was a Raiders team that finally has a plan, and, for the first time in a long time, the pieces to run it. Ten plays and sixty-eight yards on the opening drive of the preseason, with the quarterback untouched. A 53-yard rookie run, the longest in a Raiders preseason since 2017. An undrafted kid putting up two sacks. Another undrafted kid sealing a win with a pick. A backup quarterback marching 96 yards in 97 seconds without a timeout to steal one in Houston. A Heisman winner taking the worst night of his young football life and answering questions about it like a grown man.

There's real work left. The third-down defense has to be fixed. The corners have to grow up in a hurry. Somebody has to become a No. 1 receiver. Six games against the Chiefs, Chargers and Broncos are going to hurt.

But understand what this franchise has actually assembled in seven months: a championship-caliber play caller, a $27 million center, a top-five tight end who's healthy again, a breakout candidate at running back with a punishing rookie behind him, the meanest edge rusher in football with a chip on his shoulder the size of Allegiant, a No. 1 overall pick with a Heisman and a national title, and a 15-year veteran who already knows the playbook by heart and is fully at peace with handing over the keys when the kid is ready.

That is not a three-win roster. That is a foundation.

Vegas set the number at 5.5 and leaned over. I'd lean harder. This team is going to be tougher, cleaner and more physical than anything Raider Nation has watched in years, and somewhere in the middle of it, maybe October, maybe November, maybe on some Sunday nobody has circled yet, Fernando Mendoza is going to trot out with the ones and this whole thing is going to feel like the beginning of something.

Cousins holds the door. Mendoza walks through it. And Raider Nation gets to watch both.

September 13. Dolphins. Allegiant. 1:25 PT on FOX.

Just win, baby.