D. Hackman from Texas asks:

"Will we upgrade the running back room through free agency or trade to assist Ashton in creating a Thunder & Lightning type running game for Raider Nation?"

There are currently three running backs on the roster: Ashton Jeanty, Dylan Laube and Chris Collier. The Raiders also added Connor Heyward at fullback.

While Jeanty is considered the workhorse back, Laube and Collier have been more involved in special teams. So, all signs point to the Silver and Black adding more backs to the roster soon.

"Definitely want to have a two-man show there," Head Coach Klint Kubiak said at the NFL Combine. "Guys that can share the load, it's a long season. You don't want to put all the carries and targets on one guy. Right now we're identifying guys that are available here in the draft, identifying free agents we might go after, looking at own roster and seeing who can take that. But it is important that Jeanty has a wingman and it's probably not just going to be one guy."

Top free agents options still available include Pro Bowlers Joe Mixon and Najee Harris or the team could kick the tires again on former Raiders running back Ameer Abdullah, who played 13 games for the Colts last season.

As for late-round draft options at running back, the Raiders could hone in on players like Emmett Johnson from Nebraska, who led the Big Ten in rushing yards (1,451), Penn State's Nicholas Singleton, who also adds value on kick return, or South Carolina's Rahsul Faison, who played under Raiders special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis in 2025.

Scott Boe asks:

"Which returning player or players are you anticipating will make a leap, based on changes to offensive and defensive schemes?"

On the offensive side of the ball, I truly believe 2026 could be Michael Mayer's time to shine – even with a healthy Brock Bowers back in the fold.

Since Bowers was drafted the year after Mayer was taken in the second round, multiple coaching staffs have tried to figure out how to properly get both involved. And while we've seen glimpses from the tight end tandem, it hasn't been on a consistent basis.

Over the last two seasons, it's largely been due to missing time on the field. Mayer has missed 10 games since 2024 while Bowers missed five games in 2025.

Kubiak has a track record of utilizing two pass-catching tight ends in his scheme. In 2025, the Seahawks lined up in 12 personnel (1 RB, 2 TE, 2 WR) the 11th most in the league with a total 14 touchdowns in that offensive grouping. Additionally, they lined up in 22 personnel (2 RB, 2 TE, 1 WR) 86 times, which was the fifth-highest of any offense. As a result, tight ends AJ Barner and Elijah Arroyo combined for 67 catches and seven receiving touchdowns for the Super Bowl-winning team.

It's not hard to imagine Mayer wouldn't benefit from Kubiak's scheme as well, especially after hittings career highs in receptions (35), receiving yards (328) and catch percentage (70 percent) last season.

As for defense, the player I see being the ideal beneficiary of switching to a base 3-4 defense is Tyree Wilson.

Wilson, who has totaled 12.5 career sacks, has lined up all over the defensive line and has only missed one game since 2023. However, even with his versatility, he hasn't quite been able to carve out a large role in the defense, instead being used a rotational pass rusher over the last three seasons.

Now within a base 3-4 scheme, he could be asked to line up more at 3 or 4-technique (the inside shoulder of the offensive tackle) to bull rush and create space for linebackers to make the play. With Wilson's 6-foot-5, 263-pound frame, this should be a role he'll excel at opposed to be a pure pass rusher off the edge. This would also give him the opportunity to excel as a run stopper, having already recorded 16 tackles for loss over the last two seasons.

As always, great question Scott.

Joseph Russo from North Carolina asks:

"Do you see the Raiders drafting a nose tackle since they are moving to a 3-4 or will they use Butler or Booker in that role?"

I can see all of the above happening.

The Raiders re-signed Thomas Booker IV after he accumulated five pass deflections with a 12.3 percent true pass set (TPS) win rate from Pro Football Focus – the highest of any defensive tackle on the team in 2025. While Adam Butler saw a statistical decline in 2025, he's racked up 11 sacks and 19 tackles within his three seasons as a Raider.

With the switch to a base 3-4, this means the team may want to find a true "space heater" nose tackle that commands to be double teamed at the line of scrimmage. And while Booker and Butler both have the ability to play defensive tackle in 4-3 and nickel packages, they could also line up at defensive end in base 3-4 – as I was alluding to Wilson stepping inside earlier.

One option in this year's draft class that comes to mind is Ohio State's Kayden McDonald, who I've previously mentioned could be a viable option at No. 36. The 6-foot-3, 326-pounder was named Big Ten Conference's Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year after notching three sacks and nine tackles for loss in 2025. Other top nose tackles include Lee Hunter from Texas Tech, Caleb Banks from Florida and Alabama's Tim Keenan III.