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The state of the Raiders roster ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft

Fourteen days separate the Las Vegas Raiders from the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Along with the coveted selection, they currently hold nine other picks throughout three days of the draft.

Before rookies and more free agents are added, take a quick look at the construction of the current roster.

Quarterbacks (alphabetical order)

PlayerCollegeYear entering
Kirk CousinsMichigan State15
Aidan O'ConnellPurdue4

Kirk Cousins signed with the Raiders on Monday after spending his previous two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. In 167 career, he ranks top 10 among active quarterbacks in wins (88), game-winning drives (33), passing yards (44,700) and passing touchdowns (298). He also played under Raiders Head Coach Klint Kubiak for three seasons with the Minnesota Vikings.

Aidan O'Connell has 17 career starts for the Raiders since being drafted in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He has the third-most passing yards (3,932) and fourth-most passing touchdowns (20) of any player in his draft class despite being the eighth quarterback taken off the board that year.

Running backs

PlayerCollegeYear entering
Chris CollierUniversity of Lock Haven2
Connor HeywardMichigan State5
Ashton JeantyBoise State2
Dylan LaubeNew Hampshire3

Ashton Jeanty is coming off an impressive debut season with the Raiders. He led all rookies in rushing yards (975), rushing yards after contact (556), broken tackles (24) and carries for over 10 yards (24). He also recorded 10 total touchdowns (five receiving, five rushing).

Chris Collier and Dylan Laube mostly received special teams reps in 2025, with Laube finishing with five total tackles.

Connor Heyward enters the backfield mix as a fullback. He spent his first four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, racking up five career touchdowns (three receiving, two rushing).

Wide receivers

PlayerCollegeYear entering
Jack BechTCU2
Phillip Dorsett IIMiami9
Shedrick JacksonAuburn1
Jalen NailorMichigan State5
Brenden RiceUSC2
Justin ShorterFlorida4
Dont'e Thornton Jr.Tennessee2
Tre TuckerCincinnati4
Dareke YoungLenoir Rhyne5

Injuries and transactional moves gave way for Tre Tucker to step into the Raiders WR1 role last season. He led the team in receiving yards (696) and ranked second in receptions (57) and touchdown catches (five) – all career highs for the 2023 third-rounder. His best game of the season was in Week 3, lighting up the Washington Commanders on the road for 145 yards and three touchdowns.

In their rookie seasons, Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr. were asked to step up, combining for 359 receiving yards on 30 catches.

The biggest offseason addition to the receiving corps is Jalen Nailor, who spent his first four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. He's caught 10 touchdowns in last two seasons and reunites with Cousins, who was his teammate in Minnesota from 2022-2023.

Tight ends

PlayerCollegeYear entering
Brock BowersGeorgia3
Michael MayerNotre Dame4
Albert Okwuegbunam Jr.Missouri6
Carter RunyonTowson2
Ian ThomasIndiana9

Despite missing five games due to injury, Brock Bowers led the team in receptions (64) and receiving touchdowns (seven). His showing was impressive enough to garner his second Pro Bowl selection in as many years he's been in the league.

In place of an injured Bowers, Michael Mayer set career highs in receptions (35), receiving yards (328) and catch percentage (70 percent).

The trio of Ian Thomas, Albert Okwuegbunam Jr. and UDFA Carter Runyon combined for 153 receiving yards on 19 receptions.

Offensive linemen

PlayerCollegeYear entering
Spencer BurfordUTSA5
McClendon CurtisChattanooga2
DJ GlazeMaryland3
Charles GrantWilliam & Mary2
Tyler LinderbaumIowa5
Atonio MafiUCLA2
Jordan MeredithWestern Kentucky4
Joshua MilesMorgan State5
Kolton MillerUCLA9
Jackson Powers-JohnsonOregon3
Will PutnamClemson2
Layden RobinsonTexas A&M3
Caleb RogersTexas Tech2
Laki TasiNFL International Pathway Program1
Dalton WagnerArkansas2

The Raiders offensive line went through an array of starting rotations in 2025, with 11 different players starting at least one game in the trenches. Of those eight players still on the roster, DJ Glaze is the only offensive lineman who started all 17 games.

Two notable additions to the line this offseason are center Tyler Linderbaum and guard Spencer Burford. Lindenbaum has only missed two games in his career with the Baltimore Ravens, and has earned three consecutive Pro Bowl selections. Burford, who played under Kubiak in 2023, has 38 career starts with the San Francisco 49ers, who selected him in the fourth round of the 2022 Draft.

Defensive linemen

PlayerCollegeYear entering
Thomas Booker IVStanford4
Adam ButlerVanderbilt9
Maxx CrosbyEastern Michigan8
Jahfari HarveySMU1
Tonka HemingwaySouth Carolina2
Malcolm KoonceBuffalo6
Jonah LauluOklahoma3
Treven Ma'aeBaylor1
Brodric MartinWestern Kentucky4
Kwity PayeMichigan6
JJ PeguesMississippi2
Charles SnowdenVirginia3
Tyree WilsonTexas Tech4

For a fourth consecutive season, Maxx Crosby led the Raiders in sacks (10.0) and tackles for loss (28), finishing second in the league in the latter category. His efforts earned him his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl nod.

Crosby was aided by a defensive line rotation consisting of Malcolm Koonce, Jonah Laulu and Tyree Wilson, as that trio combined for 12.5 sacks. Along with re-signing Koonce and Thomas Booker IV, the Raiders bolstered their defensive line recently by signing Kwity Paye. The former first-rounder from Michigan collected 30.5 career sacks with the Indianapolis Colts.

Linebackers

PlayerCollegeYear entering
Jamin DavisKentucky5
Nakobe DeanGeorgia5
Tommy EichenbergOhio State3
Brennan JacksonWashington State3
Cody LindenbergMinnesota2
Segun OlubiSan Diego State4
Quay WalkerGeorgia5

The Raiders completed a near overhaul of the linebacking corps this offseason, signing Nakobe Dean, Quay Walker and Segun Olubi.

Walker, a 2022 first-round pick of the Green Bay Packers, started 57 games for that franchise and led the team in total tackles in each of his four seasons. Dean, who was college teammates with Walker at the University of Georgia, won Super Bowl LIX with the Philadelphia Eagles. In his 41 games played, he's totaled 141 solo tackles, 7.5 sacks and five pass deflections. Olubi was a special teams ace for the Colts the last four seasons with 35 career solo tackles.

Returning linebackers consist of Brennan Jackson, 2025 seventh-rounder Cody Lindenberg and Tommy Eichenberg, who set the franchise record for most special teams tackles in a single season.

Defensive backs

PlayerCollegeYear entering
Chigozie AnusiemColorado State2
Jeremy ChinnSouthern Illinois7
Taron JohnsonWeber State9
Tristin McCollumSam Houston State3
Isaiah Pola-MaoUSC5
Darien PorterIowa State2
Decamerion RichardsonMississippi State3
Eric StokesGeorgia6
Greedy VanceUSC2

The Raiders' free agency began by re-signing Eric Stokes to a contract extension. The cornerback held opposing quarterbacks to a 56.7 completion percentage and 9.7 yards per completion in 2025.

Safety Jeremy Chinn was second on the team in total tackles (114) while defensive backs Isaiah Pola-Mao and rookie Darien Porter appeared in all 17 games.

Special teams

PlayerCollegeYear entering
AJ ColeNorth Carolina State8
Matt GayUtah7
Alex WardUCF4

AJ Cole is returning for his eighth season with the Raiders after averaging 47.6 yards per punt in 2025 and notching 24 punts inside the 20-yard line.

The Silver and Black mixed it up this offseason at kicker and long snapper, bringing in Matt Gay and Alex Ward. Gay, who won a Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams in the 2020 season, has made 84.3 percent of his career field goals. Ward also played for the Rams, appearing in 38 games across three seasons.

The Las Vegas Raiders arrive for the 2026 voluntary offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.

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