The Raiders replaced Pete Carroll with Klint Kubiak as head coach. Football fans were eager to see how these changes would play out. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who won the Heisman Trophy in Indiana and a national championship, was chosen first overall. Important new players were added at linebacker, the offensive and defensive lines, and in the defensive backfield. In the sport of football, such coaching and roster changes often lead to high expectations among supporters.
This offseason and training camp are set to be some of the most interesting in recent years. The Raiders will spend the next three months deciding on starting jobs and team spots. Clearly, the overall football atmosphere around the team is intense.
The Raiders’ Plan
The Raiders are likely to make Mendoza their starting quarterback, but they are being cautious. They want to avoid pushing the rookie too fast.
They signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, who can step in if Mendoza needs help. The Raiders will make decisions during the rest of the offseason and training camp. In fact, other teams in football history have faced similar situations when they had promising rookies.
As the Raiders watch Mendoza’s hard work, dedication, and skill, they may grow more confident that he is ready. He could compete for the starting job and handle the challenges ahead in professional football games.
The Raiders had the worst offensive line last year. Problems included not enough good players, injuries to important players, and coaching problems. One person called it “the worst I’ve ever seen.” Veteran offensive line coach Rick Dennison has a long history of making the most of limited resources.
Left tackle Kolton Miller, who missed most of last season with an ankle injury, is returning. Adding former Ravens star Tyler Linderbaum, now the highest-paid center ever, will also make the line stronger. This improvement is crucial for success in football competition.
Miller and Linderbaum are a solid starting point. However, filling the other three positions well will determine the Raiders’ offensive line’s fate. Having reliable linemen is always important in the context of football performance.
Offensive Line
The line’s success depends on how well five young players chosen in the second and third rounds over the last three years improve. They are all competing for starting spots. The line’s success also depends on how well Spencer Burford, a former 49ers starting guard signed as a free agent, performs. In football, depth and flexibility on the line are crucial for success.
Veteran Jordan Meredith will also be part of the competition. Jackson Powers-Johnson, picked in the second round in 2024, needs to show he can be reliable and stay healthy. He missed a lot of time due to injuries in his first two seasons. Still, he has the talent to be a Pro Bowl player, and many expect him to earn a starting guard spot. Zuhn III, who can also play tackle, will compete for starting guard spots too. This showcases valuable skills for a football roster.
DJ Glaze, who has started the last two seasons after being picked in the third round in 2024, is a main candidate for right tackle. Charles Grant, a third-round pick in 2025, is another main candidate for right tackle. Additionally, Zuhn III will compete as well, giving the team more football options at that key position.
The competition for both guard positions and right tackle will be a primary focus throughout the summer. The team looks to field one of its best football lines yet.
Defensive Backfield
However, the biggest concern is still the defensive backfield, where the team believes it has added a lot of talent over the last 13 months. Improving the defensive backfield has always been a challenging part of football.
Veteran slot cornerback Taron Johnson, acquired this offseason, is the top choice for the position, but he has missed organized team activities because of contract talks, a common holdout scenario in professional football negotiations.
Johnson is expected to earn $18 million over the next two seasons. However, his $8.1 million salary this year and $9 million next year are not guaranteed. It’s understandable he wants more financial security. Darien Porter, a third-round pick from Iowa State last year, is penciled in as the starter opposite Stokes. This reflects another classic football contract situation for players.
But Jermod McCoy will play a big role in that decision. McCoy’s impact could change the way the football team approaches its secondary rotation. He will compete for playing time right away, raising the bar for football competition in the defensive unit.
The Raiders picked Arizona safety Treydan Stukes in the second round last month. He is expected to compete with Isaiah Pola-Mao for the starting free safety job, and he can also play slot cornerback if Johnson’s contract issues aren’t resolved, giving the coaching staff more football flexibility in the lineup.
Rookie safety Dalton Johnson and cornerback Hezekiah Masses, both chosen in the fifth round, will also compete for playing time, if not starting spots. All in all, these position battles will shape the future of the Raiders and generate lots of excitement among football fans.
Eric Butler is a Contributor for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on Instagram and X via @ReportandOpine
