HENDERSON, Nev. — Updated after the Raiders cut veteran receiver Noah Brown on Monday, Las Vegas must trim its roster to 53 players by 6 p.m. ET on Sunday after a final preseason game Thursday against the San Francisco 49ers. The Raiders open the 2026 regular season against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 13 at Allegiant Stadium, and coach Klint Kubiak will rely on a relatively young roster in his first season in Las Vegas, according to the projection.
Quarterback decisions are among the biggest choices facing the team. The projection keeps two signal-callers: Kirk Cousins and No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza. Kubiak said during training camp he had three NFL-ready quarterbacks on the roster, and the projection notes Mendoza has shown enough to be trusted if asked to play earlier than expected; Aidan O’Connell is mentioned as a potential trade candidate.
The backfield and tight end room are expected to be set. Running backs projected to make the roster are Ashton Jeanty, 2026 fourth-round pick Mike Washington Jr., Roman Hemby and Dylan Laube, with Jeanty entering camp as the presumed lead back. The team has struggled in the run game the past two seasons, and Washington has drawn notice for his impact. Connor Heyward is listed as the lone fullback, a role Kubiak values. Tight ends Brock Bowers, Michael Mayer and Ian Thomas are projected to make the roster; the piece says Bowers should be productive when healthy and that Mayer has yet to break out since being drafted in 2023.
At receiver, the projection lists Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, Jack Bech, Malik Benson and Dareke Young. The WR3 spot is singled out as a roster question, with Bech described as a physical slot target and blocker while Benson has been the more consistent pass catcher in practice. The offensive line projection includes Kolton Miller, Spencer Burford, Tyler Linderbaum, Jackson Powers-Johnson, DJ Glaze, Charles Grant, Trey Zuhn III and Caleb Rogers, with guard and right tackle noted as areas of uncertainty.
Defensive line projected spots go to Thomas Booker IV, Adam Butler, Folorunso Fatukasi, Tonka Hemingway, Jonah Laulu and JJ Pegues; Hemingway has emerged as a starter, and the unit’s run defense raised concerns after yielding 4.3 yards per carry in the preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals. Edge rushers highlighted in the projection include Maxx Crosby, Kwity Paye and Malcolm Koonce. The piece also notes Las Vegas may look to add help at wide receiver and cornerback during the season.
