Training camp is officially underway in Las Vegas, and the Raiders have a lot to be excited about going into the 2026 season.
With Klint Kubiak, Fernando Mendoza and Maxx Crosby [still] in the building, the future hasn’t looked this bright for the Raiders in nearly a decade.
As always, the season will have its share of surprises, so for the sake of entertainment, let’s kick off the year with five bold predictions ahead of the first official practice of the season.
Here we go…
Aidan O’Connell won’t be cut/traded, stays with the Raiders longer than Kirk Cousins
Cousins was brought to the Raiders to mentor Fernando Mendoza and keep the team competitive for as long as possible, but the timeline on both will be shorter than expected.
Once Mendoza takes the job, how long will it make sense to keep Cousins in a backup role?
Cousins should have trade value around the time of the trade deadline, and the coaching staff really likes O’Connell.
If Klint Kubiak keeps gaining confidence in O’Connell, why not try to keep him around as the long-term backup to Mendoza?
Maxx Crosby will be traded during the season
Adam Schefter said Crosby might end up being a Raider for life after all, but it still makes sense for the Raiders to listen to offers for Crosby.
If he’s healthy at the trade deadline and the Raiders aren’t setting the world on fire with wins, somebody is going to come with another Ravens-like offer.
Maybe things are suddenly wonderful between Crosby and the Raiders since the Baltimore trade fell through, but sometimes it’s hard not to be skeptical.
The Raiders offensive line will shine in 2026
Between injuries and one of the worst coaching situations the Raiders have ever assembled, there’s nowhere to go but up for the offensive line.
With Tyler Linderbaum in the building to go along with Kolton Miller and Jackson Powers-Johnson back to full strength, the Raiders have the talent to be one of the better offensive lines in the NFL.
Combine the talent with a tremendous amount of depth and superior coaching, and it’s possible the most disappointing position group on the team in 2025 could be one of the most dynamic in 2026.
Fernando Mendoza will be Raiders’ QB1 by October 31
It’s going to be hard to keep Mendoza on the bench for two months and it’s not like he’s going to be sitting behind a 38-year-old Tom Brady.
Cousins is the perfect quarterback to show Mendoza what it takes to be a successful NFL quarterback through the week.
Unfortunately, at this stage in his career, Cousins might not be the perfect quarterback to show Mendoza what it takes to be a successful NFL quarterback on Sundays.
Ashton Jeanty will be top 5 in the NFL in rushing yards
Kubiak is a genius when it comes to running the football and Jeanty is as dynamic as any running back in the league.
If the offensive line improves drastically, and we’ve already determined is going to happen, Jeanty is fully capable of taking the league by storm in 2026.
Pick him up in your fantasy football leagues before it’s too late.
x: @raidersbeat