Andrew Buller-Russ
The 2026 Las Vegas Raiders will be much different than the version fans saw in 2025. Led by Super Bowl-winning offensive coordinator turned first-year head coach Klint Kubiak, the Raiders hope to field a much more competitive group than the one that went just 3-14 under former Super Bowl-winning head coach Pete Carroll.
Given that the quarterback group has been overhauled, led by four-time Pro Bowl veteran Kirk Cousins and supplemented by No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, we like the Raiders’ chances to improve. Yet, they’ve also overhauled a key defensive unit. Some even think one of the Raiders’ position groups has taken one of the biggest leaps in the NFL.
Related: 8 NFL Trades We’d Like To See After June 1
Recently, ESPN’s Ben Solak ranked the NFL’s most improved position groups. At No. 1 he had the Arizona Cardinals‘ running back group, sparked by drafting Jeremiyah Love and signing Tyler Allgeier.
Yet, Solak had the Raiders’ linebacker unit as the second-most position group in the NFL this offseason.
“It’s a total overhaul in Las Vegas, as not one of the four linebackers to get over 200 snaps last season returns to play for the Raiders. Not only are all four no longer Raiders, but none of the four has signed with another team so far. There was a lot wrong with the Las Vegas franchise last season, but even with a good coaching staff and healthy secondary, this linebackers room was a nonstarter.
ESPN’s Ben Solak on Raiders’ LB Group
GM John Spytek overhauled the group with a pair of old teammates: Walker and Dean played beside one another as Georgia Bulldogs in 2020 and 2021 before parting ways in the 2022 draft. Dean and Walker are a complementary duo. Dean might be undersized, but he has many traits of a prototypical signal-calling Mike linebacker: great recognition and instincts, plus physical tackling skills.”
A lot of eyes will be tuned into the Raiders, trying to see just how competitive this team can be, especially in a typically tough AFC West division.
Have the Raiders, who ranked 32nd in scoring and 25th in points allowed, taken a big enough leap to compete for a playoff spot? Time will tell, but they’ve certainly made some key upgrades on both sides of the ball in addition to the coaching staff. In other words, they have a fighting chance.
Related: 2026 NFL QB Rankings
