The Raiders are set to begin game week for their season opener against the Dolphins . Ahead of that. let's take a look at their offensive positions and rank them from best to worst.
Depth: Michael Mayer, Ian Thomas
Question mark: None
The duo of Bowers and Mayer is one of the best in the league. Bowers is a season removed from being an All Pro and Mayer is coming into his own, proving to provide a strong combination of receiving skills and blocking.
Depth: Mike Washington, Dylan Laube
Question mark: Number three back. Laube doesn't offer much as a third option. He is mostly a special teams guy. That could prove especially problematic should Jeanty miss time with his ankle injury.
Depth: Fernando Mendoza, Aidan O'Connell
Question mark: Will Kirk Cousins return to his form from before his 2023 injury at the age of 37? And if he doesn't, will Mendoza be ready to come in and start his career as the Raiders future franchise QB?
Depth: Trey Zuhn III, Charles Grant
Question marks: Right tackle and depth at left tackle. In other words, everything but Kolton Miller. Among an overall rough season for the Raiders offensive line, Glaze had the roughest of them all. His job atop the depth chart seemed unthreatened this offseason, but is that for lack of strong suitors? Or is he ready to hold down the job? Thus far the Grant has not looked like he is capable for stepping up should Miller be lost to injury as he was last season and the rookie Zuhn may not be ready either.
Depth: Atonio Mafi, Caleb Rogers
Question marks: The guards. While Linderbaum is one of the league's better centers, he is flanked by questions at both guard spots. Burford was a 49ers castoff and JPJ has been switching off first team duties with Rogers. And when you have two options, it means you don't really have one. It's certainly possible one or both spots could be fine, but right now that's uncertain. There's also no good answer at center behind Linderbaum.
Depth: Malik Benson, Dont'e Thornton, Darek Young
Question marks: Everyone. The entire unit is suspect. Tucker is a speedster who's seen his number go up each season, but has yet to break 700 yards. Nailor was a third option in Minnesota and looks to be a third option in Las Vegas too. And they are hoping Jack Bech can take the second-year leap. There is no true number one receiver on the roster and a glut of slot receivers. Lackluster doesn't cover it.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Ranking Raiders offensive position groups ahead of start of 2026 season
