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A veteran and rookie quarterback duo, a retooled defense and a new head coach are some of the offseason additions the Las Vegas Raiders hope will fuel a comeback year.
For FOX Sports’ Colin Cowherd, he sees the Raiders’ new additions as the right moves heading into the 2026 season, especially after their recent 3-14 finish under former head coach Pete Carroll.
“One of the reasons I’m a fan of Fernando Mendoza and the Raiders is that the Raiders are the rare bad organization over a decade that finally got their coach and their general manager simultaneously right, got both right. In fact, I think they had a great draft and a great offseason,” Cowherd said on Thursday’s edition of “The Herd.”
Following the trade of former Raiders quarterback Geno Smith to the Jets, the Raiders filled his spot with another veteran, quarterback Kirk Cousins, to complement their No. 1 overall pick in quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Cousins was signed by the Raiders following his two-year stint with the Atlanta Falcons. Additionally, the Raiders drafted running back Mike Washington Jr. and wide receiver Malik Benson, and added wide receiver Jalen Nailors and Cousins from free agency.
While the Raiders added stars to the offense, their defensive overhaul to help complement star defensive end Maxx Crosby was equally impressive. Las Vegas selected safety Treydan Stukes, edge Keyron Crawford, cornerback Jermod McCoy, safety Dalton Johnston, cornerback Hezekiah Masses and defensive tackle Brandon Cleveland. From free agency, the Raiders added defensive end Kwity Paye and linebacker Nakobe Dean.
Cowherd didn’t hesitate to praise the Raiders for their talent as a head coach and quarterback, but cautions about what signing rookie quarterbacks could bring.
“I don’t think (the Raiders) feel like Baker Mayfield going to Cleveland. Where I liked the coach and the quarterback, but I didn’t like the starting roster. When you get in trouble with rookie quarterbacks up high that’s when you see them as saviors…Usually, teams that have been in last place for years feel desperate.”
Especially when adding a new rookie-veteran pairing to the quarterback room, the question becomes who will take the reins as the Raiders’ starting quarterback in a bounce-back season.
The Raiders open the 2026 season by hosting the Miami Dolphins on September 13.
