From hiring Klint Kubiak to signing All-Pro center Tyler Linderbaum to drafting Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the Raiders made transformative moves this offseason.
Not that anyone is talking about the Silver and Black winning the Super Bowl, let alone making a playoff run. But a foundation for success is finally in place, and there is genuine expectation for legitimate improvement this season.
But on a team that also added linebackers Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean, and defensive end Kwity Paye in free agency, and reset its secondary with the draft selections of safety Treydan Stukes and cornerback Jermod McCoy, there is still room for improvement.
The Raiders have been disciplined in their personnel decision-making, abandoning the follies of their previous ways by avoiding splashy, instant gratification moves in favor of additions for the long term.
As they build for the future, they are prioritizing development. That means getting young players on the field so they can learn on the job rather than impeding their growth by having them sit behind a veteran.
However, that doesn’t mean they should completely reject the idea of a short-term solution at certain positions that can help them now, if not down the line.
That is particularly the case at wide receiver, where there is a dearth of proven production.
Raiders WR room needs someone to step up
Tre Tucker led the wide receiver group in receptions last season with a career-high 57 catches and 696 yards. He will be joined by free-agent signee Jalen Nailor, who represents far more potential than production coming off the career-high 29 catches he had with the Vikings last year.
Beyond that, though, is uncertainty. And while second-year wide receivers Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton offer upside, neither did enough last year to suggest they are destined to take big-time steps forward in 2026.
The good news is that player not only exists but he’s also available.
The Raiders aren’t in win-now mode by any means. But they are in development mode, and Mendoza, the top overall pick in the NFL draft, is the face of that movement.
A significant part of his growth will be dependent on his supporting cast. And while tight end Brock Bowers is the Raiders’ No. 1 target, Mendoza would benefit from a proven, veteran wide receiver.
“He stepped up, had an excellent game,” said Kubiak. “He really has had an impressive camp as far as just being a guy that’s continually straining and getting better and hasn’t had all the ops in practice and then he came out tonight and was ready to roll. So, I was happy but not surprised with what he did tonight.”
But is now the time to make a move for a veteran like Keenan Allen, when Bech flashed like he did in the Raiders preaseason opener Thursday by converting three third-down receptions into a touchdown and a pair of first downs?
And that was on top of the key block he threw to spring rookie running back Mike Washington for a 53-yard run. Bech showed just enough Thursday to give the Raiders pause in adding a veteran.
Cousins agreed: I don’t think the ball has found him as much in practice as we would have liked,” Cousins said. “What I’ve noticed of Jack [Bech], is very strong hands, and as a quarterback, there’s going to be tight coverage in this league, and you need people who, with someone right on them, can still go grab the football. That’s what the great receivers I’ve played with have been able to do and Jack has that trait. And so, he showed it again tonight.
“And part of the reason I felt I could put it on him is because I knew Jack’s going to be like a power forward with an entry pass there. Even though the DBs coming, he’s going to have strong hands and bring the ball in and hold on. He has a play strength that I really like, and it gives me confidence to drill the ball on him, knowing that he can make those plays.”
And how about rookie Malik Benson, a rookie sixth-round pick from Oregon who has been the star of Raiders camp. Benson carried that momentum into Thursday by coming up with two catches on four targets, including a 19-yard catch on a throw from Mendoza.
Still, there are some compelling reasons for the Raiders potentially adding a veteran to the room to help fortify the room this year.
Yes, Allen is 34 years old. And without question, he would just be a one-and-done player for the Raiders. But his skill, professionalism and mentorship capabilities would absolutely be an asset to Mendoza and the Raiders’ young wide receiver group.
Let alone Bowers, who would see far fewer double teams playing alongside a wide receiver able to get open as frequently as Allen.
Whether Mendoza or veteran Kirk Cousins gets the starting nod to open the season, having an offset to Bowers would help the pass-game operation. An Allen-Bowers tandem would also free up Tucker, Nailor and whoever emerges among the Raiders’ second-year and rookie wide receiver group.
Nearly as important is the assist he would lend to those young wide receivers by setting an example of what an NFL wide receiver looks like, how he plays, practices, studies and prepares.
Allen is coming off an 81-catch season with the Chargers that included 777 yards and four touchdowns. So he can obviously still produce numbers.
And he would fit perfectly with the Raiders for multiple reasons.