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· collected 2026-09-06 · by David Troy
The Oakland Raiders have made significant offseason moves in an attempt to end their rebuilding phase and improve on last season's 3-14 record. The team has hired new head coach Klint Kubiak, signed quarterback Kirk Cousins to a multi-year deal, and drafted top prospect Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Offensively, the unit gains stability with Cousins operating behind an upgraded interior offensive line and is bolstered by Pro Bowl tight end Brock Bowers and other talented players. The team's betting outlook suggests they may not be as bad as last season, but getting to the playoffs is still a stretch due to competition from teams like the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Las Vegas Raiders are looking to turn things around after a dismal 2025 season in which they finished with a 3-14 record, securing the #1 overall pick in the draft. The team has made significant additions, including signing quarterback Kirk Cousins to a multi-year deal and drafting top prospect Fernando Mendoza with the first pick in the NFL Draft. These moves are intended to address the Raiders' struggles on offense, which saw them score an NFL-worst 241 points last season. The team has also hired new head coach Klint Kubiak, who previously worked as an offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings, in an effort to revamp their offense and bring some much-needed optimism to the franchise. With these changes, there is hope that the Raiders are finally putting an end to their rebuilding phase and entering a new era in Las Vegas.
Written for “Las Vegas Raiders Optimism” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 5254 · logged 2026-09-06
Las Vegas is the place you go with a lot of hope in your head and in your heart.
asserted
you → go → heart
This year, optimism reigns for the Raiders as they have new pieces that could prove that its endless rebuilding phase is drawing to a close and that a fresh era in Sin City is underway.
uncertain
era → reign → City
The Raiders suffered through a miserable 2025 campaign, finishing dead last in the division with a 3–14 record and securing the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.
asserted
Raiders → suffer → draft
Not everything was bad; tight end Brock Bowers and pass rusher Maxx Crosby delivered individual, Pro Bowl-caliber dominance to keep games visually competitive.
asserted
Bowers → deliver → games
A drought on offense held the team back, as Las Vegas scored an NFL-worst 241 points on the season.
asserted
Vegas → hold → season
An inability to protect the football, win on the road, or generate consistent quarterback play ultimately led to a quick, one-and-done exit for head coach Pete Carroll after the season finale.
asserted
inability → protect → finale
Offseason additions and subtractions
To fix the offensive structure, Las Vegas hired former Seahawks and Vikings offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak as head coach.
asserted
Vegas → fix → coach
He has shown a lot of success, and perhaps he can revamp an offense with a lot of talent at many positions.
asserted
he → show → positions
The front office then completely reshaped the quarterback room, making two massive moves: signing four-time Pro Bowler Kirk Cousins in free agency to a multi-year deal, and drafting top quarterback prospect Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
asserted
office → reshape → Draft
That did spell the end of time for Garner Minshew on the roster, but with Cousins and Mendoza, I doubt they will miss him.
asserted
they → spell → him
Offensively, the unit gains stability, or at least a veteran and professional presence with Cousins operating behind an upgraded interior offensive line.
asserted
Cousins → gain → line
With All-Pro tight end Bowers serving as the centerpiece alongside Michael Mayer and wideout Tre Tucker, the offense possesses far more execution upside than last fall—all while Mendoza develops behind the scenes.
asserted
Mendoza → serve → scenes
That doesn’t mention that Ashton Jeanty could make a major impact now that he has a reliable quarterback under center.
uncertain
he → mention → center
Defensively, Crosby remains the focal point of the pass rush (even after he was traded and sent back in the offseason).
asserted
he → remain → offseason
He is now flanked by Kwity Paye up front and backed by an overhauled linebacking corps featuring Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean.
asserted
He → flank → Walker
If Taron Johnson and the secondary hold up against complex passing schemes, the unit should take a noticeable leap in efficiency.
asserted
unit → hold → efficiency
If there is one thing you should count on this season, it is that the Raiders won’t be quite as bad as they were last season.
asserted
they → be → ?
Asking them to get to the playoffs is a bit of a stretch.
asserted
them → ask → stretch
They still have the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs in their division.
asserted
They → have → division
Does that mean they get over the 5.5 wins this season?
asserted
they → mean → wins
Cousins wasn’t very good in Atlanta, and they have a similar makeup to the Raiders.
asserted
they → have → Raiders
I do think Kubiak is a solid coach and should keep the ball moving.
asserted
ball → think → ?
Mendoza is ready to take over if Cousins doesn’t succeed.
asserted
Cousins → take → ?
I’m banking on Jeanty to have a good year.
asserted
Jeanty → bank → year
He scored just five rushing touchdowns last season, but I think with a better quarterback and an offensive coordinator for a coach, he will get more looks.
asserted
he → score → looks
I think he scores over 7.5 rushing touchdowns.
asserted
he → think → touchdowns
I also like his over 974.5 yards.
asserted
I → like → yards
You’re asking him to get exactly what he did last season with a worse team.
asserted
he → ask → team
The biggest concern with any of this is that the Raiders will be trailing frequently, but Kubiak may control the ball more, giving him more work.
uncertain
Kubiak → trail → work
