The Las Vegas Raiders have made progress, but the gap in offensive talent compared to the NFL’s top contenders remains a major concern heading into 2026.
The Raiders enter 2026 with a harsh reality staring back at them: their offensive skill position group ranks among the NFL’s weakest, and the margin for error is shrinking.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, a favorite among Raider Nation, slotted the Raiders’ receiver, tight end and running back corps at No. 26 in his annual offensive playmaker rankings. That number tells only part of the story. Las Vegas checked in at No. 23 ahead of the 2024 season, then No. 20 entering 2025. The trajectory is moving in the wrong direction.
The optimism, such as it is, centers on two players.
Tight end Brock Bowers is the clearest foundation. A knee injury derailed his sophomore season, but the former All-Pro showed enough to confirm his status as the Raiders’ best offensive weapon and arguably their only bankable one. His bounce-back campaign isn’t a hope so much as a baseline expectation. The more pressing question is what surrounds him.
Running back Ashton Jeanty enters Year 2 carrying considerable weight. The top-10 pick underwhelmed as a rookie, though context matters. A dismal offensive line did him no favors, and the Raiders’ restructured front could unlock a more recognizable version of the back who dominated at Boise State. Still, his struggles converting in short-yardage situations and a handful of unforced errors introduced legitimate doubt. Jeanty has the upside but what’s missing is consistency.
Fans are hoping that’s where a new scheme will help in that instance.
Here’s where it gets complicated…
The receiver room is where the evaluation gets surgical and uncomfortable.
Jalen Nailor, acquired from Minnesota, profiles as a functional third option who is being asked to operate as a starter. That distinction is not a minor one. Behind him, Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton Jr. produced little in their debut seasons. Thornton’s 0.6 yards per route run was not a rounding error. It was a flashing warning sign. Tre Tucker offers legitimate deep-field value, but his ceiling in this offense is a complementary role, not a foundational one.
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If this receiver group outperforms expectations, it will likely be a product of Klint Kubiak’s scheme and improved quarterback play, not individual talent breaking through.
The Raiders are not without promise. Bowers and Jeanty represent a credible young core. But having potential does not cover a 26th-ranked skill position group. At some point, the roster needs reinforcement.
That point is now.
*Top Photo: David Becker/Getty Images