Beyond Fernando Mendoza, five Las Vegas Raiders have plenty to prove when the preseason begins. Here are the names of those who could surprise, stand out and change the conversation.
Mendoza will draw the spotlight when the Raiders open their preseason Thursday against the Arizona Cardinals, but the No. 1 overall pick is not the only player worth tracking as Las Vegas builds toward its Sept. 13 season opener against the Miami Dolphins.
Several young players have used training camp to push for larger roles under first-year coach Klint Kubiak, and the three-game exhibition slate offers each of them a chance to turn camp momentum into a real opportunity heading into the regular season.
These 5 Raiders are worth monitoring vs. the Cardinals…
Running back Mike Washington Jr. has emerged as one of the more surprising storylines of camp. The rookie fourth-round pick out of Arkansas is not threatening to unseat Ashton Jeanty, last year’s Heisman Trophy runner-up, atop the depth chart. But he has rotated in for roughly a third of first-team snaps since the start of camp, and a case can be made that he has looked more explosive than Jeanty on a per-carry basis. Kubiak has indicated he does not want to take Jeanty off the field for long stretches, but Washington’s role appears to be growing regardless.
Cornerback Hezekiah Masses has been one of the true breakout names of camp. A sixth-round pick, Masses has translated instincts developed as a high school wide receiver into playmaking ability on the other side of the ball. His interception of quarterback Kirk Cousins last week added to a training camp full of highlight-reel moments.
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He is not the only defensive back making a push for a starting job. Darien Porter, at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, brings a clear size advantage and appears to have surrendered fewer big plays than Masses this camp, even if he has likely allowed more completions overall. The competition between the two could ultimately come down to which player limits mistakes once the games start to count.
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Tight end Michael Mayer has been a steady, consistent presence throughout camp, drawing praise for his continued development even as Brock Bowers remains the clear top target at the position in Las Vegas’ passing game.
Wide receiver Deven Thompkins, signed as part of a wave of roster moves last week, has quickly made his presence felt in a short amount of time, connecting with Mendoza for a touchdown during a recent red-zone period at practice.
None of these five players will overshadow Mendoza’s long-awaited preseason debut. But as the Raiders look to rebuild under Kubiak, the depth pieces surrounding their rookie franchise quarterback may matter just as much over the course of the season.
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