While the 2026 NFL draft class is considered a foundational piece of the Las Vegas Raiders’ roster/rebuild, none of the 10 players drafted are currently slated to be a starter heading into training camp, according to Ourlads’ depth chart.
Of course, the pecking order that the coaches have is what’s really important, and players can earn their spots during training camp. But the former isn’t public information yet; camp is still about a week away from getting going, and there isn’t an obvious rookie
starter right now. Even the No. 1 pick of the draft is expected to begin the summer and regular season as a backup.
So, which rookies have the best chance to be a Week 1 starter when the Raiders host the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 13?
QB Fernando Mendoza
As referenced above, Mendoza is entering training camp behind Kirk Cousins as the starting quarterback in Las Vegas. But let’s be honest, this “competition” is more about the rookie being ready for NFL action than anything else. The coaches, and even Cousins, have said that the best quarterback needs to be on the field, regardless of experience. If the Indiana product can hit the ground running and prove that he’s ready to go, then the plan to have Cousins be the bridge-gap starter goes out the window.
S Treydan Stukes
Part of the uncertainty surrounding Stukes being a starter is centered around what position Rob Leonard and Co. want to play him at. The second-rounder was primarily a nickelback at Arizona, but the Raiders also traded for Taron Johnson to cover the slot. It seems like the former Wildcat’s best chance at being a Week 1 starter is by beating out Isaiah Pola-Mao for the free safety role. Pola-Mao struggled at that spot last year, and Stukes has the traits to be a quality backend defender in the NFL. It’s just a matter of how quickly he can pick up the position.
CB Jermod McCoy
The health of McCoy’s knee has been one of the biggest looming questions in Vegas since the organization drafted him roughly three months ago. But it’s a situation where if he’s healthy and can get back to his 2024 form, the fourth-round pick is the most talented cornerback on the roster. Obviously, there are a few major variables in that equation, but there is a situation where the Tennessee product beats out Darien Porter for a starting spot.
DT Brandon Cleveland
Outside of McCoy, the pickings start to get slim after the second round when it comes to immediate starters. Third-rounders Keyron Crawford and Trey Zuhn III both have several players ahead of them on the depth chart, while Mike Washington Jr. was drafted to complement Ashton Jeanty. Then, Dalton Johnson is a long shot to beat out Jeremy Chinn at free safety, and Malik Benson has a murky path to the starting lineup since he’s a similar type of receiver as Tre Tucker and Jalen Nailor.
Ironically, the last player drafted by the Raiders this offseason has a somewhat direct route to be a first-stringer. The defensive tackle group as a whole is pretty weak, and the unit could use a quality run-stuffer. That’s where Cleveland, whose calling card is stopping the run from multiple alignments, has a decent chance to be a Week 1 starter despite the round he was selected in.
It might be a long shot since there are plenty of competitors at defensive tackle. But with no one at the position locked into a starting job heading into camp, the NC State product has a fighter’s chance.
Wildcard: CB Hezekiah Masses
Masses is a “wildcard” since McCoy has more talent and thus the better chance to start, and it’d be pretty unlikely that Eric Stokes loses his spot after getting paid in the offseason. However, the Cal product reportedly had a good showing during OTAs and minicamp to turn some heads, getting some run with the first-team defense while McCoy was on a pitch count. The fifth-round corner had really good ball production at Cal last season, recording five interceptions and 13 PDs. That could show up and standout during training camp.
