It comes with the territory of selecting 21 total players over the last two years, but the Las Vegas Raiders double-dipped at a handful of positions between the 2025 and 2026 NFL drafts. That’s not necessarily a bad roster-building strategy because it leads to competitions in training camp where the cream can rise to the top of the depth chart.
So, let’s dive into a few position battles that feature players from the Raiders’ last two draft classes.
Darien Porter vs. Jermod McCoy
This should be one of the most interesting battles
to keep tabs on this summer in Las Vegas. Porter was a solid starter in the second half of last season and showed the potential to grow down the line. He was drafted as a project, owning unique traits at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds with 33⅛-inch arms and 4.3 speed. Meanwhile, McCoy is a first-round talent who fell to Day 3 of the draft due to injury concerns.
That sets up for a strong competition at the Raiders’ CB2 spot behind Eric Stokes. Granted, this could all get thrown out of the window if McCoy has to have a second surgery on his knee and is forced to sit out his rookie season. The good news is that the organization is reportedly optimistic that the Tennessee product will play this year.
Caleb Rogers vs. Trey Zuhn III
If Porter vs. McCoy is the most interesting battle of the bunch here, then Rogers vs. Zuhn is the most important because it involves protecting the future of the franchise, Fernando Mendoza.
Rogers infamously didn’t get playing time until the last six weeks of his rookie season. So, it’s a small sample size, but he did show enough to provide some optimism that he can develop into a full-time starter. Then there’s Zuhn, who was excellent in pass protection at Texas A&M but leaves something to be desired in the running game.
Coincidentally, the players entered or are entering the NFL in similar situations. While both were known for their position flexibility as prospects, as both were primarily offensive tackles in college who are expected to move inside in the NFL. Also, both were drafted in the same range as third-round picks, with Rogers getting selected 98th overall and Zuhn coming off the board at No. 91.
All of this being said, these two aren’t the only contenders for the Raiders’ starting guard spots. Jackson Powers-Johnson, Spencer Buford or Jordan Meredith could hold down those posts, too. Also, there’s a chance Zuhn could factor into the mix at right tackle, where he’ll be battling against another 2025 third-round pick, Charles Grant.
Dont’e Thornton Jr. vs. Malik Benson
While the first two competitions were for starting spots, this one could be to stay on the 53-man roster after training camp.
Unlike the majority of the 2025 draft class, Thornton had opportunities to prove himself at the beginning of last season, starting in six of the first eight games of the year. However, he struggled to create separation, caught just three of 15 contested targets (20 percent) according to Pro Football Focus, and had issues with drops. That led to a significant decrease in playing time with just two starts in the second half of the campaign.
Meanwhile, Benson (4.37-second 40-yard dash) brings similar speed to the table as the second-year pro (4.30) and is the better fit in Klint Kubiak’s offense. The 2026 sixth-round pick has a more diverse route tree and more flexibility to operate in the slot and out wide than his 2025 counterpart. Plus, the rookie offers value on special teams as a returner.
To be fair, there is room for both Thornton and Benson to make the roster at wide receiver. If Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor and Jack Bech are the starters, then Dareke Young, Benson and Thornton could easily be the backups. But it will depend on whether the coaching staff wants to keep five or six receivers, and guys like Shedrick Jackson, Chase Roberts and E.J. Williams Jr. can factor into the mix as well.
JJ Pegues vs. Brandon Cleveland
Nose tackle is the first battle that comes to mind regarding the Raiders’ defensive line since that’s the most obvious opening, and Pegues or Cleveland could fill that void.
Pegues played some nose during his rookie season and got more playing time in general down the stretch of the campaign, while Cleveland took a good amount of snaps over the center at NC State. Also, both guys were known for their run defense in college.
That leads to a good chance that the Raiders’ starting nose tackle in 2026 will be from one of the last two draft classes. However, Benito Jones, Gary Smith III and Laki Tasi will factor into the mix for that role too, and Pegues and Cleveland both have some alignment versatility.
The Ole Miss product was primarily a nose tackle in 2022 before playing in the B-gap more often during his last two college seasons, while the NC State product followed a similar trajectory by lining up at nose in 2023 and 2024 and then getting more time as a 3-technique this past season.
So, whether it’s at nose tackle or a slightly wider alignment on the defensive line, expect Pegues and Cleveland to be battling it out for playing time a lot this summer. That’s going to be especially significant if Rob Leonard wants to use a variety of fronts.
