OTAs are underway for the Las Vegas Raiders, which means Fernando Mendoza and the entire 2026 NFL draft class have their silver and black jerseys on with their rookie numbers. Since the Raiders don’t retire numbers, that means a little more than it does for other organizations, because some players will be wearing the digits of a franchise legend and have big shoes to fill.
This is one of my favorite columns to write this time of year because it blends the franchise history with the next generation
of Raiders. So, let’s see what legacies this year’s crop of rookies will be looking to live up to. Of course, players can change their numbers between now and the start of the season, but this at least gives us an initial look.
Fernando Mendoza No. 15 — Tom Flores
I think this one is pretty cool because Flores is the first Hispanic head coach to win a Super Bowl, and Mendoza is very proud of his Cuban/Hispanic heritage. Flores, who is Mexican, is also the first Hispanic starting quarterback in professional football history and was inducted into the Hall of Fame five years ago, giving the No. 1 pick an even bigger legacy to live up to.
Treydan Stukes No. 31 — Jack Tatum
This is another good one because Tatum was one of the most feared defenders and hardest-hitting safeties in the league during his tenure. Stukes doesn’t lay the wood like Tatum did—today’s NFL rules wouldn’t even allow it—but the rookie does project to be an impactful defensive back. Ball skills are the root of the second-round pick’s game, and he’ll be looking to surpass the three-time Pro Bowler’s 30 interceptions in nine seasons with the Raiders, which is tied for the fifth-most in franchise history.
To clarify, while Tatum is known more for wearing No. 32, he sported 31 for the first three years of his career.
Keyron Crawford No. 42 — Ronnie Lott
Lott only played two seasons for the Raiders and is known more for his time with the San Francisco 49ers. But there aren’t many other options for No. 42, as linebacker Bill Laskey was the only other player considered. Lott’s best year with the Raiders came in 1991, when he led the league with eight interceptions and earned a first-team All-Pro bid. Obviously, Crawford will have to make a name for himself in a different way since he’ll be playing in the trenches, but that gives the Auburn product a lofty goal to strive for in Las Vegas.
Trey Zuhn III No. 66 — Gabe Jackson
Cooper Carlisle was also considered here, but there are more parallels to the beginning of Zuhn and Jackson’s career. Zuhn and Jackson were both third-round picks and drafted in the same class as a franchise quarterback, Mendoza and Derek Carr.
While the 2014 third-rounder never received any postseason recognition, he was a key piece of the Raiders’ 2016 offensive line, which was known as one of the best units in the NFL at the time and adopted the phrase “Carr insurance”. Meanwhile, Zuhn’s an excellent pass protector and will look to provide “Mendoza insurance”.
Jermod McCoy No. 28 — Josh Jacobs
We’re crossing sides of the ball here, as No. 28 has predominantly been worn by running backs in franchise history. Jacobs had a strong five-year run in Oakland and Las Vegas, notching over 1,100 yards from scrimmage every season, 1,000 rushing yards three times, making two Pro Bowls and finishing as the runner-up for Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2019. His best performance came in 2022, when he led the NFL in rushing with 1,653 yards and yards from scrimmage (2,053) to earn a first-team All-Pro bid.
Of course, McCoy’s primary responsibility in Vegas will be stopping the passing game, and he does have the talent to become an All-Pro down the line.
Mike Washington Jr. No. 30 — Mark van Eeghen
This is another cool connection because it’s two guys who play the same position and have similar starts to their careers.
When the Raiders drafted van Eeghen in the third round of the 1974 draft, Marv Hubbard was the team’s lead back and coming off three consecutive Pro Bowl appearances. So, van Eeghen’s career began as a backup before he ended up passing Hubbard as the franchise’s rushing leader with 5,907 career rushing yards. That record was later broken by the current leader, Marcus Allen (8,545).
Granted, Jeanty is also still finding his footing in the NFL and, obviously, doesn’t have nearly the resume that Hubbard did when van Eeghan was drafted. But Washington is entering a situation where he won’t be the team’s lead back for at least the first few years of his career.
Dalton Johnson No. 43 — George Atkinson
From 1971 to 1977, Jack Tatum and George Atkinson patrolled the Raiders’ secondary as one of the most feared safety tandems in the NFL. Now, former Arizona teammates Treydan Stukes and Dalton Johnson get to wear the two defensive backs’ numbers and carry on the “Soul Patrol’s” legacy (or at least half of it) together. Also, while no current Raider wears Willie Brown’s No. 24, cornerback and 2025 third-round pick Darien Porter does rock 26 to represent Skip Thomas.
Atkinson made two Pro Bowls in Oakland and is tied with his former running mate, Tatum, for fifth in franchise history with 30 career interceptions. That gives Johnson some big shoes to fill.
Hezekiah Masses No. 35 — Tommy Morrow
This one is a deep cut, as there aren’t many notable players in the Raiders’ history to wear No. 35. Morrow only played three AFL seasons from 1962 to 1964 because a knee injury shortened his career. However, the 1963 first-team All-Pro was an interception machine with 35 career picks, including 10 as a rookie. That gives Masses, who is also known for his ball skills, a lofty goal to live up to.
Malik Benson No. 19 — Cotton Davidson
We’re going way back in time again, as Davidson’s professional football career began in 1954 with the then-Baltimore Colts before he was drafted by the U.S. Army a year later, missing the 1955 and 1956 seasons before returning to the Colts and having his spot taken by Johnny Unitas. Davidson eventually ended up in Oakland during the 1962 campain and played six seasons for the Raiders, making the AFL All-Star team in 1963.
The quarterback also served as a punter, while Benson looks to make the team as a wide receiver and punt returner.
Brandon Cleveland No. 90 — Grady Jackson
There were a couple of big defensive tackles to choose from here, as Johnathan Hankins was also considerd. Jackson was just more productive for the Raiders, primarily due to him becoming a starter during his final two seasons with the club, totaling 137 tackles, 27 TFLs and 12 sacks in 2000 and 2001 combined. Meanwhile, Cleveland hopes to become a stout run defender in the trenches for Las Vegas, and he has a couple of defensive tackles who wore his number to look up to in that regard.
