Las Vegas Raiders Offensive Positional Battles to Watch

The Las Vegas Raiders don’t break for training camp for another 6 weeks, but their has already been positional battles to start, and to be talked about. The Raiders coming off a 3-14 season are not going to pencil in their starters, there’s a lot of youth, and with that a lot of unproven talent. The Raiders completely overhauled their offense, defense, and special teams with a projected 29th ranking in the NFL for returning snaps largely due to many Carrol veterans & defensive veterans leaving the organization last off-season. With training cap set to break soon, some core battles on all three phases will take light.

Starting QB: Kirk Cousins (80%) vs Fernando Mendoza (20%)
Dark Horse: N/A

• The Raiders likely will need to see near complete perfect QB play from Fernando Mendoza for him to start week one over Kirk Cousins, and I doubt that will be the case. Mendoza rose his way into the first overall pick, but that isn’t without his concerns as well. Mendoza does force the ball at times, needs to learn to check the ball down, adjust to the NFL, work under center, drag his back toe consistently, avoid moving into sacks, and overall improve his QB generated sacks as well. I know that sounds like a lot of knocks on a first overall pick, and it could be, but it’s natural as a quarterback to need the time to adjust to the NFL & Las Vegas may be doing themselves, Mendoza, and others a benefit letting him learn the ropes early and learning from Klint Kubiak, Cousins, Brady, and others.

  As for Kirk Cousins, it’s his job to lose, but the last battle he did lose to Michael Penix. Cousins is what he is at this point, a bottom 2-3 starting QB and a higher end backup. The veteran has a decent arm, is smart, and wins with his ability to diagnose defenses, put the ball in good windows, and utilize his experience. I doubt he starts the full season, and I’m 50/50 on even half the season but this seems to be a battle for Cousins to lose. Aidan O’Connell, while impressing per Klint Kubiak, I don’t think even has a remote shot to start and I think it’s more likely he’s off the roster than starting week one.

Rotational RB: Mike Washington (60%) vs Roman Hemby (30%) vs Dylan Laube (10%)
Dark Horse: Chris Collier (1%), Non Roster RB (9%)

• Only having 5 running backs this part of camp seems a bit non traditional in the NFL, especially for Klint Kubiak. The Raiders drafted Mike Washington in the fourth round, though I don’t think he’s a lock for the rotational RB role. Washington struggles to create his own but he’s an electric one cut runner and can truly turn any 3-4 yard run into a 20+ rush if not longer. Washington is alright as a receiver, but doesn’t provide a ton of upside while also having some core...