Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders
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(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
This offseason, the Las Vegas Raiders have bolstered their defense with the arrivals of Taron Johnson, Nakobe Dean, and Quay Walker, and even with the failed Maxx Crosby trade, they can keep their top defensive player.
Nonetheless, while Las Vegas has made moves to ensure it has a competitive defensive unit, there are still areas it needs to improve, especially on the defensive line.
While many assume the Raiders will take former Indiana Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza, the question is what the team does in Round 2. Could they pursue a wideout with No. 1 potential to help Mendoza?
However, ESPN’s Matt Bowen believes the player who best fits the team is a defensive lineman: Former Ohio State Buckeyes star Kayden McDonald.
“Edge rusher Maxx Crosby is staying with the Raiders, and the team also signed edge rusher Kwity Paye in free agency,”Bowen wrote in his article published on March 31. “So, Las Vegas should look to upgrade the interior of its D-line with McDonald, who can play the nose tackle spot under new coordinator Rob Leonard.
“With more range than a transitional nose tackle, McDonald is a true run game disruptor. He uses his foot quickness and power to make splash plays, leading to 17 tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage in 2025. McDonald also had three sacks and two forced fumbles.”
Raiders Need to Improve QB Depth Before 2026 Season
Along with improving their interior defensive line, the Raiders need to improve their QB situation.The Raiders were looking to add a veteran in Joe Flacco, but he decided to stay with theCincinnati Bengals.
As a result, it appears that the Silver and Black want a veteran signal caller to go with O’Connell and likely Mendoza. On March 30,Raiders general manager John Spytek spoke with reporters and shared an update on the team’s plan to improve the QB position as the 2026NFL Draft approaches.
“Aidan’s played a lot of good football in this league,” Spytek said. “He’s started, he’s thrown for 300 yards in games. He’s a great teammate, works his tail off, and he’s smart.
“Obviously, he’s the only quarterback on the roster right now, and at a premium position, I think it’s a fair question to ask. We’re considering a bunch of different things right now, and I think we’ll have some answers here in the coming weeks.”
Las Vegas Predicted to Be Landing Spot for Kirk Cousins
After missing out on Flacco,Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport identified one free agent for all 32 NFL teams to sign before the season starts, suggesting the Raiders add veteran quarterbackKirk Cousins.
“Just because Mendoza is the future under center in Sin City doesn’t mean he should be the present,” Davenport wrote. “And with Aidan O’Connell the only QB currently on the roster, the Raiders need a bridge starter who can hold down the fort until Mendoza is ready to take over the offense.
“Kirk Cousins wasn’t great in 10 games (and eight starts) for theAtlanta Falcons. He completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 1,721 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. But he is a four-time Pro Bowler with 167 career starts in the NFL under his belt. Whether it’s as a veteran stopgap or a mentor for Mendoza, it makes sense to bring in the 37-year-old.”