After final roster cuts, the Las Vegas Raiders will have first dibs on waiver claims since the initial order mimics the first round of the 2026 NFL draft sequence. They can also be patient and add a few free agents to their 53-man depth chart before Week 1.
John Spytek may look to claim players who can help the Raiders as plug-and-play options at weaker positions. He chose not to address a couple of key needs early in this year's draft, and those positions are still question marks heading into the regular season.
Every year, teams cut decent players for a variety of reasons, and some of them go on to be productive on new teams. Remember, the Raiders signed K'Lavon Chaisson after Week 1 of the 2024 season. The former first-rounder's stop in Las Vegas started his career resurgence.
So, let's take a look at three positions that the Silver and Black can bolster after roster cutdowns.
Raiders should look for a high-upside player or diamond in the rough at three positions
Wide receiver
Tre Tucker is the lead playmaker in the wide receiver group, but the Raiders need quality depth at the position or someone to emerge as the clear-cut No. 2 option.
On a new three-year, $35 million contract, Jalen Nailor had an average showing through training camp and only caught three of his seven targets for 35 yards in the preseason. He may need time to adjust in a bigger role after four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings as the No. 3 option, but the 27-year-old must have a strong presence in the passing game during the regular season.
Jack Bech isn't a flashy player, which is OK, but he hasn't been a high-volume pass-catcher either. The 2025 second-rounder can be a chain-mover on third downs but needs to show more down-to-down consistency.
Malik Benson generated buzz over the past few months, but he lost some of that momentum during the preseason because of drops. The rookie sixth-rounder is still in good standing to make the roster while Dont'e Thornton Jr. works his way back from injury, but the Raiders could add a veteran to be the No. 4 wideout on the depth chart.
Running back
A week ago, Ashton Jeanty suffered an ankle injury at practice, and his status for Week 1 remains uncertain. Head coach Klint Kubiak told reporters that the team will continue to evaluate him ahead of its season opener.
“Still on the mend, still working to get him back. We’ve got another week to assess how he’s gonna look going into this first game, but we’re counting on him."
If Jeanty misses time, rookie fourth-rounder Mike Washington Jr. will lead the backfield after his strong showing in the preseason, averaging a jaw-dropping 7.3 yards per carry.
Also, Dylan Laube could pick up the third-down role. He had a productive preseason as well, catching eight passes for 69 yards and a touchdown in addition to 11 carries for 40 yards and a score.
Still, the Raiders could look for a veteran running back to fill a void if Jeanty isn't ready to suit up on September 13.
Edge rusher
Keyron Crawford left last Thursday's preseason outing with an ankle injury. Kubiak told reporters that he's still getting information on the edge rusher's status.
If Crawford needs multiple weeks to recover, the Raiders can place him on short-term injured reserve and add another pass-rusher to fill in the gaps behind Maxx Crosby, Kwity Paye and Malcolm Koonce.
Undrafted rookie Cian Slone has flashed at camp, but he had an uneven outing in the preseason finale against the San Francisco 49ers. During the broadcast, former Raiders linebacker Kirk Morrison pointed out that Slone should've played his defender instead of looking at the quarterback while in coverage, and that he missed a tackle in the open field.
Fortunately, Crosby is ready to go for the regular season, but the Raiders could add some depth alongside Paye and Koonce on the edge.
Moe Moton writes about the Raiders for Just Blog Baby. You can follow him on Twitter at @MoeMoton.
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