Heading into Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season, the Las Vegas Raiders are something of an enigma. Klint Kubiak finally admitted that Kirk Cousins will be the starting quarterback, but with so many new pieces and so much youthful inexperience on the roster, nobody has really known what to expect.
Thankfully, some obvious things could be deciphered about this squad ahead of the opener. And to fill in most of the remaining gaps in knowledge, the official depth chart was released on Tuesday, just a few days before the team kicks off the campaign with a face-off against the Miami Dolphins.
Contrary to the preseason depth charts that were released in August, the one that was just announced actually contains valuable information for Raider Nation. So, let's dive into the biggest takeaways from the pecking order that was just publicly established in Las Vegas.
5 takeaways from Las Vegas Raiders' official 2026 depth chart reveal
1. Winners of key position battles have been settled
After the preseason slate, only two spots in the starting lineup were really up for grabs: right guard and the second starting cornerback job opposite Eric Stokes. The winners of those two battles have been revealed, with Jackson Powers-Johnson and Darien Porter emerging victorious, respectively.
These two were the betting favorites, per se, as Powers-Johnson had a leg up on Caleb Rogers, and Porter did on rookie Zeke Masses. Just because these two are starting right now, though, doesn't mean that the Raiders aren't still making them earn the gig every day, and that change can't happen.
2. Foley Fatukasi crashes the Raiders' DT room
I'd be willing to bet that most of Raider Nation didn't know the name Foley Fatukasi about three weeks ago. Now, however, they should. The veteran defensive tackle will be a key fixture in the rotation on the interior to begin the year, considering he is now a second-stringer on the depth chart.
Apparently, Fatukasi only needed two preseason games and a handful of training camp practices to fly past both Thomas Booker IV and JJ Pegues in the pecking order, as they are both now listed as third-stringers. That is quite a development, so it'll be interesting to see how the rotation shakes out.
3. John Spytek's influence is abundant (young guys just aren't starting yet)
The depth in Las Vegas is stunningly young, as rookies and sophomores are littered throughout the two-deep. That is a testament to the job that Spytek has done drafting in his two-year stint, even if only four of his 22 selections are slated to start in Week 1. Another 11 are second-stringers.
In total, 15 of the 22 starters for this Sunday's game against the Dolphins were brought in by Spytek this offseason or last. As we previously noted in another piece, over 70% of the 53-man team was signed, drafted, claimed or traded for by the Raiders' new general manager. That is strong influence.
4. Las Vegas provide clarity on the return game
All preseason, Tre Tucker was listed as the primary punt and kick returner. Seeing as he'll be the No. 1 wideout in Las Vegas for the 2026 season, it seemed careless to trot him out there for extra snaps in a facet of the game in which so many injuries occur. And the Raiders don't have much behind Tucker.
Thankfully, the depth chart revealed that Dylan Laube and Dareke Young will handle kick return duties, and Malik Benson will be the punt returner, with Laube backing him up. Young was signed to be a return specialist, but he didn't get a chance to show his skills there in the preseason. Now, he will.
5. It's the season of the Stukes
Fans heard rumblings that Stukes was trending toward the starting spot as training camp and the preseason dragged on, but that has now been confirmed. Stukes will start over Isaiah Pola-Mao at free safety when Miami comes to town, so it is officially Stukes season.
This is tremendous news, as getting a stud rookie early reps will only aid in his development, and Pola-Mao didn't quite perform at the level that he should have last year. If Stukes looks good in the early going, that will be a big feather in Spytek's cap for the 2026 draft class.
Add us as a preferred source on Google