Last year, the Las Vegas Raiders compiled just one road win en route to the No.1 overall pick. This year, they already have two wins away from Allegiant Stadium and are a Week 4 win away from sitting alone atop the AFC West in October. The rebuild is further along than anyone could have expected.
And while fans were already optimistic about the Klint Kubiak era, there have still been some pleasant surprises in the early going. Here are five that have helped the Raiders jump out to a 3-0 start to the 2026 NFL season.
5 pleasant surprises for the Las Vegas Raiders so far in 2026
Kirk Cousins
One man's trash is another man's treasure.
With nine touchdown passes - three in each game - Cousins has turned back the clock. Most importantly, he's giving Fernando Mendoza precious time to learn and develop. Plus, Cousins has done this without his No.1 target, Brock Bowers, in the lineup for two games.
In comparison to the start of the 2025 season, Geno Smith was sacked 12 times in the first three games. The offensive line has cut that number in half this year while protecting Cousins, so that is also a contributing factor. But Cousins himself has been impressive, to say the least.
Cody White
Missing Bowers for two games didn't hurt the Raiders' offense as much as it could have. A big reason why is because of White, who has stepped up as a red zone threat in his absence. Through three games, he leads the team in touchdown catches. He's becoming Cousins' favorite red zone target.
Zeke Masses
According to Pro Football Network, only Trent McDuffie has been more impactful at the cornerback position than Masses so far this season. He is slotted in right ahead of Christian Gonzalez, so Masses is already in elite territory.
Chris Olave had his worst game of the young 2026 season when matched up against Masses in coverage on Sunday. The fifth-round pick is playing like a first-rounder through the first month of the season, and the highlight was picking off Justin Herbert twice in Week 2.
Masses has answered any concerns that the Raiders may have had at corner coming into the season. He has earned the starting job opposite Eric Stokes, and as of now, he's fully in the running for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. He was already the AFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 2.
Matt Gay
Another question mark going into the season was about the kicking competition. Gay struggled in the preseason and left doubt about getting rid of Daniel Carlson. In week 2, he quieted those whispers by notching a new career-long field goal, and he hasn't missed all year.
Rob Leonard
Las Vegas is hovering around the top 10 in total defense because of guys like Masses, Nakobe Dean and Maxx Crosby. But don't sleep on Rob Leonard's impact. Last year, the Raiders were allowing 26 points per game; they have cut that number down to 18.0 in their three wins so far.
The rookies and free-agent signings have meshed well together and have forced nine turnovers in three games, which leads the league. Leonard's group also held the Chargers to a season-low in passing yards. A week later, his defense sealed the win in New Orleans with four takeaways.
The progess that has been made under his watch in such short time is hard to ignore, and definitely a pleasant surprise.
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