Just two games into the 2026 NFL season, there is already so much to discuss with the unexpectedly 2-0 Las Vegas Raiders. And with a Week 3 road game against the New Orleans Saints on the horizon, everyone in the locker room should be focused on that. But we're not in the locker room.
So, we can keep a watchful eye on the future. This will come in the form of keeping tabs on the best college prospects each week, evaluating the current Raiders in a contract year, and, of course, updating Las Vegas' 2027 free agency wish list every week, which is what we'll do right now.
Following Week 1, we provided more of a master list of the best players at key positions for the Silver and Black, regardless of how they performed on opening weekend. But with a bigger sample size, the picture will become clearer as to who is playing well and who the Raiders should target next spring.
Wide receiver
Parker Washington, Jaguars
Washington had a great game against the Denver Broncos' secondary, logging seven catches for 98 yards, including one or more on Patrick Surtain II, Riley Moss, Brandon Jones and Ja'Quan McMillian. The better he plays, the more interested he'll be in seeing what his worth is on the open market.
Enter Las Vegas.
George Pickens, Cowboys
Pickens bounced back from a rough Week 1 and grabbed six balls for 40 yards with no drops vs. the Washington Commanders. He's clearly getting more attention this year, which has allowed CeeDee Lamb to shine, but Pickens still needs to kick it up a notch and have one of those "wow" showings.
Consistency is key for Pickens.
Josh Downs, Colts
Welcome, Josh Downs!
In an expanded role with Alec Pierce sidelined, Downs stepped up to the plate and caught seven passes for 72 yards while making two contested catches and totaling 24 yards after the catch. He may not be a prototypical No. 1 wideout, but at the right price, he would be great to add to the mix.
Puka Nacua, Rams
Nacua didn't play in Week 2 due to injury, and it doesn't sound like he'll be back soon. His character concerns may bar him from ever being signed by the Raiders anyway, but between that and injuries, there's a world where the Rams let him walk, and Las Vegas would need to do its due diligence.
Defensive tackle
Kobie Turner, Rams
Turner remains head and shoulders above the rest of next year's free agent class. He actually played 12 snaps at nose this past weekend and fared very well, so Turner is showing increased versatility. He recorded just four tackles, but also added two pressures, a quarterback hit and three stops.
Gervon Dexter Sr., Falcons
Another new face!
Dexter Sr. continues to be solid against the run, which has been a big knock on him, and his pass-rush prowess seems to be expanding as well. Against the Carolina Panthers, he had six pressures, 0.5 sacks and a quarterback hit, in addition to two tackles and a batted pass. He could cash in this March.
Jalen Redmond, Vikings
Redmond was a key part in holding the Chicago Bears to 3 points on Sunday, making four tackles and batting a pass in the box score. But he also forced a fumble, had four pressures, a quarterback hit, and made four stops. Redmond will be a restricted free agent, but the Raiders could always match.
Safety
Antonio Johnson, Jaguars
Johnson made six tackles against the Broncos in Week 2, but he also had two pressures on safety blitzes and gave up just two completions for nine yards. He can line up at either safety spot, at nickel or on the edge, so Johnson may fit in perfectly with what Rob Leonard is doing in Las Vegas.
Christian Izien, Lions
Izien was once a big contributor for the Tampa Bay Bucs when John Spytek was there, and now he is playing good football again in Detroit. On Sunday, he played 26 defensive snaps at four different positions and made two tackles and two stops while also not being targeted a single time.
Brian Branch, Lions
Branch remains sidelined due to injury, which opened the door for Izien to play in Week 2. But Branch will be one to monitor when he returns, as he has the goods.
Linebacker
Christian Elliss, Patriots
Elliss played a lot better in Week 2, collecting a team-high 12 tackles, seven of which were solo, and a sack. Not to mention, he had another pressure, a forced fumble and six stops. Elliss does continue to be abused in the passing game, though, giving up six catches for 64 yards. Something to clean up.
Ventrell Miller, Jaguars
The Jaguars let Devin Lloyd walk this past offseason, so maybe they don't like paying linebackers in Jacksonville. Either way, Miller is poised for free agency, and he's playing well, as he made a team-high seven tackles, added a pressure and a stop, and gave up one short catch in 18 coverage snaps.
Malcolm Rodriguez, Lions
"Rodrigo" became famous on Hard Knocks and was a good linebacker for Detroit before injuries and the emergence of Jack Campbell. But he has played well thus far in a rotational role, and that is the kind of addition that the Raiders could be looking to make behind Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean.
Best of the rest
Byron Young, DE, Rams
Young feasted on the New York Giants' offensive line, recording a sack, three quarterback hits, two additional pressures, two stops and five total tackles. He accomplished all of this on just 20 pass rush snaps, which is remarkable. Young should get paid, but we will see.
Steve Avila, G, Rmas
On the other side of the Rams' line, Avila pitched a shutout against a strong Giants defensive front and was moving people in the run game. If the Raiders' guards continue to struggle, Avila should be at the top of their priority list next spring.
Uchenna Nwosu, DE, Seahawks
Nwosu knows a lot of the coaching staff in Las Vegas from their time together in Seattle, and his deal is up after this year. He's still got some juice, as Nwosu has totaled seven pressures and a PBU in two weeks while playing a fairly modest rotational role. If Malcolm Koonce goes, Nwosu could replace him.
Kevin Dotson, G, Rams
Dotson is an elite run-blocker and fared well against the Giants' fiery front, giving up just two pressures in the contest. At his age, Los Angeles may let him walk, and if the Raiders want an external veteran addition, they should look no further.
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