The Las Vegas Raiders will still have a nice chunk of change to spend next offseason after going buck wild in that realm this past spring. And while the goal is to build this team through the draft, Raider Nation has seen the benefit of adding still-young veteran talent to this roster through four games.
And still with several pressing needs despite a great 3-1 start to the 2026 NFL season, Las Vegas' pro scouting department is surely hard at work, monitoring the best players from around the league and assessing both their performances and their potential fit with what the Silver and Black are building.
Among the biggest needs is a wide receiver, and we've been keeping a close eye on those players every week, even though it is an underwhelming crop of players likely to be available. Unfortunately, in Week 4, those players flopped hard. At least several other potential targets shined.
Wide receiver
Parker Washington, Jaguars
Washington had been Mr. Reliable through the first three weeks, but he turned in his worst outing of the year in Week 4 against the Cincinnati Bengals. He was targeted just three times and caught one pass for seven yards while dropping another. A completely ineffective Sunday.
Perhaps games like this drop his price or decrease the likelihood that the Jaguars will want to re-sign him at his desired price. Or maybe it makes the Raiders less interested. Time will tell... but let's hope for a bounce back in Week 5 against the Philadelphia Eagles in London.
George Pickens, Cowboys
Pickens is playing fine, but it's clear that CeeDee Lamb has reclaimed the mantle as the No. 1 receiver in Dallas. While the former had just three targets and caught two passes, the latter was thrown to a staggering 21 times and hauled in 17 catches for 189 yards and a touchdown.
To be fair, Pickens' two catches went for 75 yards, as he reeled in a 53-yard reception, and the Cowboys were playing the Houston Texans, who have one of the best secondaries in the NFL. But Pickens needs to be more consistent, as he hasn't looked at all like his 2025 self in 2026.
Puka Nacua, Rams
Nacua finally returned to the field of play in Week 4 to take on the Eagles, and he made his presence felt immediately. He immediately became Matthew Stafford's favorite target again, not Davante Adams, as Nacua caught nine of his 12 targets for 125 yards and added a two-yard rush.
What will always be most impressive about Nacua is his ability to both gain yards after the catch and make contested catches. He had 40 yards after the catch and caught all three contested passes thrown his way. Character will matter here, but there is no doubting Nacua's ability on the gridiron.
No, Nacua did not "flop," but he's also the most likely to ink a long-term deal with his current team among the players listed, so...
Josh Downs, Colts
Daniel Jones did not have his best day across the pond in the Colts' dominant Week 4 win over the Washington Commanders, and Downs paid the price for it. He caught all three of his targets, but Downs only accumulated 16 yards, with his longest being a nine-yard reception.
That is not the explosive stat line or performance that people have come to expect from Downs. And he is very much in the tier of wide receivers who could be available or of interest to the Raiders next offseason, so it would be nice to see him have more production on a weekly basis.
Defensive tackle
Kobie Turner, Rams
Turner wreaked havoc once again against a struggling Philadelphia front, even though he technically had just one tackle. But he also batted down a pass and totaled five pressures in the contest while making a stop. He lines up over the tackle more than over the center, but he'd be awesome in Vegas.
Jalen Redmond, Vikings
Redmond is another player whose stat line doesn't match his impact. His three tackles don't seem like a lot, but he plugged up the Miami Dolphins' run game and added a pressure and a stop while moving around the defensive interior for Minnesota. Brian Flores and Rob Leonard share DNA, too...
Otitto Ogbonnia, Cowboys
Ogbonnia had just two tackles and two stops in 17 defensive snaps for Dallas, but he may be the kind of piece that the Raiders need on the inside. He is a massive defensive tackle who plays a lot in the A gap but can also be moved around, and he has good pass-rush ability as well as a run-stopping body.
Guard
Steve Avila, Rams
Avila had another rough showing in pass protection, as he gave up three pressures against the Eagles on Sunday. Los Angeles ran just three times off Avila but averaged 5.3 yards when they did. Perhaps he becomes the odd-man out for the Rams, and the Raiders can pounce.
Kevin Dotson, Rams
Dotson was largely good in pass protection, except for two plays in which he gave up a quarterback hit and a pressure. In the run game, though, the Rams mustered just 2.6 yards per carry when running off Dotson, so he struggled there. I'm not 100% sure he gets paid, either, being on the older side.
Tyler Steen, Eagles
Steen is just about the only thing working on the Eagles' offensive line, as he gave up one pressure in Sunday's contest and Philly ran nine times off him for 42 yards (4.7 yards per carry). He and that great Rams interior had some nice battles on tapes.
Safety
Christian Izien, Lions
Izien played fine, despite the Carolina Panthers' high point total against the Lions on Sunday Night Football. He had a whopping 11 tackles, seven of which were solo, and he came downhill for a sack on Bryce Young. Izien did miss three tackles and give up five catches for 57 yards and a score, though.
Brian Branch, Lions
Branch did not play in Week 4, but his 21-day practice window has been opened. So, hopefully we get a clearer picture of where he is at physically after Week 5 or in the near future.
Ji'Ayir Brown, 49ers
Brown helped stifle the Denver Broncos' offense with great coverage and four big tackles. He was only targeted twice in the contest and gave up just eight yards through the air while also making a stop and sliding all around the secondary, even playing a snap on the defensive line.
Best of the rest
Byron Young, DE, Rams
While the Raiders may not need another pass-rusher, if Young is available, you have to kick the tires on him. He had another 2.5-sack, 7-pressure, 6-tackle performance and forced a fumble as well. Young is simply extraordinary.
Tuli Tuipulotu, DE, Chargers
Tuipulotu was one of the only bright spots for the Chargers' defense, as he logged 0.5 sacks, two pressures, including a hit, a forced fumble, a batted pass and six tackles. He does a little bit of everything for this defense, and he could even get traded this season as Los Angeles struggles.
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