Struggles at wide receiver weren't exactly kept a secret in the Las Vegas Raiders' summer program. Things were apparently bad enough that Klint Kubiak felt justified in publicly calling the group out halfway through the preseason. It's still a mystery as to who, if anyone, will step up next to Tre Tucker.
John Spytek opening up some salary cap space could indicate to some that a veteran addition may be in the works, especially after the loss of elite pass-catching weapon Brock Bowers. But it doesn't seem like the cavalry is coming for this group, so they have to find a way to redeem themselves.
Fortunately for them, Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season will provide an opportunity to do just that. The Miami Dolphins are coming to town for a Sunday afternoon matchup, and their secondary is, on paper, the worst in the league. This is a chance for the receiver corps to start off on the right foot.
Dolphins' secondary is a favorable Week 1 matchup for struggling Raiders WR group
Miami's secondary is just as unproven as Las Vegas' wide receiver group, perhaps less so, and they don't seem to have much upside, either. Here are the Dolphins' starting defensive backs and key role players ahead of opening weekend:
CB: Jason Marshall Jr.
SS: Dante Trader Jr.
FS: Zayne Anderson
CB: Juju Brents
NCB: Chris Johnson
SAF Kyle Louis
SAF Michael Taaffe
CB Marcellas Dial Jr.
NCB Reese Taylor
With all due respect... WHO?
Johnson is undoubtedly a good player with a high ceiling, and he could potentially pose an issue for the Raiders in the slot with Bowers now on the sidelines. But other than that, this unit is composed of players who are young, unproven, or both. And a handful who have proven that they aren't adequate.
Marshall Jr. was a Day 3 pick last year and struggled tremendously in limited reps as a rookie. He didn't fare much better this preseason. Brents was a second-rounder by the Indianapolis Colts in 2023, but there's a reason he's not there anymore. At best, he is an average boundary corner.
Trader Jr. is another late-round sophomore who wasn't successful last year. He can be a good run defender, but he struggles tremendously in coverage. And Anderson has just 146 regular-season defensive snaps under his belt heading into Sunday across four NFL seasons.
Louis and Taaffe are solid young players, but again, they are Day 3 rookies who didn't fare too well this preseason. Dial Jr. played 61 snaps in 2024 and played poorly in the 2024 and 2026 preseasons. Taylor has yet to play a regular-season defensive snap and has underwhelmed in exhibition play.
This is easily the worst secondary that the Raiders will play all year, at least on paper and based on how it looks in Week 1. Tucker should have an absolute field day against anyone who lines up against him, and the help over the top should be less than adequate.
Jalen Nailor has a chance, after a rough preseason, to gain some early momentum against a crew of cornerbacks that isn't strong. And after Mayer and Tucker, Nailor will be going up against the Dolphins' third-best defensive back, so he can get busy during the first game of the season.
Jack Bech should play a lot more with Bowers out, as Las Vegas will need a bigger body out there to help run block and disguise the run and pass. Johnson's quickness could pose problems for him in the slot, but then who guards Mayer? Miami doesn't seem to have enough guys to cover the Raiders.
If Las Vegas' wide receiver corps can't do the job against this Dolphins secondary, the outlook will be quite bleak for the remainder of the season. But if they dominate or even have a solid showing, as it seems they should, this may just be the early redemption and momentum they need.
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