Projected Raiders WR1 with Kirk Cousins.
Cousins is the veteran bridge in Kubiak's system. Mendoza is the future and a midseason threat. Miller healthy plus Linderbaum in the middle is a new line. Not a Kubiak note.
- ADP
- 13.08 (152)
- Target
- 13.02
- Move
- +6
- As of
- 2026-08-25
What changed
10 real changes. The rest held.
Pass blocking
Was Kolton Miller 4 games (knee/ankle); no Linderbaum
Now LT Kolton Miller back. C Tyler Linderbaum signed (record deal). LG Spencer Burford, RG Jackson Powers-Johnson (also returning from injury), RT DJ Glaze.
Miller healthy plus Linderbaum in the middle is a new line. Not a Kubiak note.
Quarterback
Was Geno Smith (traded to NYJ)
Now Kirk Cousins expected Week 1; Fernando Mendoza (No. 1 pick) behind him
Cousins is the veteran bridge in Kubiak's system. Mendoza is the future and a midseason threat.
Play caller
Was Chip Kelly (fired)
Now Klint Kubiak calls; Andrew Janocko OC
Kubiak's Shanahan-tree offense: play-action, explosives, TE involvement.
Head coach
Was Pete Carroll (fired)
Now Klint Kubiak (hired 2026)
Full offensive reset.
Scheme & pace
Was Kelly 2025 ~64% pass
Now Kubiak balanced, projected ~57% pass, more run explosives
Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers are the scheme fits.
Run blocking
Was Miller limited; interior without a true centerpiece
Now Linderbaum at center, Miller at LT, Powers-Johnson back
Jeanty's plus is Linderbaum and a healthy Miller, not the playbook.
Pass catchers
Was Geno's WRs
Now Cousins to the same room, Bowers the primary tight end
Cousins to the same room. Bowers remains the top pass-catcher.
Tight end
Was Brock Bowers
Now Kubiak tight ends are featured in the Shanahan tree
Bowers is the tight end in a play-action, 12-personnel offense.
Backfield
Was Ashton Jeanty
Now Jeanty remains the lead back in a Kubiak explosive-run game
Lead-back volume in an explosive-run scheme.
Team environment
Was Carroll 3-14
Now Kubiak year one, still a rebuild
Win total not a positive-script bet. Mendoza watch later.
Vacated volume
- Targets
- —
- Carries
- —
- Red zone
- —
- Air yards
- —
No high-confidence vacated-volume number published. Role change matters more than a target count.
Competition added
- Fernando Mendozahigh
draft · No. 1 overall
Rookie QB sitting behind Cousins; live midseason threat.
This player
- Projected role
- Projected Raiders WR1 with Kirk Cousins.
- Usage
- Primary receiver. Kirk Cousins is the quarterback.
- Injury
- No Week 1 absence reported as of August 20, 2026.
- Contract
- Not flagged as a 2026 hold-in.
- Camp
- Training camp underway as of August 2026. Week 1 is September.
Upside
Miller healthy plus Linderbaum in the middle is a new line. Not a Kubiak note. Kubiak's Shanahan-tree offense: play-action, explosives, TE involvement. Bowers is the tight end in a play-action, 12-personnel offense.
Downside
Cousins is the veteran bridge in Kubiak's system. Mendoza is the future and a midseason threat.
Risks
- Quarterback: Cousins is the veteran bridge in Kubiak's system. Mendoza is the future and a midseason threat.high
- New head coach: Full offensive reset.low
Sources
No source URLs were returned with this brief.
Notes come from the 2026 coaching and roster board (team sites, NFL.com, ESPN, The Athletic). Hold is the default when ADP already has the news.