Las Vegas Raiders

Jordan Meredith

C

Meredith ended the 2025 season on injured reserve after he suffered an ankle injury in December. The 28-year-old started 11 of his 13 games last season, seeing time at center and right guard. Meredith is expected to fill a top reserve role in 2026 on a $3.52 million salary.

Charles Snowden

DE

Snowden will be on the books for $1.075 million after appearing in 15 regular-season contests last season, making nine starts. The defensive end recorded 28 tackles (17 solo), including 3.0 sacks, and two pass breakups, including one interception, while playing 32 percent of the defensive snaps.

Ian Thomas

TE

Thomas will run it back with the Raiders after having secured all 13 of his targets for 114 yards across 15 regular-season appearances with the team in 2025. He projects for a blocking role behind Brock Bowers (knee) and Michael Mayer again next season.

Will Putnam

C

Putnam was a key rotational part of the Raiders offensive line last season. He started two of the 15 games in which he appeared and likely will serve in a similar role during the upcoming campaign.

Fernando Mendoza

QB

Mendoza (6-foot-5, 236 pounds) was all but locked in as the first overall pick as soon as the draft order was set, because franchise quarterback prospects go first overall and Mendoza has everything teams look for in that regard. Even as a modest recruit out of Miami who had to go all the way to out west Cal to find a starting opportunity at the FBS level, it was clear by about mid-October of the 2025 season - his first and only season at Indiana - that Mendoza had established himself as the top QB in the country. Indeed, the Hoosiers went 16-0 in 2025 and Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy in what went down as one of the most memorable storybook seasons in college football history. Mendoza was utterly dominant in 2025, completing 72.0 percent of his passes at 9.3 yards per attempt, producing an outrageous 41 passing touchdowns on just 379 attempts versus six interceptions. Though not a runner by initial inclination, Mendoza is plenty capable and decisive as a rusher, offering both athleticism and power. With new coach Klint Kubiak running the show the Raiders offense should soon be the best it has been in a number of years, though the exact timing of Mendoza's full arrival remains to be seen. The Raiders signed Kirk Cousins to a one-year deal this offseason, and Kubiak previously said that it's not his preference to place a rookie at the starting QB position. Mendoza can force the issue by outplaying Cousins in training camp, but at worst Mendoza is expected to take over as starter at some point before the 2026 season concludes. Whenever Mendoza takes over, there's reason to expect he'll be at least an average starting signal-caller soon or immediately from that point.