5 Raiders I’m Excited To Watch Against Cardinals

My apologies for being cliché about this, but the "unofficial" debut of the Raiders' No. 1 overall draft pick is one of the most highly anticipated moments in recent franchise history. Mendoza has had a great camp, impressing coaches and observers with good ball security. Now, he'll face a different NFL defense than his own team's for the first time, as he'll likely work in with some of the starters, per Kubiak.

"He's [Mendoza] going to get plenty of experience in the game," Kubiak said. "Look forward to seeing him out there with his teammates. A lot of guys that we need to evaluate, but he'll get plenty of reps."

No matter how good or bad Mendoza plays this week, it will be fun to see just how much growth he has made since joining Las Vegas.

Hezekiah Masses, Cornerback

A rookie who has continued to stand out during camp, Masses has been wildly impressive for the growth he has made in training camp. Coverage versatility has always stood out, especially from his college days. The ball production was elite at Cal, and the Raiders hope to have more of the same flash during the preseason.

Technique and general consistency have always been an issue for Masses. I want to see what discipline and new techniques he has added to his skill set once he begins to trickle into the game.

Jackson Powers-Johnson, Guard

There is a legitimate competition for the right-guard spot in Las Vegas, no matter who gets the nod for the slot on Thursday night. Caleb Rogers has begun to showcase the tools that made him an interesting middle-round draft selection, but Powers-Johnson is the one facing the most pressure heading into the preseason. He must showcase what made him a touted offensive lineman from Oregon to prove he is worthy of being the Week 1 starter.

Jermod McCoy, Cornerback

A piece of news every Raiders fan had been waiting for all summer came true on Tuesday when Kubiak said the rookie fourth-round selection, McCoy, would play this week against the Cardinals, marking the first snaps for the former Tennessee Volunteer since the 2024 opening playoff round against Ohio State.

"I think Jermod [McCoy] has been practicing almost every day we've been out there, so we expect him to play," Kubiak said. "We expect him to compete and look forward to watching him play."

McCoy was arguably one of the top talents in the NFL Draft this spring, but concerns about a potential issue with a knee plug signaled red flags, causing him to tumble to the start of the fourth round. If he can stay healthy, this could be a major steal, making McCoy a future top team defender.

Tonka Hemingway, Defensive Tackle

Hemingway is a player I'm buying the hype on early in camp. He has made major improvements from last season and enters his second year looking to be a better contributor in the trenches as a core depth talent in the middle of the defensive line. Defensive coordinator Rob Leonard values Hemingway's inside-out versatility, so his deployment on Thursday could give us a glimpse of just how much he has grown this summer.