Are the Raiders’ Wide Receivers Underperforming in 2026?

The Raiders have a clear top two at wide receiver. Tre Tucker is the number one option, with Jalen Nailor behind him. But there has only been one notable performance between those two this season. 

Tucker hauled in five passes for 119 yards and a touchdown against the Chargers in Week 2. Tucker has six catches for 70 yards in the other two games, while Nailor has grabbed five passes for 52 yards all season. 

Brock Bowers is back and will operate as the top target in the passing game. But Nailor has been a non-factor in the offense this season and Tucker might be relying on the inconsistent deep balls from Kirk Cousins to make some noise. 

Cody White is a touchdown machine

The Raiders have three touchdowns from their practice squad this season. Cody White was elevated from the practice squad before each of the first three games. He caught two touchdowns in Los Angeles and then snagged one more against the Saints. 

As a result, White has been signed to the active roster. White’s primary value is on special teams where he has played 45 snaps. He has just 33 offensive snaps this season and just three catches. But he has made the most of his opportunities. 

White is unlikely to rise any higher than third on the receiver depth chart, but he has been making a strong case for more playing time. 

Injuries derailing second-year wideouts

Las Vegas used two picks in the 2025 NFL Draft on wide receivers. Jack Bech was taken in the second round and Dont’e Thornton was a fourth rounder. 

Both wide receivers struggled to make an impact as rookies. Bech caught 20 passes for 224 yards, while Thornton only had 10 receptions for 135 yards. Both players were kept off the field on a regular basis, as they each played fewer than 45 percent of the offensive snaps. 

Now their second seasons are turning out to be worse due to injury. 

Bech suffered a fractured forearm in the win over the Saints. He landed on injured reserve and will miss at least four weeks. Before the injury, Bech had five catches for 48 yards and a touchdown, as he operated as the number three wide receiver. 

Thornton was injured during training camp and never returned in the preseason. The Raiders put him on injured reserve before the season, knocking him out for the first four games. Thornton will be eligible to return for Week 5, but there has been no official update on his timeline. 

The Raiders made a healthy investment into the wide receiver position in the 2025 draft. But both Bech and Thornton have been busts.