The Fresh Start the Raiders Desperately Need

Bowers' historic rookie season was the lone highlight of the 2024 Raiders, and if he hadn't been injured this season, he would've built off that success in his sophomore season. It's too early to give an overview of Jeanty's rookie campaign, but he's shown flashes of his college self amidst his slow start.

Mike Renner, sports writer for CBS Sports, released a third iteration of his 2026 NFL mock draft, and he predicts the trend of offensive players taken in the first round for the Raiders will continue with their selection of Dante Moore, their next potential franchise quarterback.

"He's got such a talented arm that it's hard not to see him getting drafted highly -- it's more just a matter of when at this point. With the Raiders having Geno Smith under contract, they can afford to take someone like Moore, who hasn't played a ton of football, to develop in the background", said Renner.

The Geno Smith experiment in Las Vegas hasn't worked out in their favor, and he's at risk of being benched after the team comes back from their week 8 bye. Taking a quarterback is certainly a way they can fix their offense, and placing him behind Smith for a year gives him a chance to learn and grow before being thrust into the starting role.

Moore's arm stands out when watching his film, but his decision-making and scrambling ability are all things in which he's shown flashes of brilliance. He isn't a perfect prospect, and some things can be improved upon, but if he actualizes his potential, he can elevate the Raiders into stardom.