ESPN insider reveals which Raiders WR is likely to be No. 1 option

The Las Vegas Raiders are heading into the 2026 NFL season with some very exciting players on the offensive side of the ball to watch.

While Fernando Mendoza won't suit up for a little while, if at all, Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty are some very fun players for the 2026 season. But, at wide receiver, there is a lot of uncertainty.

ESPN's Dan Graziano revealed, amid the uncertainty about who will emerge as the team's No. 1 receiver, who is most likely to earn that job. It's not unexpected, but Tre Tucker is the leading candidate to be the No. 1 WR for the 2026 season.

ESPN insider reveals which Raiders WR is likely to become WR1

"They signed former Vikings receiver Jalen Nailor in free agency, and they think he has more to offer than he was able to show behind first-round picks Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison," Graziano writes. "But 2023 third-round pick Tre Tucker is probably the player in the group the Raiders say can take the biggest step forward this season."

Tucker, the 25-year-old wide receiver drafted in the third-round of the 2023 NFL Draft, is the one receiver expected to lead this group in 2026.

He had a pseudo breakout season in 2025 with the Raiders, posting 696 receiving yards and five touchdowns with 57 receptions on 92 targets across 17 games.

The passing offense last season with Geno Smith wasn't good at all, and hopefully Kirk Cousins and Mendoza can be a huge step-up for the Raiders.

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With an improved offensive line as well as a better play caller in head coach Klint Kubiak, there's reason to believe the offense should be much better in 2026 than it was in 2025.

With Tucker looking likely to be the leading WR in this offense, he's someone that Raiders fans should pay close attention to during the preseason and as the season approaches.

Tucker appears to be the likely No. 1 WR, with Nailor right behind him. Jack Bech, Dont'e Thornton Jr., and Malik Benson are intriguing options, but not quite good enough to go ahead of Tucker or Nailor at the moment.

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