In Part I of our Las Vegas Raiders fan survey, we covered how nearly 1,000 Raiders fans responded to our survey on topics regarding the team’s latest rebuild, including their confidence in head coach Klint Kubiak and a potential Maxx Crosby trade.

For Part II, we’ll focus on questions regarding the team’s short-term outlook, particularly at quarterback, and for their thoughts on the season ahead.

Many have bought into the hype around the new faces of the franchise. But, for a fanbase that’s been let down time and time again, they’re taking a measured approach.

General manager John Spytek and Kubiak have said they prefer not to play a rookie quarterback right away, with Cousins taking all the first-team reps during offseason team activities. All signs point to the veteran being the Week 1 starter, and this survey shows Raiders fans overwhelmingly support that.

It’s somewhat surprising to see such overwhelming support for Cousins. But for a fanbase that’s seen several quarterback situations bungled by the franchise, it’s understandable why so many want a cautious approach with Mendoza.

While fans’ predominantly have confidence in Cousins as a starter, nearly half responded with a neutral to concerned outlook on him.

Much of that apprehension is likely rooted in his recent output. Cousins led the league in interceptions in 2024 (16), which helped relegate him to backup status for the Atlanta Falcons last season. But the Raiders liked what they saw during the eight games he started for an injured Michael Penix Jr., enough to hand the 37-year-old a guaranteed contract.

Las Vegas believes pairing Cousins with Kubiak, for whom he had his best years in Minnesota, will lead to success. Cousins has also stated that he feels healthier than in the past two years, during which he still was recovering from a torn Achilles. But many respondents still appear unmoved.

The Raiders have taken a deliberate approach with Mendoza’s progression this offseason, working him out with fellow rookies and the third team. Our survey shows that fans are fine with such restraint continuing far into the season — and even beyond 2026.

Over two thirds of respondents don’t want to see Mendoza make his first start until after Week 6 of the regular season. And nearly a quarter don’t want him to start at all as a rookie. Only around 10 percent want Mendoza to lead the team at some point in the first six games, signaling that you feel patience is paramount for his success.

Opinions will likely shift if Cousins struggles to begin the year. But Raiders assistant head coach Mike McCoy said they have a “detailed plan” as to when they’ll insert Mendoza, and the most important thing is sticking to that plan. It’s uncertain when the targeted date for his first start is, but the team is determined to have no external factors influence their process.

The leading answer regarding O’Connell might have been to keep him, but the majority of fans believe in trading the quarterback in the coming months.

There are several teams that could still be looking for quarterback help as training camp opens. And possible injuries around the league could increase that number. Given O’Connell’s experience as a starter and his status as the third quarterback on the roster, he’d be among the most sought after and expendable signal callers on the trade market. That’s why many of you want him shipped off before Week 1.

As we’ve written, there are also positives to keeping O’Connell despite the fact that he’s entering the final year of his contract. If Cousins struggles, he gives Las Vegas another option rather than forcing Mendoza into action early.

As we covered in Part I of this survey, Raiders fans believe the offensive line is in better shape than it was last season, when it was one of the league’s worst units. But results here show the position is still a major concern. The addition of Tyler Linderbaum and experienced offensive line coach Rick Dennison should help the group improve, but you were hoping for more reinforcements up front.

Yet, responses show fans are more worried about weapons than protection. The Raiders are without a No. 1 wide receiver after dealing Jakobi Meyers at last year’s trade deadline, and their biggest addition at the position was Jalen Nailor. The Raiders view the lack of a standout as good for competition, but fans are troubled by the lack of proven pass catchers.

A potential addition to the receiver room was among the closest votes of the survey. Over half of you said keep it as is, but the fanbase is clearly conflicted about whether more help is necessary.

There are several big-name wideouts still available in free agency, and many have experience and success in a Kubiak-style offense: Stefon Diggs, Tyreek Hill and Deebo Samuel among them. Each would instantly become the most established receiver on the Raiders’ roster.

But adding another wideout would take away opportunities from the current core, and Spytek believes that the group’s lack of historical production is due to a lack of chances rather than a lack of talent. While slim, the majority of you want to see them get a fair shot.

Raiders fans are most confident in their tight ends — why wouldn’t they be? All-Pro Brock Bowers was hindered by injuries last season but has focused on improving his durability this summer, setting himself up for a big year ahead. Michael Mayer is also one of the more talented backups in the league and could have his most productive season yet given Kubiak’s fondness for heavy personnel.

The fanbase is also confident in the running backs, and seem to like the quarterback room after years of instability. Offensive line and receiver might cause concern, but at least there’s confidence with the rest of the offense.

Bowers broke the NFL rookie receiving yards record for a tight end in 2024, besting a mark set over a half century prior by Mike Ditka. Five missed games in Year 2 prevented him from improving on that mark, but the vast majority of you believe he will top it in 2026.

Bowers should get every chance to be a featured piece of Kubiak’s offense. The coach has a knack for getting tight ends the ball, and he’s determined to get the most out of his “football robot from heaven.” Bowers also had to compete with Davante Adams and Meyers for balls during parts of his rookie year. But with the aforementioned limitations at wide receiver, he will be the unquestioned focal point of the passing game this season. Bowers’ workload could have him setting more than just personal bests this year, as long as his health persists.

There’s understandable excitement for McCoy, a first-round talent who fell to the fourth round because of concerns over his knee. More than half of respondents want him starting alongside Stokes.

Kubiak said he expects McCoy to compete and get plenty of reps during training camp after the team’s management plan for his left knee limited him in the offseason program. But he also called McCoy “a moving target,” meaning their plan for his usage can and will change. That gives Porter a leg up on the CB2 job, and Spytek expressed satisfaction with his play to end 2025.

If McCoy is healthy enough to participate in an actual position battle, fans have faith he can beat out Porter. But if he isn’t, nearly 40 percent of you believe the second-year man can handle the job as well.

Nearly two-thirds of respondents want the undrafted rookie dubbed “The Tokyo Toe” to beat out the veteran Gay in camp. Gay has the leg up right now, as he took first team reps during OTAs and has had success for special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis before. But it seems like Matsuzawa will get a fair shake for the job, as DeCamillis said “it should be a hell of a competition.”

There were also plenty of write-in responses for Daniel Carlson, the franchise’s kicker of the last eight seasons who was not re-signed this offseason. Carlson remains a free agent, and fans could be clamoring for the one-time All-Pro if neither Gay nor Matsuzawa are up to snuff.

Optimism surrounding the Raiders has grown this offseason, but fans still have realistic goals for 2026.

More than 90 percent of respondents believe the team will have a losing record this season, but the majority of fans just see winning more games than 2025’s total (three) as a success. Only two people surveyed believe that won’t happen.

Tempering expectations is smart given the Raiders’ schedule. While still playing a last place slate, the team plays nine games against 2025 playoff teams. Winning any of those matchups could be a trajectory-altering victory for the franchise.

The team’s over/under is currently at 5.5 wins, only better than the Dolphins and Cardinals (and tied with a few other teams). To me, a successful Raiders campaign would be beating most, if not all of their opponents in that range, as well as managing a win or two within the division.

The majority of Raiders fans surveyed predict another losing season ahead, but they don’t expect mediocrity to continue for long. Almost every respondent believes that Las Vegas will make the playoffs at some point in the next three seasons.

That will be a difficult task in the AFC West, but the fanbase has faith in at least the early stage of this rebuild. That sentiment would only increase with improved results in 2026.