The Minnesota Vikings underwent an offseason of change this spring, and that included several players who changed their addresses. One of the Vikings’ departures was Jailen Nailor, who was a serviceable role player for the team but became too expensive to keep after signing a three-year, $35 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders.
That contract may have provided some sticker shock and a totally valid reason to let Nailor leave for another team. But The Athletic’s Sam Warren recently predicted that the 27-year-old could be in for a breakout in 2026 due to the sheer opportunity he has as he lands in Las Vegas.
“Nailor was surprisingly the lone premium addition the Raiders made at receiver this offseason after trading away top target Jakobi Meyers in November. While that may leave many scratching their heads, it gives Nailor an opportunity to produce like never before.
The fifth-year veteran had a solid final two seasons in Minnesota, but was always a tertiary option behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.
He comes into Las Vegas carrying established chemistry with Kirk Cousins…from their Vikings days and with no solidified WR1 ahead of him. All signs point to Nailor having a chance to post career numbers in his first season with the Raiders.”
Former Minnesota Vikings WR Jalen Nailor could be sitting on a breakout with Raiders in 2026
One look at the Raiders’ depth chart should validate Warren’s comments. If you polled a Vikings fan on the street, there’s a good chance they wouldn’t be able to name some of Nailor’s top competition in Las Vegas, including 2025 second-round pick Jack Bech or 2023 third-round pick Tre Tucker.
The Raiders also were conservative in adding other talent, with Malik Benson the only receiver drafted as he arrived in the sixth round.
In addition to the competition around him, Nailor’s connections are also a plus. New head coach Klint Kubiak left Minnesota just months before the Vikings took Nailor in the sixth round of the 2022 draft, but he was there in 2021 when Cousins had one of his best seasons, throwing for 4,221 yards, 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 16 games.
While Nailor only had 12 catches for 208 yards and a touchdown on 19 targets in the two seasons he and Cousins overlapped in Minnesota, there could be enough of a connection to help Nailor climb the depth chart and be a top target along with tight end Brock Bowers.
Nailor never eclipsed 500 yards in any of his four seasons with the Vikings, but he showed improvement over his final two seasons. While he caught 69 passes for 1,066 yards, he also became a strong red -zone target with 11 touchdowns, including four for the Vikings last season.
The Vikings have moved on by signing Jauan Jennings in free agency, but fans will still keep an eye on Nailor in Las Vegas.
With Kubiak to scheme up opportunities and Cousins there to get him the ball, there’s a good chance that Nailor could live up to the hype and have the breakout that some in Minnesota may have expected during his time in Minnesota.
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