How free agency, draft has affected Raiders’ roster
The Las Vegas Raiders’ roster, of course, will look different in 2024 after additions made in free agency and in the draft. That means some returning players may lose playing time or even their roster spot this season.
Let’s look at some of the players in danger:
Ameer Abdullah:
The backup running back re-signed this offseason, but he will face roster competition from sixth-round pick Dylan Laube. The rookie does a lot of the same things that Abdullah does in terms of having receiving skills, being a threat on third down and he has returning skills. There is a chance both players could make the 53-man roster, but these two will surely be competing this summer.
Jakorian Bennett:
It would be a pretty big surprise if the 2023 fourth-round pick didn’t make the team and he could even be a starter, which he started last season as. But the Raiders took Decamerion Richardson in the fourth round out of Mississippi State and MJ Devonshire form Pittsburgh in the seventh round. All off these young players will compete for jobs.
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Amari Burnery:
The 2023 sixth-round pick played a total of 89 defensive snaps in the four games in which he played on defense. He appeared in seven games in total, including special teams play. The Miami product flashed some. But with the Raiders taking Tommy Eichenberg from Ohio State in the fifth round, Burney may look a spot and he will have to fight for a roster spot.
Zack Gentry/Cole Fotheringham:
Not only did the Raiders draft tight end Brock Bowers in the first round, but they signed Harrison Bryant in free agency. Las Vegas could keep a fourth tight end behind Bowers, Michael Mayer and Bryant, but it could be a stretch so Gentry and Fotheringham may be practice squad bound.
Cody Whitehair:
This is a unique situation since Whitehair signed with the Raiders shortly before the draft. A minute before the Raiders took Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson in the second round, Whitehair was a likely starting guard. Now, he has competition and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the rookie wins the job. So, Whitehair may be a backup. He should make the squad, though.
Byron Young:
The 2023 third-round pick was a disappointment last season as he was active for just the first six games of the season and he had a total of four tackles. Now, that the Raiders signed defensive tackle Christian Wilkins to a monster deal, Young’s path to playing time has even gotten tougher. He needs to make strides in training camp or he could be sent packing.