Depth Chart Shop Talk

[GoodTimeCharlie]

Time to squabble and rabble-rouse.

Drop your depth chart know-how here. Especially those who know WAY more than the Raiders own FO and sideline.

[Curay7680]

Las Vegas Raiders 90-Man Depth Chart Projection: John Spytek and Klint Kubiak will have some hard decisions to make

Quarterback (4)
Starter: Kirk Cousins
Backup: Fernando Mendoza
Practice Squad/Reserves: Aidan O’Connell, Sawyer Robertson

Is there much needed to say here? I think Cousins gets the Week 1 start, but Mendoza will be the guy by the end of the year. They signed Robertson to a UDFA deal, which means they really like what he brings to the table, likely as a practice squad guy. But, does he beat out O’Connell?

Running Back (5)
Starter: Ashton Jeanty
Backups: Mike Washington Jr.*, Roman Hemby
Reserves: Chris Collier, Dylan Laube

I didn’t write it on my biggest winners and losers, but Jeanty is one of them. He just got a backup that is going to make his life so much easier. Washington will be the immediate RB2. Hemby’s connection with Mendoza will serve him well, while Laube will just barely lose the battle for that last RB spot due to his ability on special teams.

Wide Receivers (13)
Starters: Jalen Nailor, Tre Tucker, Jack Bech
Backups: Dont’e Thornton Jr., Malik Benson*, Dareke Young
Reserves: Justin Shorter, Phillip Dorsett, Shedrick Jackson, Brenden Rice, EJ Williams, Chase Roberts, Corey Rucker

This season, the Raiders will have a new WR in Nailor, who’s much better than the statsheet tells you. They are expecting their rookies to take a leap, too. However, I do think rookie WR Malik Benson makes this group, just maybe not as a starter. I also think there is a chance one of the UDFA WRs will make the last spot. Maybe a guy like Chase Roberts or Corey Rucker. Dareke Young was signed by Kubiak for a reason, he gets the last spot with some special teams ability.

Tight End (6)
Starter: Brock Bowers
Backups: Michael Mayer, Connor Heyward (FB), Ian Thomas
Reserves: Carter Runyon, Albert Okwuegbunan

This one is pretty standard and doesn’t need much explanation. It’s the same tight end room as last season, just subtracting Ian Thomas. Runyon showed some good things when he did play, and he seems to be a decent run blocker. However, I think they want Heyward in there at FB. I could honestly see any of the bottom four guys making it, but the top two are locked in.

Offensive Line (16)
Starters: Kolton Miller (LT), Trey Zuhn* (OG), Jackson Powers-Johnson (OG), Tyler Linderbaum (C), DJ Glaze (RT)
Backups: Charles Grant, Dalton Wagner, Spencer Burford, Caleb Rogers, Jordan Meredith
Reserves: Isaiah Jatta, Atonio Mafi, Will Putnam, Layden Robinson, Laki Tasi, Curtis McClendon

The big one here is who starts at both guard spots. And, you can make the case that Charles Grant has a battle with DJ Glaze to be had, too. Some Raiders media assume Trey Zuhn, the third-round pick, will be the starter. Spencer Burford, with 38 career starts, is another contender. Jordan Meredith, who was poor at center last year, performed impressively in 2024 playing guard. Some media expect Zuhn at one spot and Jackson Powers-Johnson competing for the other guard spot, but I see more uncertainty. The key debate is whether draft status alone decides the starter, especially with experienced players also vying for spots. The Raiders will have a good batch of UDFAs to work with, too, and I think any of them could make the practice squad, and maybe work for a final roster spot.

Defensive Line (9)
Starters: Adam Butler (DT), Tonka Hemingway (DE), Jonah Laulu (DT)
Backups: JJ Pegues, Thomas Booker
Reserves: Brandon Cleveland*, Gary Smith **, Broderic Martin, Treven Ma’ae

The Raiders have an interesting setup on their defensive line. They found a gem in Laulu and drafted two defensive linemen last season. They traded for Booker, and just traded away Tyree Wilson. The Raiders don’t have a bad defensive line by any means, but they do have one that could certainly get better, and likely will have some additions made via the draft. The spot here is where it starts at DE. Is it Hemingway, or Booker? I think either has a case. I also think there is a world where a UDFA DT beats out Cleveland in camp. I also think Gary Smith could make some noise in camp. His tape is pretty good, all things considered.

Edge Rushers (7)
Starters: Kwity Paye, Maxx Crosby
Backups: Malcolm Koonce, Charles Snowden, Keyron Crawford*
Reserves: Brennan Jackson, Jahfari Harvey

The Raiders are moving to a 3-4 system, which means they will have outside linebackers. Crosby and Koonce fit this mold. Paye, the new edge rusher, will likely be in that role as well, although he does seem a bit bigger and heavier on his feet than the other two. However, them paying him as much as they did vs Koonce tells us he will play more than Koonce. I originally had four spots in this room before the draft. I had to add one because Crawford will find a way to see the field. He is too good in pass-rush situations, and I think we will see him as one of the best on the team by the time the season is almost over.

Linebacker (7)
Starters: Quay Walker (WILL), Nakobe Dean (MIKE)
Backups: Tommy Eichenberg, Cody Lindenberg, Xavian Sorey Jr.**
Reserves: Jammin Davis, Segun Olubi

The Raiders made two free-agent signings in Walker and Dean, as the LB spot was maybe their biggest hole on defense. How the backups fill out will be interesting to see. These are the only five currently on the roster, so it’s hard to project someone to the roster that’s not on the team. The two Bergs will be the immediate backups, and I think some UDFAs can slot into that final spot. I currently have Sorey with it; however, there’s no doubt in my mind that he and Olubi will be in a battle.

Cornerback (8)
Starters: Eric Stokes, Darien Porter, Taron Johnson (NB)
Backups: Decamerion Richardson, Jermod McCoy*, Hezekiah Masses*
Reserves: Greedy Vance, Chigozie Anusiem

This is the position group I may have the toughest time with. Even others like the guard position, I know who the ten are, it’s just about who’s the starter or backup. In this one, I don’t know who the six are, if they keep six. They may have to keep seven. But, here’s where I’m at. Either Decamerion Richardson, Greedy Vance, and rookies Jermod McCoy and Hezekiah Masses–one of those is not making the 53-man. That’s if they only keep six, which most teams do.

Do they go the route of having a backup nickel for Johnson and keeping Vance? Or, do they just allow Stukes and Johnson in the safety room to be that backup nickel at times, and instead go with the extra boundary cornerback? They surely won’t keep the two rookies off the 53-man, but if McCoy isn’t healthy and ready to play, then none of this matters anyway. But it’s certainly a huge question.

Safety (6)
Starters: Jeremy Chinn, Treydan Stukes*
Backups: Isaiah Pola-Mao, Dalton Johnson*
Reserves: Tanner Wall**, Tristin McCollum

Stukes, the No. 38 overall pick, will start at safety. The Raiders will likely use the other guys as depth and even slide them into the nickel from time to time. There’s not really anything crazy or special going on here, besides maybe flipping Stukes with Pola-Mao, or Pola-Mao with Chinn, depending on certain packages.

Special Teams (3)
Starters: AJ Cole (P), Matt Gay (K), Alex Ward (LS)
Reserves: Kansei Matsuzawa (K)**, Tyler Duzansky (LS)**

This group has undergone its first changes in the last handful of years. Now, it’s Alex Ward after Jacob Bobenmoyer was the long snapper, with Matt Gay taking over for Daniel Carlson. I’d love to see “Tokyo Toe” take on Gay for a kicker battle in camp.

https://atozsports.com/nfl/las-vegas-ra ... ions-make/

Nice workup and Analysis.

[Curay7680]

I was hoping we would draft his replacement but we didn’t. I was listening to a pod a few months back and they stated that the scheme we ran last year put him in a bad spot quite often and he’s not as bad as people think. Sure hope the guy was right, seems like we will just cross our fingers with him this year.

Rick Dennison here you go brother.

[Goodtimes333]

I don't like the concept of the only option for Grant being at LT. IMO he could beat out Glaze at RT. Kolton Miller is a very good player and at 31 he could have 4-5 good years left easily. Not about putting Grant on ice based on the idea that Miller is nearly done. Not true and a waste of talent. Get the best 5 out there

[LayneStaley]

RT is actually the only big concern I have. We aren’t as bad at WR as some people want us to believe. Bech is gonna step up. The D is gonna be so much better. The longer the secondary can cover the better the D line will be. I really hope a good RT gets cut during camp somewhere.

[LayneStaley]

I hope Laki Tasi steps up, at 6’6 350 he should be able to at least eat up blocks and get other guys loose.

[KillerRaider30]

RT is actually the only big concern I have. We aren’t as bad at WR as some people want us to believe. Bech is gonna step up. The D is gonna be so much better. The longer the secondary can cover the better the D line will be. I really hope a good RT gets cut during camp somewhere.

I question if Glaze can avoid getting the edge set on him by ends. That can kill the wide zone. RBs will have to cut back because they can't get to the edge. It takes a dimension away from the game plan. Or maybe Kubiak knows how to scheme right around that problem. Idk

[LayneStaley]

IMG_2227.jpeg

This has to be the best D we have had in 20+ years.

[GoodTimeCharlie]

Raiders' strong draft and UDFA classes claim its first victim in vet defender

With 10 draft picks and another 18 undrafted rookies reportedly agreeing to terms (not yet official on the latter front), the Las Vegas Raiders only have so much room on their offseason roster. 91 players with an IPP exemption, to be exact, so some people will be gone, and someone had to be first to go.

On Thursday, with rookie minicamp starting on Friday, the Raiders announced the release of veteran linebacker/edge rusher Jamin Davis.

A first-round pick by the Washington Commanders (No. 19 overall) in 2019, Davis landed on the Raiders' practice squad last October after the New York Jets released him in late August. He was on the active roster for two games last season and recorded three total tackles over 16 defensive snaps.

[GoodTimeCharlie]

Nice workup and Analysis.

Just in case, not written by me. Not sure if you thought that. I always throw the source of the article in a link, usually at the bottom. Usually I’ll throw the whole article in italics too. Though I didn’t do that in the UDFA/Minicamp thread. Too lazy and Spytek was goin’ hogwild. That was primarily “NFLDraftBuzz” and AI (not AL).

[BoJacksonRules]

I agree, that lineup looks good. Who is the SS?

I think it will still be Chinn, but I’m not sure. I think Chinn would be more effective as a Dime LB. But for what we are paying him and no obvious upgrade he’ll most likely be our starting SS.

[DanKD]

Chinn is a pretty good player. He will be helped by having a better secondary around him.

[BoJacksonRules]

Scheme cannot cover up weakness in strength, balance, and quickness. Not saying Glaze doesn’t have some skills but see him as very upgradable.

No argument here. I’d still like to see what he could do at Guard, but because there isn’t an obvious replacement for him at RT, we may never know.

[Nor_Cal_Raider]

Maybe Grant is ready to push Miller to RT?

[RickRyb]

No argument here. I’d still like to see what he could do at Guard, but because there isn’t an obvious replacement for him at RT, we may never know.

Maybe The Raiders will try Zuhn at RT and have Glaze move to RG

[TrueFan420]

Glaze at RT makes me sick. We have to be able to find someone better.

I wouldn’t be shocked to see Grant beat him out