The Las Vegas Raiders have seen heavy usage from their 2024 rookie class through just their first two seasons, with their rookie class having already combined for 6987 snaps across offense, defense, and special teams with waiver claim Jonah Laulu adding another 1239 snaps for a grand total of 8136 total snaps across two seasons. The Raiders are expecting, yet again, a heavy workload from their 2024 rookies with Brock Bowers the focal point of their offensive passing attack, Jackson Powers-Johnson & DJ Glaze projected starters on the offensive line, and various others making an impact on special teams. Las Vegas will have a few rookies on the possible outside looking in, but they are shaping up well with quality depth, starters, and a strong workload of their 2024 rookie class which is among the highest in pure snap counts across the NFL.
TE Brock Bowers: Starting TE, Potential OPOY
2025: 12 games (606 snaps) | 64 rec, 680 yards, 7 TD, 4.6 YAC/reception, 65.2% contested catch rate (15/23), 4.5%drop rate
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Bowers missed 5 games in 2025 with an MCL sprain, and he also played through an MCL sprain as well. However, Bowers who won’t turn 24 till December, still was named a Pro Bowler and finished 4th for All-Pro honors. Bowers YAC/reception fell by 0.7 yards/reception in 2025, largely due to the knee injury. That said, he saw his contested catch rate skyrocket by nearly 14%, and he also worked well after the catch forcing 14 missed tackles compared to 8 the year before. Bowers will position to be the focal point of the offense again, and as the best receiver on the roster he’ll likely be able to push for nearly a similar stat line to that of his rookie season (112 rec, 1194 yards, 5 TD) but with more scoring. He’s likely to be used heavily in the slot, with Michael Mayer inline, as Bowers has spent 52% of his career in the slot, and just 29% inline.
OG Jackson Powers-Johnson: Starting Offensive Guard
2025: 8 games (354 snaps) | 210 PBLK snaps, 2 sacks, 2 hits, 10 pressure allowed, 3 penalties, 4.4 YPC lead block
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Powers-Johnson, who won’t turn 24 till after the 2026 season, is among the best lineman on the Raiders roster but he’ll need to stay healthy. The 6’3, 320-pound G can play all three spots on the interior but with Tyler Linderbaum in fold, that’s unlikely to happen. Powers-Johnson suffered a lower body injury in week 10, which held him out for the entire season, though he also has a severe concussion issue as well stemming back to college. Powers-Johnson is going to compete for both left and right guard, and he’s a mauler in the run game, which when shifting back to a zone system similar to 2024 will only help him get better. Powers-Johnson dropped in his pass protection, as did the entire Raiders OL, so I wouldn’t think into it too much.
OT DJ Glaze: Competition for Starting Right Tackle
2025: 17 games (992 snaps) | 639 PBLK snap, 10 sacks, 6 hits, 48 pressure allowed, 5 penalties, 4.2 YPC lead blocking
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Glaze was a standout rookie in his 2024 season where he allowed 3 sacks, 7 hits, and 51 pressures, with another 4.6 YPC lead blocking. He declined in 2025, where he gave up the 2nd most sacks in the NFL, but did see his efficiency rise (albeit by 0.4%), and he remained a quality run blocker. Glaze struggled to get depth in his pass protection, was an average mover in space, and he also needs to improve on some athletic traits that may not be possible. With all that said, Glaze will have competition for RT with Charles Grant, though the 23 year old, 6’5, 328-pound Glaze is likely the starter as well. Glaze is adjusting to the NFL, as most of the line was hampered by bad coaching in 2025, and does show good traits to be a possible long term starter at RT for the Raiders. Glaze certainly has his lost reps, but with a run focused offense, his ability to push the game in a wide zone system will be a noticeable advantage for Ashton Jeanty.
CB Decamerion Richardson: Release Candidate, possible 6th CB
2025: 15 games (13 snaps, 204 ST snaps) | 2 tackles, TFL, 12 ST tackles, 50% reception rate (1/2), 6 yards, 54.6 QBR allowed
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Richardson, who just turned 25, has all the athletic traits to be a CB in the NFL at 6’2, 195 with a 9.87 RAS score. He’s shown good understanding of zone coverage, has good instincts, and he played the run fairly well in his time starting during the 2024 season. Richardson did not see the field till week 18, where even then he played just 13 snaps. He was a standout special teams gunner for Las Vegas with 12 tackles and just one missed tackle, the 4th best rate in the entire NFL. Richardson had a rough rookie season with 47 tackles, a 66.7% reception rate allowed (28/42), 407 yards, TD, and 106 QBR allowed. That said, Richardson was a phenomenal tackler, took great angles, and he consistently contained the boundary while also showing adequate ball skills with 4 PBU and a dropped interception. Richardson has a shot to be a depth cornerback for Las Vegas this season, though he may also snatch a potential 7th round pick for a team wanting to bank on depth and athleticism at cornerback. Las Vegas has five cornerbacks set to make the roster, and Richardson will need to have a 6th roster spot at CB possible for him.
ILB Tommy Eichenberg: Depth Linebacker
2025: 17 games (89 snaps, 371 ST snaps) | 15 tackles, 2 TFL, PBU, 7 run stops, 100% reception rate (5/5), 27 yards, 89.2 QBR allowed, 20 ST tackles
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Eichenberg ranked 2nd in the NFL in special teams tackle at 20, while also forcing a fumble, and he’ll make the roster as a ST ace with the potential for him to even earn a shot as a Pro Bowler for his value on special teams. Eichenberg, 6’2, 240 pounds turned 25 recently, and in his time at linebacker did produce with good production in just 90 snaps. Eichenberg is an adequate athlete, he moves well in space, has instincts vs the run, and can be capable in coverage. Eichenberg is likely the first man off the bench for the Raiders should Dean/Walker get injured, or need rotation in snaps. He’s heading into his third season, and Eichenberg should have a long career ahead of him solely off his special teams value, and in year three he may see his highest workload at linebacker after just 167 snaps in two seasons.
RB Dylan Laube: Competition for 3rd running back
2025: 17 games (25 snaps, 202 ST snaps) | 7 attempts, 9 yards, 3 reception, 18 yards, 8 ST tackles, 33 KR, 855 yards (26 avg), 38 long
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Laube, 26 years old, is usually pushed aside for Raiders fans, but I don’t think his path to the roster is that hard. Las Vegas will carry three, if not four, running backs, and either way Laube is a favorite to make the roster. While he’s limited in his experience at running back, with just 8 career rushes, he’s more than likely a candidate to make the roster off his special teams ability. Laube was a functional kick returner, he did well as a gunner on kick returns, and with Las Vegas having two running backs in Jeanty/Washington the third spot will come down to mainly special teams. The largest competition for Laube will be Roman Hemby, who didn’t provide much on special teams, but he does have experience as a runner, and it’ll be a good pre-season battle to watch.
SAF Trey Taylor: Off Roster
CB MJ Devonshire: Off Roster
(Waiver Claim) DT Jonah Laulu: Competition for Starting DT
2025: 17 games (764 snaps) | 51 tackles, 8 TFL, 4 sacks, 7 QB hits, 6 PBU, 25 pressures, 22 run stops, 4.1% pass rush win rate
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Laulu wasn’t a Raiders draft pick in 2024, but the former 7th rounder has spent his entire career with Las Vegas after being waived by the Colts during the roster cutdown in 2024. Laulu has logged 1238 snaps for Las Vegas, with good production on the defensive line, though he’s very likely a rotational defensive tackle going forward. The 6’5, 292-pound 25 year old, will turn 26 in June, and he’s primarily a run defender. Laulu doesn’t provide much as a pass rusher, he’s not overly athletic, and he won’t consistently push the pocket or win many reps, though he’s also a very capable run defender. Laulu needs to clean up his missed tackles with a 14% rate over the last two seasons, and he tries too often to arm tackle. Laulu is stout, he’ll anchor well and does a good job taking on multiple gaps, Laulu has the ability to play 0, 1, 2, and 3 Tech but does best at 2i. He’ll likely be best in a rotational aspect, and with the Raiders limited depth on the defensive line, Laulu is in competition with Tonka Hemingway & Thomas Booker for the starting spot opposite Adam Butler.
(Waiver Claim) SAF Thomas Harper: Off Roster
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I don’t usually touch on the UDFA, but releasing Harper may have been Las Vegas worst decision last off-season. After a 2024 season with 26 tackles, 2 TFL, 2 PBU, and an INT while allowing just 3 receptions for 62 yards and a 14.8 QBR he was released for Tristin McCollum (who had way better size). Harper would go on to play nearly 500 snaps for the Lions logging 44 tackles, 2 TFL, 7 PBU, an INT, and allowing an 82.8 QBR, 1 TD, and 245 yards in coverage between NCB, FS, and SS. There’s a strong chance that Harper could be the odd man out in the Lions DB room this off-season, and I’d have to bank on Las Vegas being interested on a reunion as a waiver claim.
(Waiver Claim) EDGE Brennan Jackson: Competition for 5th EDGE Rusher
2025: 3 Games (47 ST snaps) | 3 ST Tackles, 1 missed tackle
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The Raiders claimed Jackson prior to the 2025 season after he was released by the Los Angeles Rams following a pre-season with 7 tackles, 2 TFL, and 3 sacks. Jackson suffered a season ending foot injury in week 3, and missed all of the remainder of 2025. Jackson, played well on special teams before his injury, and that will be a key push if he’s going to make the roster over other EDGE rushers Cian Slone & Jahfari Harvey, with Harvey having NFL experience and Slone an extremely high upside pass rusher as a UDFA. Jackson has a career 6 tackles, 1 start, and 2 PBU in his career though staying healthy will be a massive push for him as well after an injury in both 2024/2025. He’s an athletic run first pass rusher, and the former 5th rounder does show some traits but it’s hard to se a true ceiling for him in the NFL as anything more than a situational pass rusher with ST value.
C Will Putnam: Release Candidate
2025: 15 games (139 snaps) | 101 PBLK, 4 sacks, 4 hits, 12 pressures, 2 penalties allowed
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Putnam appeared in just 3 games for the Raiders as a starting center in place of injuries to Jordan Meredith, and it was not great to say the least. Putnam is going to have to push past Spencer Burford, Jordan Meredith, and possibly others to make the Raiders roster. He’s one of two true centers on the roster, but with Meredith, Powers-Johnson, Zuhn, and Rogers all having center versatility it’s tough to see Putnam pushing for a roster spot. He’s an adequate athlete, struggled with his technique, and his hand combat skills were poor as well.
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