The Las Vegas Raiders’ optional phase of the offseason has concluded with the completion of OTAs. Minicamp is now required, and training camp is drawing near. This indicates that competition for spots on the 53-man roster at the end of the summer is intensifying, particularly for the undrafted rookie free agents.
Now, let’s examine which of the Raiders’ UDFA acquisitions stands the best chance of making the team. The players listed below are not arranged in any certain order.
Andrew Coker The depth at offensive tackle is one of the few areas where Las Vegas has concerns. Ageing late free agent sensation Andrus Peat hasn’t played right tackle in a regular season game since his 2015 debut year. DJ Glaze, a rookie, would be a better match at guard in the interim.
Coker’s chances of making the squad will mostly depend on how many offensive lineman the coaching staff choose to maintain, but he has a strong chance of unseating Dalton Wagner and Jalen McKenzie for the team’s last tackle position because of his pass-protection abilities.
Griffin Tulu
Griffin may make the squad in two ways: as a returner and as a deep threat.
Tre Tucker is the only player on the Raiders receiving corps that is quick; at the NFL Combine, the Mississippi State product ran a 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds. Additionally, according to Pro Football Focus, he grabbed six of eleven deep targets for 237 yards and two scores for the Bulldogs in the previous season.
Griffin had two touchdowns on kickoffs during his collegiate career and amassed over 1,600 yards in the return game at a clip of 30.7 yards per return, according to PFF. That will assist him to at least fight for the kick-returner position in training camp against Tucker and Dylan Laube, a sixth-round pick.
Bradley Carter
As the team’s starting quarterback, everyone is aware of the rivalry between Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew. But, Bradley and Anthony Brown will also be fighting it out for a backup spot, so the Silver and Black won’t have just one rival in the most crucial position on the field.
Bradley has more arm talent and potential, but Brown has more experience thanks to one regular season start in Week 18 two years ago.
To take advantage of the NFL’s new emergency quarterback rule, Las Vegas will probably roster three signal callers. Don’t be surprised if the undrafted free agent makes waves this summer to earn that place.
Ja’Quan Sheppard
The Raiders’ cornerback situation is extremely amorphous, much like that of quarterback and offensive tackle. There isn’t much depth at the position group—nine of the eleven corners on the current roster have four or fewer years of experience—so all three of the undrafted rookie corners have an opportunity to make the squad.
Sheppard was awarded the largest contract out of the three players mentioned above, with a guaranteed sum of $175,000—a substantial sum of money for a UDFA. That indicates that there are lots of openings in the cornerback room and that the front staff believes he has the best chance of making the squad.
Gainer Amari
Gainer’s versatility—he can line up at edge and as an off-ball linebacker—is a major factor in his chances of making the 53-man roster. That provides the coaching staff more justification to retain him around, especially as a backup option who can cover a variety of defensive end voids when needed.
It should come as no surprise that the former Tar Heel is a skilled athlete with a 9.33 RAS and special teams expertise. Gainer has an opportunity to surpass Amari Burney in training camp because of all that, and the Raiders may decide to retain Gainer long-term given that they have multiple linebacker free agents coming up.
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