Las Vegas Raiders

Vegas' lack of depth on the offensive line is likely to open up a permanent starting role for Munford, whom the Raiders selected in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Munford has made 14 starts over his first two NFL seasons while playing primarily at tackle, and he'll likely get a chance to compete for the right tackle spot vacated by Jermaine Eluemunor's departure, but a position change to guard could ultimately be how Munford earns playing time moving forward.

The Raiders are reportedly seeking a second-round draft pick and additional compensation, though it's unclear whether any team will meet those demands. Adams initially stayed quiet as to the rumors of a potential deal, simply saying that was out of his control. However, later on Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that Adams has informed the Raiders that he prefers to be traded.

Crosby sustained a high left-ankle sprain during the Week 2 win over the Ravens, and he was able to play through it in Week 3 against the Panthers. However, matters have apparently worsened, and although Crosby officially carries a doubtful tag, head coach Antonio Pierce listed the veteran pass rusher as one of the players the Raiders would be without for Sunday's game during the media availability period that preceded the release of the final injury report.

It's interesting timing for a role expansion for Tucker, who's coming off a career-best 7-96-1 line on nine targets in Week 3 that already has him on fantasy radars. The speedy second-year pro now moves into Jakobi Meyers' spot on the depth chart while the latter shifts to the No. 1 role, but Tucker is likely to run more downfield routes than Meyers typically does.

Meyers has been productive as the No. 2 receiver over his first three games with Gardner Minshew as his quarterback, recording a 14-152-1 line on 17 targets. Meyers saw a season-high nine targets in Week 3 against the Panthers, but he could be in for at least a slight increase in workload considering the outsized role Adams typically fills.

The multi-time Pro Bowler suffered the injury during Thursday's practice. Adams had shown strong chemistry with quarterback Gardner Minshew over the first three games of the regular season, posting an 18-209-1 line on 27 targets. In Adams' absence, Jakobi Meyers will slide into the No. 1 receiver role against Cleveland.

The Raiders will be without their All-Pro receiver Sunday, likely leading to more targets Jakobi Meyers and rookie tight end Brock Bowers.

Minshew remains the starter after a poor Week 3 performance against the Panthers, but he's looking for a bounce-back effort to hold off Aidan O'Connell atop the quarterback depth chart in Vegas. Getting back on track would be tougher if Vegas' star receiver is unable to suit up or limited in any capacity, but Adams at least managed to practice on a limited basis Thursday, so he may still make a full recovery by Sunday.

Crosby was limited in practice last week and was listed as questionable, but did end up playing in the Raiders' loss to the Panthers, though didn't record a sack or a tackle for loss after registering three sacks and five tackles for loss in the first two games.

Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce wouldn't rule out making the switch after Sunday's loss to the Panthers in which O'Connell replaced Minshew for the team's final possession. O'Connell played well, completing nine of 12 passes on the drive for 82 yards and a touchdown, but Las Vegas was also down by three scores when he entered the game. The 2023 fourth-round pick's numbers were less impressive as a rookie, as he completed 62.1 percent of his passes over 11 games with just 6.5 yards per attempt and a 12:7 TD:INT.

O'Connell took over the offense late in Sunday's loss to the Panthers and performed well, although the game was out of reach by then. Minshew completed 77.5 percent of his passes in Las Vegas' first two games before falling back to a 64.3 percent mark against Carolina, and he's thrown one touchdown and one interception in each game, so his level of play doesn't exactly seem to be the biggest issue for the 1-2 Raiders. Nonetheless, the veteran QB could be benched next Sunday in favor of O'Connell.

The prominent offseason signing is still seeking his first sack as a Raider after recording a career-high nine with the Dolphins in 2023.

Crosby, who's logged three sacks through the first two weeks, was never in much danger of sitting out after practicing on a limited basis throughout the week. The premier pass rusher should be set up for another impact day against a Carolina team that's allowed six sacks in two games.

The Las Vegas receiver credited with Jackson with having "changed the game" with his unique skill set and added that he didn't believe there was a bigger threat with the ball in his hands than the Ravens quarterback. Adams also said that he admired Jackson's rushing skills to the point that he had studied film of him in the past in order to improve his own ability to break tackles.

Jones and Los Angeles wideout Joshua Palmer were both tossed as a result of a fight between the two teams, but neither player is expected to get anything more than fine from the league. Jones played 50 snaps and recorded four tackles in Sunday's loss, and he should be in the starting lineup for the Raiders' Week 2 clash with the Ravens.

Jones got into a fight with Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer, leading to both being ejected after Ladd McConkey scored a fourth-quarter touchdown to put the Chargers ahead 22-10. The cornerback's frustration boiled over as the Raiders struggled in their season opener against an AFC West rival, and it remains to be seen if he'll face any supplemental discipline beyond the ejection.

Adams made his statement Wednesday as official preparations for the Raiders' Week 1 matchup against the Chargers tipped off. Adams noted "the facts are the facts and that is not a fact" in response to Jackson's comments, adding that he had only spoken with Jackson a handful of times and had never discussed his feelings about playing for the Raiders with him.

Laube is competing with fellow running back Ameer Abdullah for that role, but Reed believes the rookie sixth-round pick out of New Hampshire offers higher upside and explosiveness compared to the 31-year-old veteran. Laube returned kickoffs in college and had a 16-yard kickoff return in Saturday's 24-23 preseason loss to the Vikings, while Abullah mustered 28 yards on his lone kickoff return Saturday. Kickoff returns are expected to be a bigger part of the game following the NFL's offseason rule change regarding kickoffs.

Bowers was selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Raiders primarily for his pass-catching ability, as he racked up 175 catches and 31 total touchdowns across three college seasons at Georgia. He's proving to be a valuable contributor in all situations so far in training camp though, and Bowers has been a better run blocker than the team expected. If run blocking isn't an issue for the rookie, he'll be able to play in all situations out of the gate despite the presence of 2023 second-round pick Michael Mayer in Vegas' tight end room.

Head coach Antonio Pierce said at the end of training camp that whichever one of Minshew or O'Connell doesn't start the preseason opener will start the second preseason game. O'Connell got the start against the Vikings and led the offense down the field effectively but took a sack on 3rd-and-goal. Minshew then got into the game in the second quarter and led three scoring drives on four possessions. With a strong performance in the second preseason game against Dallas, Minshew could separate himself from O'Connell in a quarterback competition that Minshew has reportedly been leading by a hair.

The NFL's new kickoff rules will likely mean that kickers' tackling ability will be put to the test much more frequently, so the Raiders may be toying with the idea of having a better tackler than kicker Daniel Carlson handle kickoff duties. Jones, Luke Masterson, Phalen Sanford and Sam Webb have all attempted kickoffs in training camp, though the Vegas coaching staff insists that it trusts Carlson as a tackler.

Tucker has separated himself from the other candidates for the third spot on the wide receiver depth chart. Michael Gallup retired, and Jalen Guyton is on the PUP list due to an undisclosed injury, while Tucker is enjoying a strong camp on the heels of a 331-yard rookie season in which the speedster averaged 17.4 yards per catch.

O'Connell still has plenty of time to make up ground, as the two quarterbacks' performance during the preseason will likely be a key factor determining which one will get the nod under center come Week 1. All things being equal, the Raiders would likely pick the 25-year-old O'Connell over the 28-year-old Minshew considering O'Connell is under contract through the 2026 season on an affordable rookie deal, but Minshew's edge in experience has likely contributed to the free-agent addition taking a slight lead in the training camp competition over Vegas' 2023 fourth-round draft pick.

Minshew and O'Connell continue to evenly split reps with the first-team offense, but the former seems to have pulled ahead for the QB1 job for the time being. Head coach Antonio Pierce told reporters Friday that he doesn't have a "date or timestamp" on naming the starter, but he is looking for one of the competitors to be consistently good across practice sessions, per Gutierrez. Minshew took over as the Colts' starter last year after Anthony Richardson sustained a season-ending shoulder injury, and the former finished 2023 completing 62.2 percent of his passes for 3,305 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions across 17 regular-season games.

Laube was lauded for his pass-catching ability heading into the 2024 NFL Draft, and though the New Hampshire product had to wait until the sixth round to hear his name called, he found an intriguing landing spot in Las Vegas. He has a chance to carve out a meaningful role in passing situations out of the gate, especially if Laube continues to impress the coaching staff. Zamir White has only 15 receptions through two NFL seasons, and Alexander Mattison dropped seven of his 44 targets with the Vikings in 2023.

The veteran was brought in as a free agent to compete with Aidan O'Connell for the starting job, and while it was widely assumed Minshew would claim the No. 1 role, neither quarterback has separated themselves this offseason and into the first few days of training camp. If the battle remains a dead heat through the preseason, coach Antonio Pierce could end up showing loyalty to O'Connell by naming him the Week 1 starter after he finished the 2023 campaign with that job.

As yet, neither O'Connell nor Gardner Minshew have separated themselves in the battle for the No. 1 job, so the fact that O'Connell won games for head coach Antonio Pierce last season could prove to be a tie-breaker if there's no clear winner by the end of the preseason. Both QBs are adjusting to a new scheme and new offensive coordinator in Luke Getsy, and how quickly they adapt could also end up determining who begins the season under center. It's very possible that both signal-callers get starts this season, however.

Telesco said he didn't see the offseason addition's retirement "coming at all." Gallup had signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Raiders this offseason after playing the first six seasons of his career with Dallas. Although he's battled injuries in the past, Gallup is reportedly healthy and financially secure according to one-time Cowboys teammate Dak Prescott, who spoke with the receiver earlier in the offseason about his retirement plans.

The prolific receiver was on Sharpe's Club Shay Shay podcast and had to address the subject, as Rodgers had commented last week at a golf tournament that he was looking forward to playing with Adams "again." Former Jets quarterback Boomer Esiason then noted on his WFAN radio show that he'd heard it was possible an Adams trade to the Jets could be "in the works." Adams told Sharpe that Rodgers would be the one quarterback he'd want to play with due to familiarity and their past success, but he made sure to add he wasn't seeking any move from Las Vegas.

This offseason Adams has repeatedly stated a desire to remain with the Raiders, but trade rumors have persisted. Most recently, he's been connected to the Jets, though Adams called that option unrealistic. Despite an uncertain quarterback situation in Las Vegas, he has remained publicly committed to the team.

O'Connell unexpectedly had two stints with the starting job as a rookie after being taken in the fourth round out of Purdue in the 2023 NFL Draft, and it was his second one that made Hoyer take notice. O'Connell went 5-5 as a starter to finish the season, and he threw for 2,218 yards with a respectable 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions across 11 regular-season games overall. "Maybe I'm biased," Hoyer said, "but I think what Aidan did last year -- I know he hasn't shown it as much as Gardner Minshew has throughout his career -- but I know the guys really gravitated to the way Aidan took over and his leadership as a young player."

Crosby gutted out knee and thumb injuries last season, both of which he addressed through surgeries early this offseason, to post a career-high 90 tackles and 14.5 sacks. He has his eyes on even loftier goals this season if he has better luck on the health front, as he's still chasing his first Defensive Player of the Year award and first-team All-Pro nod.

Spillane played a full defensive snap count for the first time in his career in 2023, and he delivered 148 tackles, 3.5 sacks and three picks while playing all 17 games. He's entering the final year of a two-year deal with the Raiders, but his breakout 2023 season could convince the team to keep him on the roster in the longer term. Tafur also noted Spillane's bond with current head coach Antonio Pierce, as Pierce was originally Spillane's position coach before being promoted.

General manager Tom Telesco has taken his time getting to know his new roster, but Koonce proved himself a productive player in a breakout 2023 season. He posted 8.0 sacks while earning an extensive defensive role for the first time in his career, all while remaining an ace on special teams. Without an extension, Koonce is set to hit free agency following the 2024 season.

Minshew signed with the Raiders in March, but the veteran QB already has a strong enough grasp of the playbook that he was improvising and changing plays in the huddle during minicamp. O'Connell, a fourth-round pick in 2023 who wound up starting the team's final nine games as a rookie, still has the edge heading into camp due to his experience, but a strong preseason from Minshew could put him under center for Week 1.

O'Connell's experience in the offense served him well during offseason team activities, and the 2023 fourth-round pick has earned the endorsement of Davante Adams, Las Vegas' top wide receiver. However, Minshew has learned the playbook extremely quickly since signing with the Raiders in March, and there's very little daylight between them heading into camp. The decision on who's under center for Week 1 may come right down to the wire.

Eichenberg is one of the lowest-drafted players on Reuter's projected All-Rookie defensive squad, but the one-time Buckeye could be poised to make a surprising impact right from the jump of his NFL career. Eichenberg likely endeared himself to his new head coach Antonio Pierce, a highly accomplished linebacker in his playing days, with his non-stop motor in college, which led to 268 tackles over his final 36 games. Reuter notes Eichenberg should play primarily on early downs and benefit greatly from the block-absorbing forces in front of him, including Christian Wilkins and John Jenkins.

Selected in the third round of the 2023 Draft out of Cincinnati, Tucker is an undersized speedster, but Las Vegas coach Antonio Pierce doesn't think his 5-foot-9, 185-pound frame will hold him back. "Watch him play," Pierce said during the team's minicamp. "He's the biggest guy out there. He had a hell of an offseason. ... Everything that we talked about working on, he took that to another level. And you could see the look in his eye of a confident player, of a guy that's just going to constantly get better. He's pushing." Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers seem locked into the top two spots on the wideout depth chart, and the Raiders brought in veterans Michael Gallup and Jalen Guyton to compete for the No. 3 role, but Tucker's improvement could allow him to win the job in training camp. Should Adams be traded before Week 1, it would open up even more snaps for the youngster.

The one-time Georgia Bulldog has displayed smooth route-running skills and a stride more reminiscent of a wide receiver than tight end. Gutierrez also notes that Bowers, who's expected to play a significant role in the offense alongside fellow promising tight end Michael Mayer this coming season, has caught the eye of perennial Pro Bowler Davante Adams, who's nicknamed Bowers "Business Man" in a nod to the rookie's no-nonsense approach.

White has been the presumed lead back since the departure of Josh Jacobs this offseason, though coach Antonio Pierce and general manager Tom Telesco are still keeping their options open. Alexander Mattison is one internal option, though he's never handled more than 180 carries in a season. Tafur also mentioned the possibility that the team will consider external options, with the likes of Damien Harris, Cam Akers and Kareem Hunt still available.

Crosby said he doesn't want to take an easier road by switching teams, adding that the hardships of playing for a non-contender make winning a Super Bowl even sweeter. The star pass rusher is entering his sixth season with the Raiders, and Crosby is under contract through the 2026 season.

Mattison, who actually served as a backup for the majority of his career with the Vikings, noted that going from understudy to starter, like White will be doing this season, is "as difficult as you make it." The veteran added that the right group of coaches and players makes the process much smoother, and he expressed his commitment to contributing in that regard while also joining his new position mates in learning the team's new offensive system.

White is the incumbent after spending his first two seasons as the departed Josh Jacobs' understudy and auditioning for his forthcoming lead-back role over the last four games of 2023, when he averaged 23.3 touches per contest. However, White is embracing the arrival of a proven commodity like Mattison and notes he'll be "learning from the backs in the room" alongside him, which will also include returning veteran Ameer Abdullah and rookie sixth-round pick Dylan Laube.

Going into his rookie campaign, Wilson was recovering from a broken right foot suffered during his final college season at Texas Tech. He still managed to appear in all 17 games and recorded 29 tackles, including 3.5 sacks, in a part-time role. However, Wilson is expecting an exponential leap in Year 2, with the fact he's now fully recovered and has been obtaining plenty of guidance on diet, recovery and work habits from Crosby expected to fuel that rise.

No additional years were tacked on to Crosby's deal, but $1.2 million of his 2026 salary was moved into 2025. The sixth-year pro is coming off a 2023 campaign in which he accrued a career-high 14.5 sacks, his second straight double-digit sack tally after he produced a combined 25 over his first three seasons.

White and Mattison are expected to headline Vegas' backfield following Josh Jacobs' departure. White excelled down the stretch in 2023 while Jacobs was hurt, posting 397 rushing yards over the final four games of the season. While new Raiders offensive coordinator Luke Getsy has a history of spreading touches out between multiple running backs, Locker believes White will make the most of his opportunities after ranking 10th among running backs with 3.21 yards after contact per carry in 2023.

Mattison spent his first four seasons as Dalvin Cook's backup in Minnesota but excelled whenever the oft-injured Cook missed time. When Mattison was finally given an extended opportunity atop the depth chart in 2024, he flopped, averaging just 3.9 yards per carry while failing to score a rushing touchdown. Having been scooped up by a Vegas team that let Josh Jacobs walk in the offseason, Mattison will compete for touches with White, a 2022 fourth-round draft pick who closed out 2023 with four strong performances but had done nothing of note in his NFL career before that point.

Coach Antonio Pierce had indicated just last week that O'Connell was headed into the offseason atop the depth chart after finishing last season as Las Vegas' starter, but it's not surprising that the team would give Minshew a real shot at winning the starting job after signing him to a two-year, $25 million contract in March. Whoever claims the gig as the Week 1 starter will have some impressive talent to target in the passing game, including Davante Adams and the 2024 13th overall pick, tight end Brock Bowers.

This somewhat contradicts statements by coach Antonio Pierce, who suggested O'Connell was atop the depth chart heading into the offseason program, but it's not much of a surprise that Minshew would get a clear chance to win the job after he signed a two-year, $25 million contract with Las Vegas in March. Whoever emerges as the Week 1 starter will have a solid set of targets to throw to, including Davante Adams and the 2024 13th overall pick, tight end Brock Bowers.

Minshew is naturally a more accomplished NFL passer than his second-year teammate, and he's coming off a 2023 season where he threw for 3,305 yards with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions while adding three rushing scores for the Colts. The 27-year-old therefore makes for an excellent insurance policy at quarterback if nothing else, but for the moment, head coach Antonio Pierce states that as much as Minshew has endeared himself early with his work ethic and personality, O'Connell has earned his place atop the depth chart.

The second-year pro has impressed head coach Antonio Pierce, who noted O'Connell has changed "his body, his work ethic" this offseason and is displaying improved confidence and focus. O'Connell was promoted to the starting job for the rest of the 2023 season by Pierce when he took over for Josh McDaniels following a Week 8 loss, with O'Connell going 5-5 as a starter and tossing eight touchdowns without an interception over the final four contests of the campaign.

Reuter points out the Raiders' cornerback group was highly inconsistent last season and also lacked for size. Richardson, who boasts a 6-foot-2 frame and complements it with sub-4.4 speed, could therefore be a prime candidate to garner first-unit snaps, especially since he's capable of competing physically with larger outside receivers.

Barnwell thinks Minshew is well positioned to not only beat out O'Connell but also maintain the starting job for the entire 2024 season after the Raiders didn't add a quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft. Minshew averaged 194.4 passing yards per game in a run-heavy Colts offense last season, but he could find more success through the air in a Raiders offense that has veteran wide receivers Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers returning, as well as rookie first-round pick Brock Bowers at tight end and free-agent additions Michael Gallup and Jalen Guyton bolstering the team's pass-catching corps.

Tucker showed blazing speed in his rookie campaign, coming in ahead of Jameson Williams' second-place mark of 15.9 miles per hour. That high average maximum speed was due in part to Tucker's limited route tree, as he was used predominantly as a deep option, averaging 17.4 yards per catch en route to 331 yards and two touchdowns. Unfortunately for Tucker, neither Aidan O'Connell nor Gardner Minshew have the strongest of arms, so Las Vegas could once again struggle to maximize the production from Tucker's speedy skill set in 2024.

The former Cowboy hasn't been the same since suffering a knee injury in 2021, and Gallup failed to reach 500 receiving yards in either of his final two seasons with Dallas. Las Vegas doesn't have a lot of established depth at wideout behind Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers, however, so Gallup could get a chance to carve out a meaningful role in the Raiders' passing game this year.

Bowers had 2,538 receiving yards and 31 scrimmage touchdowns in three years at Georgia, and he's expected to immediately ascend to the top of Vegas' tight end depth chart. While Mayer should still play plenty of snaps in his second NFL season given the Raiders' proclivity for using formations with multiple tight ends, Bowers will likely be the featured option in the passing game, significantly dampening Mayer's upside.

With the coaching staff, quarterback and front office turmoil, there's plenty of reason to have speculated that Adams wouldn't want to stick with the Raiders. However, the wide receiver has voiced approval of both head coach Antonio Pierce and offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, and Adams reiterated Sunday that he is not seeking a trade. His yardage and touchdown totals took a hit in 2023, but Adams could rebound with Gardner Minshew under center and perhaps a new rookie quarterback to fill out the quarterback room.

Vegas' lack of depth on the offensive line is likely to open up a permanent starting role for Munford, whom the Raiders selected in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Munford has made 14 starts over his first two NFL seasons while playing primarily at tackle, and he'll likely get a chance to compete for the right tackle spot vacated by Jermaine Eluemunor's departure, but a position change to guard could ultimately be how Munford earns playing time moving forward.