With the Las Vegas Raiders officially starting training camp on Sunday, let’s take a closer look at some players to watch.
July 21st marked the first day of training camp for the Raiders, which is being hosted in southern California. Sunday was only for the rookies, but Tuesday will be the first day for all players. Raiders relocated their practices to California due to the massive heat waves in Las Vegas. Despite being in close proximity to Los Angeles’ two teams, the Rams and Chargers, the Raiders will not have a joint practice.
In the NFL, training camp truly tests all the anticipation. Competitions will heat up, and the depth chart will gain officiality. Training camp will be critical because, let’s face it, there are many questions for the team.
Fans should monitor these players for any potential buzz.
5 Raiders Players To Watch Out For In Camp
Dylan Laube, Running Back
Laube is one of many running backs that the Raiders have drafted in recent years. He joins a seasoned core filled with Zamir White, Alexander Mattison, and Ameer Abdullah. White will undoubtedly be the starter for the season, but he is not a passing threat. Laube will likely battle with Mattison and Abdullah.
Coming from the University of New Hampshire, Laube was an underrated prospect due to the lack of competition. However, Laube has presented a hardworking mentality and explosiveness during rookie minicamp. He received a lot of hype during this time, but will it all be put to fruition with veterans?
If everything goes smoothly for Laube, he should be the team’s third-down running back. He exhibited outstanding pass-catching ability in college. In ten games, he had 699 receiving yards in 2023 for New Hampshire.
Tyree Wilson, Defensive Lineman
The Raiders’ first pick in the 2023 NFL Draft did not have a successful rookie campaign. Aside from that, he did show flashes of what he could be in the future. In that season, he was forced to play sooner than the team would have wanted because of positional need.
This offseason, Wilson trained rigorously with Maxx Crosby and even attended the Sack Summit in June. In pictures taken from this event, it was evident that Wilson had added significant mass to his frame. This is important because he will likely be playing interior defensive line along with edge rushing. The leading question for him is: Where will Wilson create an impact for this team?
Aidan O’Connell, Quarterback
Ironically, his debut campaign was a lot like Wilson’s in that he had to play before his time. Jimmy Garoppolo’s subpar performance threw O’Connell into the fire. He was not unsuccessful, but his season was definitely not productive.
O’Connell turned the ball over rarely, but the main issue was his ability to score touchdowns. Even though he was in a difficult situation, the Raiders defense was the driving force behind the team. It was their inability to score on offense that limited the Raiders’ success.
In training camp, O’Connell will be in a position to battle against Gardner Minshew for the starting spot. Minshew has proven to be a solid backup that can produce. Will O’Connell grow and become the player the Raiders expect him to be?
Kolton Miller, Offensive Tackle
Miller has been one of the cornerstones of the Raiders offense for many years. He has started 90 games for the team but has been battling injuries. Not only did he miss a couple of games during the season, but he also missed time in minicamp.
Left tackle is the most important position on the offensive line, especially without a mobile quarterback. Miller is the best player on the current core and has been one of the captains for the team. Will he be completely healthy for training camp and eventually the season?
Jakorian Bennett, Cornerback
Bennett is an interesting player to watch, mainly because he can be the missing piece in the defense. With the addition of Jack Jones last season, the other cornerback is the only glaring hole in the defense. Obviously, Nate Hobbs will be playing in the slot, and the defensive line will surely perform. The second cornerback for the Raiders has been a need for a long time.
Bennett has the opportunity to step up and produce early in his career. His rookie campaign was not impressive, scoring a 42.4 Pro Football Focus grade. Despite that, head coach Antonio Pierce has praised Bennett for his improvement as a professional. But has he improved enough to be a rotational cornerback in the defense?
*Top Photo: Getty Images