With more than a third of the Raiders offseason roster made up of rookies, there figures to be a considerable amount of turnover this season in Las Vegas. That means several returning starters could be benched along with a good number of veterans who will lose their jobs entirely.
In fact, it could be the case that there are more new faces than returning ones by the time the Raiders take the field for the regular season. That goes for both sides of the ball. Let’s take a look at five position on offense which could see a young player step up and take over for a veteran.
Quarterback
- OUT: Aidan O’Connell
- IN: Jacob Clark
We already know there will be a new starting QB in Las Vegas. That will either be veteran free agent Kirk Cousins or rookie top pick Fernando Mendoza. Perhaps both at different parts of the season. But who takes the third QB spot is the question here.
O’Connell has the experience, but we have seen what he can do. With two great options atop the depth chart, Clark has a chance to show enough in training camp to have the coaches deciding to see what they could do to develop him. And unlike O’Connell, he would come in with at least three years under contract. O’Connell is entering the final year of his rookie deal. I would expect the Raiders to be very open to trade offers should any materialize.
Running back
- OUT: Dylan Laube
- IN: Roman Hemby
While Laube has shown he has special teams value, he hasn’t shown much of any value at the actual position he plays. If Hemby can show himself to be a decent number three RB option, while also offering special teams value, Laube’s time in Las Vegas could come to an end. Hemby also has the advantage of playing college ball with new franchise QB Fernando Mendoza. That familiarity could help both the RB and the QB.
Wide receiver
- OUT: Dont’e Thornton
- IN: Malik Benson
Thornton was drafted for his physical gifts. You can’t teach 6-5 with a 4.3 40-yard dash. And come day three, the Raiders went with the physical talents in the hopes they could teach him the finer points of the position. There was nothing in his rookie season that suggested his issues were simply a matter of skill and therefore something that could be developed.
He ran an extremely limited route tree at Tennessee. And if it were a matter of working on his route running, that would be one thing. But it’s those fundamentals of the type of receiver he plays where he struggled. It was instincts. Something you also can’t teach.
Benson is also somewhat of a raw prospect. But his development as a receiver has shown up each season and his arrow is up. If that progression can continue, he could absolutely swipe Thornton spot on the depth chart and perhaps his spot on the roster altogether.
Offensive line
- OUT: Jordan Meredith, Jackson Powers-Johnson, DJ Glaze
- IN: Caleb Rogers, Trey Kuhn III
With as bad as the Raiders offensive line was last season, the only returning starter whose job is safe is LT Kolton Miller. Left tackle and center are the only positions set in stone for this line this season. That puts both guard spots and right tackle up for grabs.
Rogers started six games as a rookie and showed up well for himself. He could take either guard spot. The same could be said for this year’s third round offensive lineman. Kuhn played left tackle in college, was seen as a center prospect, was drafted as a guard, and early in OTA’s was lining up at right tackle. That’s some serious moving around. He will fit in where the Raiders feel he is most needed. So it will be up to Meredith, JPJ, and Glaze to keep their jobs from him.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: 5 young Raiders on offense who could unseat veterans