Prior to the 2025 NFL Draft, Silver and Black Pride explored the Las Vegas Raiders’ depth chart to get a glimpse of the holes on the roster. Now that the Raiders have made 11 draft picks and signed several undrafted rookies, let’s see how the depth chart was impacted and who might be in danger of losing their spot.
Quarterback
Previously:
Starter: Geno Smith
Backups: Aidan O’Connell, Carter Bradley
Post-draft:
Starter: Geno Smith
Backups: Aidan O’Connell, Carter Bradley, Cam Miller (6th Round), Hajj Malik-Williams (UDFA)
There isn’t much change here since Las Vegas waited until the second-to-last round to draft a quarterback. Miller will compete with O’Connell and Bradley for second-string duties, but it’s unlikely that the FCS product will win that job as a rookie. However, he does have an opportunity to unseat Bradley as the emergency quarterback, and Miller’s rushing ability gives him a competitive advantage in Chip Kelly’s offense.
Running Back
Ashton Jeanty
Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images
Previously:
Starter: Raheem Mostert
Backups: Sincere McCormick, Zamir White, Dylan Laube, Chris Collier, Isaiah Spiller
Post-Draft:
Starter: Ashton Jeanty (1st round)
Backups: Raheem Mostert, Sincere McCormick, Zamir White, Dylan Laube, Chris Collier, Isaiah Spiller
To no surprise, this is Las Vegas’ first big shakeup at the top of the depth chart. The coaching staff might frame it as a position battle between Jeanty and Mostert, but let’s be honest, we all know the No. 6 overall pick of the draft is going to be the starter. After that, it’s a heated competition for the second, third and potentially fourth spots on the roster.
Wide Receiver
Previously:
Starters: Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker, Ramel Keyton
Backups: Kristian Wilkerson, Alex Bachman, Tyreik McAllister, Jeff Foreman, Shedrick Jackson, Kyle Phillips
Post-draft:
Starters: Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker, Jack Bech (2nd round)
Backups: Kristian Wilkerson, Dont’e Thornton (4th round), Tommy Mellott (6th round), Alex Bachman, Tyreik McAllister, Jeff Foreman, Shedrick Jackson, Kyle Phillips, Zakhari Franklin (UDFA)
How many “starting” wide receivers the Raiders will have this year depends on how many two-tight end sets Kelly plans on using. If there’s a heavy emphasis on 12 personnel, Tucker’s standing could be in jeopardy if the coaching staff wants to have a possession receiver, Bech, in the starting lineup. Even if that’s not the case, the third-year pro will need to fend off Thornton as the deep threat.
Tight End
Previously:
Starter: Brock Bowers
Backups: Michael Mayer, Ian Thomas, Justin Shorter
Post-draft:
Starter: Brock Bowers
Backups: Michael Mayer, Ian Thomas, Justin Shorter, Ismail Qadir (free agent), Carter Runyon (UDFA), Pat Conroy (UDFA)
All that happened at tight end was a couple of UDFA signings and a late free-agent addition. With Mayer surviving by not getting traded during the draft weekend, there’s an open competition at the bottom of the depth chart, but not much else other than that.
Offensive Line
Kolton Miller
Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images
Previously:
Starters: Kolton Miller, Jordan Meredith, Jackson Powers-Johnson, Dylan Parham, DJ Glaze
Backups: Thayer Munford Jr., Alex Cappa, Will Putnam, Dalton Wagner, Gottlieb Ayedze
Post-draft:
Starters: Kolton Miller, Jordan Meredith, Jackson Powers-Johnson, Dylan Parham, DJ Glaze
Backups: Thayer Munford Jr., Alex Cappa, Will Putnam, Caleb Rogers (3rd round), Charles Grant (3rd round), Dalton Wagner, Gottlieb Ayedze, Jarrod Hufford (UDFA), Parker Clements (UDFA)
One could argue that the biggest addition to Las Vegas’ offensive line recently was Kolton Miller showing up to the team’s voluntary workouts. That could be a sign that Miller and the club are working toward a contract extension, and he isn’t on the trade block. Rogers or Grant could push Glaze for the starting right tackle job, but the Texas Tech product will likely play guard, while the William & Mary product is more of a project. As it was heading into the draft, the Raiders’ biggest position battle in the trenches is on the interior offensive line, which Rogers could also factor into.
Defensive Tackle
Previously:
Staters: Christian Wilkins, Leki Fotu
Backups: Adam Butler, Jonah Laulu, Matthew Butler, Zach Carter, Tyler Manoa
Post-draft:
Starters: Christian Wilkins, Leki Fotu
Backups: Adam Butler, Jonah Laulu, Tonka Hemingway (4th round), JJ Pegues (6th round), Matthew Butler, Zach Carter, Treven Ma’ae (UDFA), Anthony Booker Jr. (UDFA)
As previously mentioned, put Butler in the starting lineup if Patrick Graham opts to lean heavily on odd fronts. It was surprising to see that the front office didn’t add a true nose tackle during the draft to fill John Jenkins’ role and compete with Fotu. Pegues could lineup at that spot, but he’s more of a 3- to 4i-technique who can occasionally line up over the center than someone who can play there every down. Another option for Graham is to lean heavily on the gap-shooters and keep Fotu to just short-yardage situations. Beyond that, the defensive tackle battles will be centered around depth.
EDGE/Defensive End
Previously:
Starters: Maxx Crosby, Malcolm Koonce
Backups: Tyree Wilson, Charles Snowden, David Agoha, Andre Carter II, Ovie Oghoufo
Post-draft:
Starters: Maxx Crosby, Malcolm Koonce
Backups: Tyree Wilson, Charles Snowden, David Agoha, Andre Carter II, Ovie Oghoufo, Jah Joyner (UDFA)
Defensive end was the quietest position group the Raiders had during draft weekend. The only move was signing Joyner as an undrafted free agent, and he’s likely a candidate for the practice squad.
Linebacker
Cody Lindenberg
Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images
Previously:
Starters: Elandon Roberts, Devin White
Backups: Amari Burney, Tommy Eichenberg, Amari Gainer, Kana’i Mauga, Brandon Smith, Jackson Mitchell
Post-draft:
Starters: Elandon Roberts, Devin White
Backups: Amari Burney, Tommy Eichenberg, Amari Gainer, Brandon Smith, Cody Lindenberg (7th round), Jailin Walker (UDFA), Matt Jones (UDFA)
Despite being the team’s last pick of the draft, there’s a pathway for Lindenberg to crack the starting lineup. Linebacker is a wide-open position group for the Raiders, where both first-string spots are up for grabs. This is the most interesting position group to keep tabs on during training camp and the preseason, as it has the widest range of outcomes.
Cornerback
Previously:
Starters: Jakorian Bennett, Eric Stokes, Darnay Holmes
Backups: Decamerion Richardson, Sam Webb, M.J. Devonshire, Kyu Blu Kelly
Post-draft:
Starters: Jakorian Bennett, Eric Stokes, Darnay Holmes
Backups: Decamerion Richardson, Darien Porter (3rd round), Sam Webb, Kyu Blu Kelly, Mello Dotson (UDFA), John Humphrey (UDFA), Greedy Vance Jr. (UDFA)
If linebacker is the most interesting position to watch this summer, then cornerback is a close second, since the depth chart could get completely flipped on its head. Bennett is the closest to being a lock to start, but that’s not even a guarantee given his small sample size. Look for the third-year pro, Stokes, Richardson and Porter to battle it out for the two first-string roles on the perimeter. Holmes was a winner of the draft since Las Vegas didn’t select a nickelback, but safety Thomas Harper could also fill Nate Hobbs’ void.
Safety
Previously:
Starters: Jeremy Chinn, Isaiah Pola-Mao
Backups: Thomas Harper, Lonnie Johnson Jr., Trey Taylor, Chris Smith II
Post-draft:
Starters: Jeremy Chinn, Isaiah Pola-Mao
Backups: Thomas Harper, Lonnie Johnson Jr., Trey Taylor, Chris Smith II, Clark Hudson (UDFA)
While many, myself included, expected the Raiders to add a free safety in the draft, John Spytek stayed away from the position group with his 11 draft picks. So, Harper and Pola-Mao will battle it out on the backend of the defense while everyone else fights for a roster spot. Maybe Taylor or Smith emerges as a potential surprise starter, but Harper and Pola-Mao got snaps over both down the stretch last season.