The Las Vegas Raiders bucked modern trends by taking a tight end and a running back in the first round of consecutive drafts.
While the analytics folks have had reason to gloat based on the resulting records, the Raiders do have a very solid foundation of skill position players to build around now that they have gone the more traditional route by taking a quarterback No. 1 overall.
Brock Bowers may be the best tight end in football when healthy and running back Ashton Jeanty flashed plenty of talent in the rare occasions the offensive line opened up any kind of space for him last year.
Both players should have a great chance to take a big step forward in terms of production with a new scheme and improved supporting cast.
But they enter training camp, which ramps up in full on Wednesday, knowing they will still need some help.
The Review-Journal will count down to the opening session by looking at a different position group each day, continuing with the backs and pass catchers.
Roster
Running backs: Jeanty, Mike Washington Jr., Dylan Laube, Chris Collier, Roman Hemby, Connor Heyward (fullback)
Wide Receivers: Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, Jack Bech, Dont’e Thornton Jr., Malik Benson, Dareke Young, Shedrick Jackson, Chase Roberts, Phillip Dorsett II, E.J. Williams Jr., Jonathan Brady, Brandon Johnson
Tight ends: Bowers, Michael Mayer, Ian Thomas, Carter Runyon, Albert Okwuegbunam Jr., Patrick Gurd
Outlook
There are certainly depth questions that will need to be answered behind the stars at running back and tight end in addition to exactly how Jeanty and Bowers will be utilized in the Klint Kubiak system.
But the real mystery here is how the roles and depth chart will shake out at wide receiver.
There is plenty of speed in this group, but nobody who is going to demand targets.
It’s a group that is going to have to get the job done as a collective and that’s probably just fine for Kubiak, especially when Bowers and Jeanty will be drawing so much attention.
Tucker is the top returning wide receiver, though his lack of ideal size and strength limits him from being a true No. 1.
Nailor, a Bishop Gorman grad, returns home looking to break out of the shadow of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison in Minnesota.
Bech and Thornton never really had the impact they were hoping for as rookies last year and will get a fresh start, with Thornton being an option to emerge as a deep threat. Benson has the tools to make an impact as a rookie and Young is a name to keep an eye on in camp. He was mostly a special teamer in Seattle, but Kubiak brought him to the Raiders and has spoken of his ability to show more as a receiver.
He did so on several occasions during OTAs and mini-camp.
One area the Raiders may eventually need to address is finding a receiver who has size and the ability to make the kind of contested catches Fernando Mendoza’s receivers made for him at Indiana when he gave them a chance to make plays.
Perhaps Roberts, an undrafted rookie free agent, can give them some of that. His college tape has some pretty impressive grabs where he showcased some physicality at the catch point.
There really aren’t many established roles and several of the players lower on the depth chart will have a chance to make an impression during camp.
It should be a fun position to monitor the next month.
Roles are far more established at the other positions on this list.
Bowers is the star at tight end and Mayer, despite massive production in college, has settled in as the Robin to his Batman. He has greatly improved his blocking and can make plays when called upon, but mostly has to settle for being one of the most talented No. 2 tight ends in the league.
Gurd, another undrafted rookie free agent, is a name to watch behind the returners on the depth chart because of his athleticism and potential as a hybrid fullback.
Washington was brought in to bolster the depth behind Jeanty, but this backfield unquestionably belongs to the second-year emerging star.
They should have the top two spots on the depth chart locked down. Hemby is another undrafted name to watch and has a legitimate shot to make the roster, particularly with his familiarity with Mendoza from Indiana.
Heyward was brought in to give the Raiders an option at fullback, a position that has largely been phased out of the NFL but still has a function in Kubiak’s offense.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.
