The 2011 and 2018 seasons.
That’s the last time the Silver & Black had a kick return and punt return touchdowns, respectively. Jacoby Ford’s 101-yard house call against the Cleveland Browns on Oct. 11, 2011 and Dwyane Harris’ heads-up 99-yard end zone visit against the Denver Broncos on Dec. 24, 2018 were the said scoring returns.
Thus, you can see why reigniting a long-dormant return game is something the Las Vegas Raiders not only should accomplish, but need to do.
Two components of the return game
from the 2025 Raiders are no longer on the roster: Veteran wide receiver Alex Bachman, who led the team with 22 punt returns for 124 yards (5.6 yards per return average) and a long of 25 yards. And veteran running back Raheem Mostert who tallied 23 kick returns for 673 yards (29.3 yard per return average) with a long of 54 yards.
The onus of creating an impact unit lies on the capable shoulders of new special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis. And Las Vegas began the task of installing schemes and systems during OTAs and mandatory minicamp. The team is on a bit of a reprieve before reconvening for training camp in late July, it’s ample time to take an early look at who can reignite the Raiders return game.
Kick Return
- Tre Tucker
- Dylan Laube
- Dareke Young
Of the trio listed above, Laube has the most experience returning kickoffs as the sixth-round pick (208th overall) in the 2024 NFL Draft heads into Year 3. In fact, the New Hampshire product paced Las Vegas with 33 returns for 855 yards (25.9 yards per return average) with a long 38. In his two seasons with the Raiders, the 26-year-old running back has 39 kick returns for 1,019 yards (with a long of 59). Laube’s inability his first two seasons to carve out a role as a tailback (eight carries for nine yards in 27 games) likely means special teams is once again his calling card, if he’s to make the 53-man roster.
Early indications are DeCamillis likes what he’s seen so far.
“I think he’s done a great job throughout the OTAs. He’s another one that’s really, really sharp, gets the game, and he knows the way he’s going to make it is by the more he can do, and he’s accentuated that all the way through camp. And I really like him so far,” the special teams boss said. “Obviously, OTAs, we haven’t put any pads on or any of that stuff, so you’ll find out more as we go through it, but I really like the kid so far, for sure, and I think he’s going to be a good player for us.”
But it’s Tucker who is the anomaly of the three.
My sentiments are similar to our Tristen Kuhn above. The Bearcats exploited Tucker’s speed, toughness, and vision as a return specialist and his tenure with the Raiders is relegated to occasional return man (15 punt returns for 121 yards (8.1 yards per return average) and one kickoff return for 23 yards in a two-year span from 2024-25.
Be it prior coaching staffs wanting to limit Tucker’s special teams work due to involvement with the offense alongside reducing injury risk, it’s bewildering not to have Tucker get work in an area where he excelled in college.
Then there’s Young, an imposing core special teamer that stands 6-foot-2 and 224 pounds. More renowned as an elite gunner who uses his size and speed to evade blockers and get within range of the punt returner, Young did well with his limited kick return opportunities last season with the Seattle Seahawks: 10 returns for 322 yards (an impressive 32.2 yards per return average) with a long of 60 yards.
If Tucker isn’t getting reps as the kick return man, expect to see Laube and Young get a crack at the gig. Others to keep in mind are wide receiver Shedrick Jackson (who offers scintillating 4.25 40-yard dash speed) and running backs Chris Collier (26 career kick returns for 608 yards) and rookie Mike Washington Jr. (another size/speed option) to get some reps this offseason.
Punt Return
- Malik Benson
- Jonathan Brady
- Tre Tucker
Perhaps it’s time for some new (and young) blood to take this role, hence Benson and Brady.
Benson, the Raiders’ sixth-round pick (195th overall) in the 2026 draft, was a decorated prep sprinter and his 4.37 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine backs that up. As a deep threat pass catcher, Benson showed he has the instant acceleration to separate from defenders and in his minimal punt return duties at Oregon this past season (nine returns for 161 yards, 17.9 yards per return average, and one touchdown), he proved to be electric. That house call was an 85-yard sprint against USC.
Brady, an undrafted rookie from Indiana, was a productive punt returner for the Hoosiers this past season fielding 21 boots and returning them for 347 yards (16.5 yards per return average) and a touchdown. He also notched 11 returns for 93 yards in 2023 with New Mexico State, and was also a kick returner tallying 16 returns for 317 yards in 2022-23 for the Aggies. Brady clocked a 4.39 40 time at Indiana’s Pro Day and it was on full display on his 91-yard punt return touchdown against Old Dominion.
Lastly, Tucker. He was the lone Raider to field a punt last season with Bachman being the primary. The 25-year-old possesses electric speed and toughness despite only being 5-foot-8 and 182 pounds and has the skillset to give the offense prime field position as a punt returner. He’s logged 984 snaps and 942 snaps the past two seasons on offense, good for 88 and 95 percent of the unit’s total count, while notching only 22 and 21 special teams snaps those two same years. So it remains to be seen if he is more involved in DeCamillis’ groups.
Jackson is another name to keep an eye on as special teams is a way to maximize his roster chances. And perhaps Laube gets a crack at field punts — something he hasn’t done since he was drafted by Las Vegas. 2026 fourth-round pick Jermod McCoy got some work fielded punts earlier this offseason and if the cornerback has continues to have a clean bill of health, he’d be one to eye, too.
Expect competition to continue through training camp and preseason games as roles are to be established. And in a wide open field, it pays to work hard and produce as that garners serious 53-man roster considerations.
“I think they’ve responded well. The one thing that I’ve noticed about this group that’s impressive to me is their capacity for work. Like, when they work, they work and they roll, but like you said, the details are the things that are going to make us to where we want to get to. We can’t be a team that just gives effort,” DeCamillis said. “In my opinion, like in the NFL, that should be part of your contract. When they say effort, you shouldn’t have to coach effort. If you do, then it should be a breach of contract, in my opinion. That’s something that everybody should put out, and these kids have done that, and they’ve really shown a really, really good capacity to work so far.”
