A couple weeks back, I wrote about needing to be patient about the Raiders playing their rookies and that has aged like fine milk sitting on the counter. The Raiders are 2-5, they are the definition of
awful. Somehow, they might not be the worst team in the NFL but they sure are close, a case can be made that they are worse than the 2024, 2018, and 2014 Raiders (maybe not 2014 but it’s close). The offense is a mess, the defense is a mess, and the special teams unit is not only the worst in the NFL but on pace to be one of the worst in NFL history. Sitting at 2-5, there’s no chance at a wild card spot, not that one was really in the future picture anyway. The Raiders made 11 selections in May, time to look at their production and where things are heading:
Ashton Jeanty:
Jeanty is getting playtime, he’s logged 111 attempts for 445 yards and 3 TD with another 15 receptions, 86 yards and two touchdowns. The issue doesn’t come with his limit of playtime but how poorly he’s been used. Jeanty has been on the field for just 47% of the Raiders third down snaps often seeing Zamir White, Raheem Mostert, or Dylan Laube play instead which is acceptable due to Jeanty’s average pass blocking however in short yardage situations no one other than Jeanty should be on the field. Jeanty struggled through the Raiders first three games logging just a 3.5 YPC and after back to back games over 4.5 YPC he’s down to 3.4 in the Raiders last two games and a total of 3.9 on the season. Jeanty is top 10 in yards, breakaway rate, elusiveness rating, and forced missed tackles. Jeanty only posed 6 touches for 21 yards vs the Chiefs, a horrendous rate for a team looking to “establish the run”, despite those 6 touches he still posted 23 yards after contact (yes 23) and forced 4 missed tackles. Drafting a runningback top 10 as a rebuilding team is already a questionable decision, but failing to utilize that selection makes it worse.
Jack Bech:
The Raiders selected Bech 58th overall, and in his rookie season he’s logged 7 receptions for 73 yards. Bech originally was behind Dont’e Thornton for a starting role but pushed out Thornton due to his ability to create separation and stronger hands. At 6’2/215 Bech is a solidified player to play in the slot, similar to what he did at TCU, only the Raiders have played him in the slot on 9.7% of his snaps compared to a near 90% mark in college. With the rumors of trading Jakobi Meyers rising, there’s the likely assumption that Bech will see more targets, snaps, and hopefully production. The Raiders passing offense is dead and exclusively going through Meyers and Tucker but Bech needs to be more involved. The 2nd rounder is averaging 1.87 yards of separation, which is 27th among all NFL WRs (though not fully qualified due to low routes run) and he flashes the ability to get open on film. For an offense that is stagnant and struggling to find explosive plays, working into the short game and leaning on YAC should be the priority, luckily Bech excelled at both in college.
Darien Porter:
Darien Porter was the Raiders starting CB in training camp, then in preseason, and then he was benched for Kyu Blu Kelly. Pete Carroll loves Kelly, and Kelly has struggled immensely in the first 7 games allowing over 400 yards, 4 touchdowns, and a 127.2 QBR in coverage. The 6’4/205 Porter is raw and lacks experience at CB extending back to college but in his 112 snaps, Porter has been targeted just three times allowing a reception for 9 yards and a PBU. In his one start vs the Colts, Porter held opposing receivers to an average separation of 1.17 yards which was the 17th best in a game for a CB this season. The Raiders pass defense is a mess, they can’t get off the field on third down and are allowing the fourth most explosive plays this season. Darien Porter is a project a cornerback, but CB isn’t a position where you learn from sitting on the bench. The rookie has flashed his potential and deserves to be on the field getting snaps when he’s likely your future at the position.
Caleb Rogers:
I will keep Rogers brief, Rogers is a prototypical developmental pick and right now I do not see a way he can get on the field. Rogers is transitioning from tackle to guard full time and that’s an adjustment in itself, the rookie from Texas Tech has been on the field for 0 offensive snaps and a handful on special teams. Rogers has athletic traits that showcase an ability to translate to a potential starter, and he could make the change in his second season but at the moment it’s hard to see a path for him. Meredith seems entrenched at center, despite struggling and it not being his natural position. If you want to rotate Meredith, the obvious sense would be with Jackson Powers-Johnson who is stuck playing guard despite also not being his natural position. However, the Raiders seem to have no intention at moving Powers-Johnson to center and seemingly don’t even want him starting with Alex Cappa getting every chance possible to compete. Dylan Parham is a pending free agent and at the moment the best on the interior, so he’s likely staying put in hopes of elevating his value for a comp pick in 2027.
Charles Grant:
Originally, I was fine with Charles Grant not playing after all he’s an FCS tackle making the jump to the NFL which does take time. Grant had athletic traits and elite film that made him a candidate to sit for a year and develop into a foundational player on the offensive line then Kolton Miller got hurt. Miller and Glaze were the bookends of the offensive line and it felt that the Raiders would roll with them and have Stone Forsythe (more later) start for a couple games if needed here and there. The Raiders know what they have with Forsythe, the former Seahawks tackle has been one of the worst starting tackles in the NFL in recent years though he’s shown some decent film this year especially vs the Chiefs. DJ Glaze is having an up and down season at RT but the 23 year old has flashed enough that you want to continue building around him and finding a role for him be that at right tackle for the future. Grant is a true left tackle, having only spent time there and should be getting the NFL reps. Similar to cornerback, you learn on the offensive line through real time reps, and siting on the bench does Grant no good. The rookie LT has a chance to show the Raiders front office what he can do right now and how that can translate to the future, if Grant struggles maybe a consideration is made to move him to guard and if he flashes then you find a way for him to be your everyday starting RT next season if he can beat out Glaze. Letting Glaze get no playtime over a veteran swing tackle limits his development and puts him behind the development track he should be at.
Dont’e Thornton:
Thornton is similar to Bech, the 4th rounder got the chance to start and struggled to create separation and win the contested catch. The 6’5 WR has game breaking athletic traits but logged just 5 receptions for 94 yards on 19 targets (though he had 3/41 called back vs KC). Thornton has also posted 2 drops and only averaged 1.16 yds/separation a massive concern. The 4th rounder needs to continue to refine his route running and route tree, something that’s a struggle coming from Tennessee’s offense which is the opposite of NFL friendly. With the projected trading of Jakobi Meyers, Thornton is going to see more playtime and it will be up to him to develop the necessary qualities to get open more consistently rather than relying on his frame and athletic traits. Thornton’s play time will increase naturally, though he’s going to have a tough go in year one.
Tonka Hemingway & JJ Pegues:
The 4th round selection, Hemingway has logged just 1 pressure in his 25 snaps though he’s 2nd among all rookie DL with a 15.8% win rate (though not qualified due to his 15 PRSH snaps). In addition, Hemingway has posted 2 tackles and 2 stops. The 6’3/290 interior lineman is playing primarily a 5T for the Raiders which is similar to his time with South Carolina. The Raiders likely drafted Hemingway with the intention to develop him during his limited snaps. Hemingway has obviously seen a little resistance with the breakout of Jonah Laulu and the team adding Thomas Booker who has played well with Adam Butler in the fold as well. Hemingway has the size and versatility to rotate on the Raiders DL, something they are fond of. The 24 year old rookie has shown flashes of being a capable defensive tackle with disruptive pass rush ability through preseason and his limited snaps, and Las Vegas needs to get him playtime.
Pegues is semi-similar to Hemingway though he’s likely not to see snaps till the end of the season or next year. Pegues has added weight and is up to 325 pounds from the 305 he was to start the season, indicating he’s likely moving to NT which makes sense given his athletic flaws and strength. Through 27 snaps, Hemingway has a tackle for loss and 3 stops. Similar to Hemingway, Pegues has the ability to line up at 3T if needed though is best as a 1 or 0 tech which the Raiders seem to prefer Leki Fotu at. Fotu likely isn’t in your future plans, and with Pegues having shown flashes through preseason as well as his time here in an entirely new position the staff needs to see what he can do at that position going forward.
Cody Lindenberg:
Skipping to Lindenberg, there’s not much of a path to playtime for him though snaps are deserving. The former Minnesota Gopher made the camp as a 7th round selection and has been limited to just special teams where he’s posted 4 tackles in 126 snaps. The 6’3/240 ILB is relatively pro ready and limited by a lack of ceiling and average athleticism he can provide somewhat of a boost to the second level while giving another fresh body to rotate in. Currently Devin White and Elandon Roberts lead the Raiders linebackers in snaps, with both struggling in coverage and White leading the team and NFL in missed tackles. Alongside them has been Jamal Adams who has no doubt been the Raiders second best defender and should be an everydown player with the Raiders consistent efforts to run three linebacker sets. In addition, Adams has the ability to play the nickel allowing Jeremy Chinn to rotate more towards a conventional safety role even if not his strong suit. Tommy Eichenberg has rotated in for 10 snaps and Lindenberg should also see playtime. White is struggling and fairly a liability, Elandon Roberts is best vs the run and should be limited to short yardage and run downs with Adams taking majority of the every down reps. For the Raiders, seeing Lindenberg as a rotational player shows what he can do other than special teams and just allows for more rotation and fresh players at a very exhaustive position.
