These Fallers From Raiders Stock Report Must Improve

The Las Vegas Raiders had plenty of fallers in their latest stock report, and they definitely need to improve. They’re also at key positions, which makes them even more important, so let’s see who they are and what needs to happen. 

Eric Stokes, CB 

Stokes got lit up by former Raiders quarterback Geno Smith, which is about as bad as it gets given how mightily Smith has struggled to get yardage. Smith wound up giving up He gave up 81 yards and a touchdown, per NextGen Stats, and Stokes was targeted 11 times and allowed seven catches, both of which were game-high numbers. 

The cornerback is also on a three-year, $30 million deal to be a shutdown cornerback, which makes this even worse. Coach Klint Kubiak is sticking with Stokes for now, but given his tendency to not take nonsense, that’s not going to last long. He’ll be going against one of the better offenses in football on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, so it’s time to get it done. 

Ashton Jeanty, RB

The Raiders running back became the Raiders latest example of the kind of discipline Kubiak wants, as he was relegated to the role of third-down receiver for most of the Raiders’ win over the New York Jets last Sunday. 

It’s a big comedown for the No. 6 pick in last year’s draft, but in the eyes of some it was overdue. Former Jets coach Rex Ryan called Jeanty “soft as Charmin,” and he’ll be one of the most carefully watched players when he gets on the field. His situational use will also be carefully watched, and his tumble down the depth chart might not be completely over just yet. 

Qwity Paye, Edge Rusher

Paye has been the incredible vanishing free agent so far on defense,  and the results have been tough to watch. He’s failed to produce sacks as expected, and the Raiders were counting on him to take some of the heat off defensive end Maxx Crosby and anchor the pass rush. 

But that’s not all -- not by a long shot. Paye hasn’t been setting the edge well at all, and there are big running plays were he’s been missing in action. That’s as big a problem as Paye’s lack of sacks, and it’s another problem Kubiak and defensive coordinator Rob Leonard aren’t going to be willing to put up with for very much longer, especially not with the trade deadline coming up and other options available.