The Las Vegas Raiders were happy with their draft, but not everyone on the team will be pleased going forward.
The Las Vegas Raiders just had what’s been dubbed a great draft, but not everyone on the team is thrilled about it. Multiple players will lose their job as a result and Sam Warren of the Athletic did a post-draft rundown on who could get the axe as the Raiders continue their rebuild.
Jordan Meredith G
Meredith lost his starting spot at center last year due to injury, and he won’t be getting it back any time soon. The Raiders signed Tyler Linderbaum to lead the line going forward, so he’s out there.
Meredith is versatile enough to play up and down the line, but things aren’t breaking in his favor right now. The Raiders are still invested in Jackson Powers-Johnson inside, according to Warren, and they added guard Spencer Burford, who played for coach Klint Kubiak in San Francisco and provides some of the same kind of versatility.
The Raiders also drafted Trey Zuhn III, who can also play in all five spots up front, and the return of third-round pick Caleb Rogers from injury could push Meredith off the roster when final cuts happen.
Aiden O’Connell QB
O’Connell’s future as a Raider has been fading for a while, and it gets worse with the arrival of new quarterback Fernando Mendoza after Las Vegas made him the top overall pick in the draft. O’Connell had a chance to become the veteran bridge quarterback before Kirk Cousins was signed, but the Raiders could also trade him to a team with a weaker QB depth chart.
The Raiders Secondary
Other than cornerback Eric Stokes, who was re-signed as a free agent, all of the Raiders’ defensive backs could be job hunting when roster cuts start. Treydan Stukes will have a spot somewhere in the back end, probably at safety, but he’s also versatile enough to play slot corner as well.
The Raiders also drafted cornerback Jermod McCoy, but his situation is murkier. So far it doesn’t look like McCoy will need surgery for the knee issue that caused him to tumble down the draft board to the fourth round, and if he’s out last year’s incumbent, Darien Porter, could keep his job.
Don’t bet on it, though. Spytek has some harsh words for the guys in the back, saying the safety play in particular was “something we’ve got to attack.” The Raiders also drafted safety Dalton Johnson and cornerback Hezekiah Masses on Day 3, so the competition in the secondary will be fierce. All of the players who struggled last year just got put on notice, and changes are definitely coming.