The Las Vegas Raiders are rebuilding their roster, and these are the undrafted free agents who could make the cut.
The Las Vegas Raiders signed over a dozen undrafted free agents after the draft, and given the state of the roster there are opportunities for many of them. Ray Aspuria of Silver and Black Pride reviewed the ones who have the best shot at making it, and here are the names he chose.
Cian Slone, DE, North Carolina State
Slone comes to camp as one of those energy players that NFL teams tend to love, so he’s got an edge right there. He’s 6’3” but just 239 pounds, so he’s undersized for a defensive end, but his relentlessness has helped him be successful at NC State and with Utah State prior to that.
Slone has the explosiveness necessary to be an effective pass rusher, but he’ll obviously need to hone his technique at the next level. In addition to his high motor, Slone doesn’t take plays off, according to Aspuria, and he obviously has the athletic chops to be a warrior on special teams. New special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis will need players like Slone until they figure out how to put together their new edge rushers.
Chase Roberts, WR, BYU
The perception around the NFL is that the Raiders are weak at receiver as currently constituted, with Tre Tucker, Jack Bech and Jalen Nailor representing the top three options right now. The offense was chaos last year, so everyone’s getting a fresh look from a coaching staff that needs a possession receiver as well as a top-end target who can make plays.
Roberts has a legitimate shot given the flaws of several of the existing receivers. He’s 6’4”, 210 pounds, and quarterback Fernando Mendoza will need to big target to employ the kinds of back-shoulder throws that were his biggest strength last season at Indiana. Roberts has the size and hands to be a big, trusty X receiver, according to Aspuria, so that would be his role if he makes it.
He also has the size to be a gunner on special teams, so that option is on the table as well. The roster spot is there to be taken if Roberts can step up in either role.
Tyler Duzansky, Long Snapper, Penn State
You don’t often think of long snapper as an acute need, but if you watched the Raiders’ special teams last season, you know that it is. The Raiders punted on Jacob Bobenmoyer, who was a favorite of former special teams coach Tom McMahon, and DeCamillis needs a reliable one.
There is competition, however. Alex Wards is the other candidate, and and both Duzansky and Ward were finalists for the Patrick Mannelly Award, which is given annually to the best long snapper in college football. (Bet you didn’t know they had one of those, did you?)
Ward has 38 games of NFL experience in teh role with the Los Angeles Rams, but Duzansky played a role on coverage units during his four years at Penn State.
