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Raiders Mailbag: Adding depth to the roster as the offseason program ramps up

May 08, 2024 at 02:05 PM

Levi Edwards

Digital Team Reporter

Ed Helinski from New York asks:

"In your estimation, what's left for the Raiders to add to the roster prior to training camp? Any glaring holes that need to be filled?"

Following the draft, the Raiders have already added some pieces to add competition in the wide receiver room and the offensive line.

The latest two signings are receivers Michael Gallup and Jalen Guyton, who both found production with their former teams. Gallup played for the Dallas Cowboys for six seasons, totaling 266 catches and 21 touchdowns in his career. Guyton began his career with the Chargers in 2019, spending five seasons there and recording nearly 1,000 receiving yards and 60 catches between the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

The Raiders reportedly plan to sign former Saints' first-round pick Andrus Peat, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. Peat started 102 games with three Pro Bowl selections in his time with New Orleans. He would provide a veteran presence for an offensive line room that includes drafted rookies DJ Glaze and Jackson Powers-Johnson.

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Edward Abram from California asks:

"Do the Raiders have a connection to HCBU's and are they interested in signing some of the UDFA stars from a HBCU?"

The Raiders' stitching as a franchise is tied with some of the greatest football players to come from Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Late Owner Al Davis proudly displayed a commitment to diversity and was once quoted as saying, "I wanted the Raiders to stand for equal opportunity and opportunity for all." Seven players in the Black College Football Hall of Fame have played for the Raiders, and five of them were being drafted or signed as UDFAs by the team. Art Shell from Maryland Eastern Shore and Willie Brown from Grambling State also have busts in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Tennessee State's Eldridge Dickey was the first African-American quarterback to be drafted in the first round in professional football history.

The last HBCU prospect selected by the Raiders was defensive end Quinton Bell from Prairie View A&M in 2019. With the history tied between the Silver and Black and these prestigious schools, more will follow in due time. Great question, Edward!

Chris Sandell said:

"Dylan Laube is going to tear it up!"

After watching Dylan Laube's collegiate tape, Raider Nation has every right to be fired up about the sixth-rounder.

The rookie running back led the nation in all-purpose yards within the FCS football ranks his junior and senior season at New Hampshire. The Raiders got a good look on Laube at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, and the NFL Combine, where he ran a 4.54 40-yard dash with 23 reps on bench press. Tom Telesco compared Laube's skillset to that of Danny Woodhead, who played four seasons with the Chargers. Assistant general manager Champ Kelly is also high on the running back, believing he has a chance to earn a role for himself early.

"He's a fun player to watch because of his versatility," Kelly said. "You watch him create not just as a running back but also as a receiver out of the backfield. ... When you get to the latter parts of the draft, you're looking for players that can find their way on the active gameday roster, and the way you do that is by playing in multiple roles and also having fourth-down value."

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Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Marquan McCall (52) at a workout during phase two of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.