Rounding Up Raiders' Rumors, Buzz Surrounding 2024 Training Camp
The players have arrived, the pads are on and things are starting to heat up for the Las Vegas Raiders as they arrive at training camp.
There is a lot of optimism after a strong finish to the season under Antonio Pierce in 2023. Now it's Pierce's first real chance to show that he can carry that momentum into 2024 and turn the franchise around.
The Raiders are at the Jack Hammett Sports Complex in Costa Mesa, California with some things to figure out before the season gets underway. The biggest thing to watch for is the quarterback battle between Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew but there are other storylines worth tracking as well.
Here, we'll take a look at the latest rumors and buzz circulating about the team as training camp gets underway.
Thayer Munford Drawing Tough Test During Practices
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Iron sharpens iron and competition can bring out the best in a player. The Raiders will find out if some intense competition is going to speed up the development of right tackle Thayer Munford.
Thayer Munford is about to have a whole lot of competition in camp. Head coach Antonio Pierce told reporters that he will be matching up Crosby with Munford and doesn't plan on having his star defensive lineman hold back.
"Munford can't have a bad day. Can't have a bad rep. Because I'm not slowing Maxx Crosby down. Not doing it," Pierce told media. "I told our staff, I'm not doing it. Munford's going to see that in real life when we go against these other defensive ends in the National Football League. So, to get those repetitions each and every day, give or take 50 or 60 snaps per practice. Hopefully that speeds up the development and growth to make us a better team."
The Raiders are relying on Munford to take a leap in Year 3. He started 10 games last season and finished with a PFF grade of 74.1 which was 25th among all qualified tackles. With Jermaine Eluemunot leaving in free agency the Raiders don't have a real back up plan. Munford has to be one of the best linemen they have.
Going against Crosby will be a good way to make sure he gets to where he needs to be. Crosby is one of the premier talents on the defensive line in the league right now. He had 14.5 sacks and earned his third consectuive Pro Bowl nod last season.
Quarterback Battle Could Come Down to Preseason Games
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The quarterback battle between incumbent Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew is likely to be a daily topic of conversation in the Raiders discourse. With the media attention on training camp these days, every throw is going to be under the microscope.
The reality is that camp practices might not have as much to do with who wins the job.
Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed of The Athletic noted the difference between O'Connell and Minshew is likely to manifest itself in actual games.
"It will be hard for Minshew to beat out O'Connell at training camp because the structure of practice favors the quarterback who goes through the reads and delivers the ball more than the one who is better when the play breaks down and he has to improvise. So the battle should come down to the three preseason games, and there is no guarantee the winner will still be the starter in October or November."
This is a great observation by the pair of plugged-in beat writers. O'Connell wins with his ability to read defenses and deliver the ball on time. Minshew's game is a bit more chaotic and more reliant on his athleticism.
Much of an NFL practice is delivering the ball in a relatively controlled environment. O'Connell should shine in that context. However, his lack of athleticism makes it difficult for him to manage the pocket and escape pressure.
That's where Minshew has a big advantage. As Tafur and Reed note, this is a competition that could go beyond the preseason if things don't go the Raiders' way to start the season.
Pair of Rookie Cornerbacks Considered "Dark Horses" to Watch
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Every year there are surprising rookies who come in and set themselves apart in training camp. Padded practices can bring out the competition and some draftees show that evaluations on prospects can be hard.
The Raiders potentially have two rookies who could come in and earn surprisingly important roles in training camp.
Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed of The Athletic highlighted fourth-round pick Decamerion Richardson and seventh-round pick M.J. Devonshire as a "couple of potential dark horses to watch". The beat writers were writing a section on rookies who could compete for playing time.
They named Jackson Powers-Johnson and Brock Bowers as the two rookies who could be Day 1 starters. That makes sense. They were two of the most highly rated players on our big board regardless of position.
Richardson (No. 171 overall) and Devonshire (unranked) were not nearly as high on the board. However, the Raiders have questions at cornerback so it wouldn't be surprising to see an unheralded rookie win a role.
Richardson is a particularly interest prospect given his 6'2", 188 pound frame and 4.34 speed. Long and fast are two physical attributes that go a long way in helping a corner in the NFL.
Devonshire is built more like a slot option at 5'11", 190 pounds, but the Raiders don't have many proven options outside of Nate Hobbs on the inside so there's an opportunity for him to at least get a roster spot.
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