This week, all eyes will be on prospects at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. This year, the Las Vegas Raiders have major question marks at quarterback, along their offensive line and they may add a cornerback to shore up the secondary.
Of course, the Raiders’ roster needs could change after free agency, which is why general manager Tom Telesco cannot narrow his vision to positions of need at the moment.
Nonetheless, Las Vegas will need to revamp its quarterback room with Jimmy Garoppolo likely on the way out with a two-game suspension and Brian Hoyer turning 39 years old in October.
Also, keep in mind that the team has three offensive linemen — Andre James, Greg Van Roten and Jermaine Eluemunor — set to test free agency. We should see change within that position group this offseason.
Lastly, Amik Robertson has an expiring contract, and fellow cornerback Jakorian Bennett isn’t a bonafide starter after a rough rookie campaign.
Based on the Raiders’ current roster needs, let’s take a look at potential draft targets to keep tabs on during the combine. These guys could see their draft stock rise after a strong showcase in Indianapolis.
Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
Taliese Fuaga may be the perfect schematic fit for Luke Getsy’s offense. Keep in mind that the Raiders hired former San Francisco 49ers assistant offensive line coach James Cregg, which may be an indicator that we’ll see a lot of outside zone runs in Las Vegas with some of Kyle Shanahan’s schematic influence on the ground attack.
Fuaga is one of the best run-blocking offensive linemen in the 2024 class, and he played in a zone-heavy system at Oregon State.
At 6-foot-6, 334 pounds, Fuaga will come into the NFL with a pro-ready frame that may allow him to see snaps at guard, though he started for two terms at right tackle with the Beavers.
At the Combine, spectators should pay attention to Fuaga’s lateral foot movement because that’s something he needs to work on during his transition to the pro level. With that said, Fuaga’s upper-body strength and hand usage will allow him to battle in the trenches with defenders of all types.
If the Raiders have Fuaga’s name high on their draft board, they shouldn’t overthink his position fit. If he struggles at right tackle, try him out at guard. Typically, offensive linemen play different positions during training camp anyway, so the coaching staff can experiment to find the best spot for him.
Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
At 6-7, 328 pounds, Tyler Guyton has a lean build, but he held his own in one-on-one situations during Senior Bowl week.
Usually, with tall, lean offensive tackles, teams focus on pad level and ability to remain grounded against powerful edge-rushers who attempt to bull rush their way to the quarterback. Guyton quelled some of those concerns on the first day of Senior Bowl practices.
If Getsy wants an athletic tackle who can move out in space with a quick get-off at the line scrimmage to take on defenders, Guyton fits the bill.
Guyton transitioned from an inexperienced tight end at TCU to a starting offensive tackle (for two terms) at Oklahoma, so he has a lot more room to growth at the position than most of the other top tackles in this year’s class.
In all likelihood, Guyton will test well with impressive results at the Combine. He could be in play as a top-15 pick, which is in range for the Raiders at No. 13 if they don’t take a quarterback with their first selection.
Khyree Jackson, CB, Oregon
Some mock draft analysts project the Raiders will take a cornerback with the No. 13 overall pick. Though the club has a need at that position, one can argue that Las Vegas can circle back to the cornerback group in the middle rounds and find a starting-caliber player after addressing bigger needs (quarterback and the offensive line) in the first couple of rounds.
If general manager Tom Telesco intends to pass on cornerbacks in the first round, he should keep an eye on Khyree Jackson.
Jackson started his collegiate run at Fort Scott Community College in Maryland, then transferred to Alabama, but he didn’t become a starter until another move to Oregon. Because Jackson bounced around and only started for one full collegiate term, he’s slid under the radar, but the 6-3, 195-pound cornerback could shine at the Combine.
Though Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham has a history of working with average-sized cornerbacks at 6-0 or shorter, he may be intrigued by Jackson’s athletic profile. Also, keep in mind that Graham had a bigger cornerback in James Bradberry during his time with the New York Giants.
Jackson has more length than Bradberry, and he used it this past season while recording three interceptions and seven pass breakups. At Oregon, Jackson excelled in press-man coverage with a physical nature that may appeal to Pierce and his staff.
On the pro level, Jackson may have to tone down his hand-fighting tendencies, but he’s well aware of how to position himself to get his hands on the ball.
Jackson should turn heads as he goes through the defensive back drills, and several teams may look at him as an intriguing Day 2 cornerback option after the combine.
J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
As the days go on, J.J. McCarthy seems to generate more buzz. Perhaps the media has caught wind of how highly some NFL teams think of him.
For the most part, McCarthy has the physical profile (with a little more weight) of a modern-day quarterback with functional mobility and the pocket presence to feel the pass rush and still deliver strikes downfield. Because of his experience and efficiency in a pro-style offensive system, he’s going to get the benefit of the doubt in some draft rooms.
The Raiders should pay close attention to McCarthy because he may be the most appealing quarterback option in the middle of the first round, especially if Bo Nix isn’t overly impressive at the Combine and Michael Penix Jr.’s medical records torpedo his draft stock.
Unless the Raiders trade up, most draftniks expect teams to swipe quarterbacks Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels well before Las Vegas gets on the clock with the 13th overall pick.
If the Raiders pass on quarterbacks in free agency, they could target McCarthy in the middle of the first round unless one of the top prospects at the position takes a big fall out of the top 10, or Telesco waits until the second round to take a signal-caller.
Williams and Daniels will skip participation in the passing drills, which gives second-tier quarterback prospects like McCarthy, Nix and Penix time to shine in Indianapolis. Coming off a national title victory, McCarthy can capitalize on his momentum.
Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
Two former Texas Longhorn defensive tackles could hear their names called early in this year’s draft, though the Raiders should focus on Byron Murphy II more so than T’Vondre Sweat.
At 6-4, 362 pounds, Sweat projects as a two-gap run-stuffer at the pro level while Murphy (6-1, 308) could have success as a 3-technique defensive tackle, though he lined up in different spots at Texas.
As a former running back and linebacker in his early formative years, Murphy maintained a level of athleticism that helped him make an impact as a pass-rusher on the collegiate level. Last season, he recorded 8.5 tackles for loss and five sacks.
Murphy won’t be able to win his matchups off of pure athleticism, though he did develop a pass-rushing move set, which includes an effective swim move and good use of his hands with counters. Keep that in mind as he crushes the combine circuit this week.
Perhaps the Raiders finally find a difference-maker at defensive tackle. Murphy could complement edge-rushers Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce as Tyree Wilson floats between edge-rusher and defensive tackle. With that front four, the Silver and Black could bully opposing offensive linemen at the line of scrimmage.
Maurice Moton covers the Las Vegas Raiders for Sportsnaut. You can follow him on Twitter at @MoeMoton.