When the Las Vegas Raiders get back together for training camp at the end of July, some players will feel the heat a little more than others. Veterans will compete to keep their jobs or even roster spots this summer.
Vegas will have several roles up for grabs on the defensive side of the ball. While we should expect a deep rotation across the defensive line, the Raiders need starters to emerge at linebacker, cornerback, and safety.
Among the players at those respective positions, two of them landed on the short list of Raiders under the most pressure heading into camp. In addition, one offensive player may have to fend off two teammates to retain his starting spot.
Who’s in need of an impressive run from July to September with the risk of slipping down a spot or two on the depth chart? Here are three names to monitor in about a month.
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Among the three Raiders under the microscope, Divine Deablo has the most on his plate.
Vegas didn’t make any splashy moves this offseason to improve its linebacker unit. Sure, the front office signed Robert Spillane and drafted Amari Burney, but the former has started in just 16 out of 52 career games and the latter comes into the league as a sixth-round pick.
Barring a notable trade or a veteran acquisition, perhaps former New England Patriot Kyle Van Noy, Deablo projects as the clear-cut lead starter at linebacker, which became evident when he wore the green dot on his helmet during spring practices.
Between mandatory minicamp sessions, head coach Josh McDaniels talked about Deablo’s expanded role.
“We’ve given him a lot of responsibility. He’s wearing the green dot in practice, which is obviously a role that young players, once they have that on their shoulders, now they’re responsible for more than just their job. They have to communicate to everyone else. They have to be alert and aware of situational football because they’re essentially the quarterback of the defense once you have that responsibility.”
Regardless of Deablo’s development (or lack thereof) through September, the Raiders should add another linebacker. For now, they need the third-year pro to fill a big role because the team hasn’t prioritized the addition of an established starter.
Deablo may benefit from some continuity. This season, he’ll play in the same defensive scheme for the first time in his pro career.
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At the beginning of the 2022 season, Jermaine Eluemunor split snaps at right tackle with then-rookie Thayer Munford Jr. Eventually, the experienced veteran took over the position full-time and held up well in pass protection, allowing just three sacks—one after Week 3, per Pro Football Focus.
On one hand, Eluemunor opened up running lanes and kept his quarterbacks out of harm’s way, but he also led Vegas’ offensive line group in penalties (10) with double the number of infractions compared to left tackle Kolton Miller and Dylan Parham, who tied for second on the team.
Eluemunor understands what he must work on heading into the 2023 season:
That being said, the Raiders signed Eluemunor to a one-year, $3 million contract, which indicates he’s not a lock to hold on to his starting role. On top of that, NBC Sports’ Peter King reported that team brass listed right tackle Paris Johnson Jr. as one of its top-four draft targets. The Arizona Cardinals traded up one spot ahead of the Raiders to select the Ohio State tackle.
Eluemunor may not dwell on King’s report about the Raiders’ plan to replace him, but he can use the rumor for added motivation going forward.
Last month, Pro Football Focus listed Miller and Eluemunor as one of its top offensive tackle duos, but the Raiders may not be quite sold on the pair (particularly the latter) in the long term:
The Athletic’s Vic Tafur noted that Munford and Brandon Parker could challenge Eluemunor for the lead position.
“Munford and Parker could push Eluemunor for the starting job at right tackle. And if Eluemunor loses out, he could replace Bars at right guard. The competition should carry on through training camp.”
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Like Deablo, Tre’von Moehrig will play in the same defensive system in consecutive seasons for the first time in his career.
As a rookie, Moehrig showed flashes in former defensive coordinator Gus Bradley’s Cover 3-heavy scheme but let a few interceptions slip through his fingers. Last year, under Patrick Graham, Moehrig outright struggled in coverage, allowing four touchdowns and a 129.7 passer rating.
Moehrig hasn’t talked about the changes in play-calling. Instead, he told reporters about his increased focus on film study.
“Being able to turn on that film and pinpoint some stuff that [I] didn’t know last year or the year before, it was a big deal. So, definitely watching more film.”
In March, the Raiders signed Marcus Epps and selected Chris Smith II in the fifth round of the draft. Keep in mind that Epps started in all 17 games with the Philadelphia Eagles last season, and the team moved up for Smith on Day 3.
Moehrig could slip in the pecking order if Epps or Smith outperform him this summer.
The Raiders could re-sign Duron Harmon if they become dissatisfied with the collective safety group. Also, keep an eye on free agent John Johnson, who can fill the safety-slot cornerback role in Graham’s scheme.
Maurice Moton covers the Raiders for Sportsnaut. You can follow him on Twitter at @MoeMoton.