Roster Holes Raiders Must Fill Before Training Camp

The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to be legitimate contenders in the AFC West this season. While the entire division has gotten better, the Raiders have kept pace by bringing in star pass-rusher Chandler Jones and All-Pro receiver Davante Adams.

As long as the roster meshes quickly under new head coach Josh McDaniels, Las Vegas will be in the playoff mix come December. This is a team that navigated multiple obstacles in 2021 and still claimed a wild-card berth.

However, the Raiders do have a few holes that need to be settled before the start of the regular season. With $20.2 million in cap space remaining, Las Vegas can continue making additions if it chooses to do so.

Where should the additions come? That's what we'll examine here. We'll dive into position-specific holes that remain on the roster, why they could be problematic in 2022 and what options Las Vegas could pursue.

Let's dive in.

It's no revelation to Raiders fans that the offensive line is an area of concern. Last season, the Raiders line surrendered 40 sacks and paved the way for a rushing attack that ranked 27th in the league. Heading into camp, there are serious questions on the right side.

2021 first-round pick Alex Leatherwood was especially disappointing. The former Alabama tackle was moved to guard, where he was responsible for 14 penalties and eight sacks allowed in 2021, according to Pro Football Focus. It's looking like he'll be back at right tackle in 2022.

"[Leatherwood] spent a lot of time back at right tackle this offseason. He was drafted to be a tackle and, as coach Josh McDaniels said, Leatherwood would be given every opportunity to win the gig back," ESPN's Paul Gutierrez wrote.

It would be wise for Las Vegas to add a veteran insurance policy at tackle, given Leatherwood's 2021 struggles. Brandon Parker, who replaced Leatherwood at right tackle, was responsible for eight sacks allowed and nine penalties, per PFF.

Leatherwood's potential move back to tackle also creates a question at right guard, as Denzelle Good is coming off a torn ACL and rookie third-round pick Dylan Parham is unproved.

Fortunately, Las Vegas has the cap space to examine free agents like tackle Bryan Bulaga and guard Trey Hopkins before the start of camp. The Raiders should also be keeping a close eye on linemen who could be cap casualties on cutdown day.

The addition of Jones opposite Maxx Crosby gives Las Vegas a ferocious pass-rushing duo. However, the Raiders' defensive interior is far less impressive.

Last year, the Raiders defense ranked 19th in rushing yards allowed. Las Vegas then parted with defensive tackles Gerald McCoy, Darius Philon and Quinton Jefferson—though McCoy and Philon both remain unsigned.

If the Raiders hope to field a borderline elite defense in 2022, they need to slow the run and generate pressure on the interior. Jones and Crosby can be great, but if opponents can regularly rush up the middle and double-team on the edge, the tandem won't be as effective as it needs to be.

A group led by Johnathan Hankins, Vernon Butler, Kyle Peko and rookie Neil Farrell Jr. doesn't inspire a ton of confidence in that regard.

The good news here is that several quality defensive tackles are still available. These include five-time Pro Bowler Ndamukong Suh—though Josina Anderson of CBS Sports HQ reported last month that the Raiders were not "currently in pursuit."

Other free-agent defensive tackles include Danny Shelton—who played under defensive coordinator Patrick Graham last season—Brandon Williams and Sheldon Richardson.

On the back end of the Raiders defense, safety is an area Las Vegas should address. Tre'von Moehrig showed promise as a rookie last season, but his running-mate, Johnathan Abram, was largely a liability.

Abram did rack up 116 tackles but was responsible for 16 missed tackles while allowing an opposing passer rating of 112.0 in coverage, according to Pro Football Reference. Unsurprisingly, the Raiders declined Abram's fifth-year option.

While Las Vegas did add a versatile backup in Duron Harmon, they should continue seeking safety help. Landon Collins, another former New York Giant with experience under Graham, headlines a free-agent pool that also includes Tashaun Gipson and Deshazor Everett.

Las Vegas could also consider making a play for Cincinnati Bengals safety Jessie Bates III. The Bengals gave Bates the franchise tag this offseason, but they may be forced to consider a trade.

NFL Network's Mike Garafolo doesn't see Bates reporting to training camp without an extension and also doesn't see Cincinnati striking a long-term deal before the July 15 deadline.

One way or another, Las Vegas needs to bolster its defense on the back end. If teams regularly pick on Abram as they did in 2021—he was thrown at 72 times and allowed a 79.2 percent completion rate, per Pro Football Reference—stopping the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert will be a problem.

Cap information via Spotrac.