Raiders Players Who Need Impressive Camp to Avoid Being Cut

The Las Vegas Raiders appear poised for a breakthrough campaign in 2022. They had a playoff roster last season and added two big-name additions in Chandler Jones and Davante Adams.

Many positions on the Las Vegas roster are already set, and fans will follow competitions along the offensive line and in the defensive front seven during training camp.

The Raiders have few legitimate holes heading into camp, but that doesn't mean there's little at stake. This is especially true on the back end of the roster, where several players will battle just to make the team.

Las Vegas will enter camp with a maximum of 90 players. 37 of those won't make the team.

Here, we'll highlight three Raiders who must shine in training camp just to make the final 53. We'll examine both why they face uphill battles to make the team and how they can be assets in 2022 if they do.

2019 fourth overall selection Clelin Ferrell is now in a predicament. He's largely been a flop since being drafted, with his 1.5 sacks of last season lower than 223 other defenders in the NFL. This was one of the reasons the Raiders have declined his fifth-year option. This will be a make-or-break season for the Clemson product, assuming he even makes the team.

Working in Ferrell's favor is the fact that Las Vegas lacks edge-rushing depth behind Zay Jones and Maxx Crosby. Las Vegas could also be willing to give Ferrell an opportunity to prove himself under new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.

The upside for Ferrell is still there, especially if he can learn to be more than just a complementary pass-rusher.

"When you have somebody as big and athletic as him, all you really try to do is get him as confident as possible so he can play as many positions as possible," defensive line coach Frank Okam said last month, per Adam Hill of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

If Ferrell can latch onto multiple roles, he can be an integral depth player in 2022. If he can't, however, the Raiders may look to bring in someone who can—let's not forget that 31 other teams will be cutting down on August 30.

Ferrell's roster spot isn't safe, and if he doesn't adapt quickly and show improvement in camp, Las Vegas could be willing to waive him in the hopes that another team claims Ferrell and his $4.8 million base salary.

Undrafted free agents always face long odds to make a regular-season roster as a rookie. However, Utah's Cole Fotheringham has a legitimate shot because of his prowess as an in-line blocker.

The 6'4", 243-pound Fotheringham had only 526 receiving yards and three touchdowns in four seasons with the Utes, but he was an asset in the ground game as a move tight end who can put the hammer on would-be tacklers.

With head coach Josh McDaniels likely looking to bring some elements of a physical rushing attack over from the New England Patriots, Fotheringham could carve out a valuable role.

However, the rookie will really have to shine in camp to land on the roster instead of on the practice squad or cut entirely. Las Vegas has a tremendous top tight-end duo in Darren Waller and Foster Moreau.

Waller is a Pro Bowler when healthy. Moreau finished 2021 with 30 catches, 373 yards and three touchdowns last season.

The Raiders also brought in Jacob Hollister this offseason, and Hollister has experience with McDaniels, having played in New England in 2017 and 2018. Las Vegas also has Jesper Horsted and Nick Bowers on the roster.

Fotheringham can make the final 53, but to do so, he'll have to show that his upside as a blocker and occasional pass-catcher is simply too great to ignore.

Running back Ameer Abdullah entered the league as a second-round pick of the Detroit Lions in 2015. He flashed some potential early in his career, but the 29-year-old has never emerged as a bell-cow back.

The Raiders are Abdullah's third team in roughly a year, and he still faces a challenge just to make the team.

Josh Jacobs and Kenyan Drake— the latter once fully healthy from the broken ankle he suffered last season—will again top the running-back chart. Las Vegas also brought in Brandon Bolden and rookie fourth-round pick Zamir White this offseason.

Bolden brings special-teams value and has experience with head coach Josh McDaniels from their time together in New England. Las Vegas is highly unlikely to dump a fourth-round pick before he ever gets a chance to prove himself.

Seventh-round pick Brittain Brown is also in the equation.

While McDaniels does have a history of utilizing multiple backs, Abdullah will need to lean on his receiving ability to make the roster. A capable receiving back who had 38 receptions last season, Abdullah can carve out a valuable role as a pass-catcher.

However, he'll have to do more than just catch passes in camp to earn that role. To make the final 53, Abdullah will have to stand out as a playmaker who can do things that Bolden, Brown and White simply can't.

*Contract information via Spotrac.