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Dont'e Thornton Dont'e Thornton Working with first-team unit
Wed, Jul 23, 2025, 6:47 PM
Thornton continued to get first-team reps as training camp got underway for the Raiders on Wednesday, Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Thornton saw work with the first-team during the team's mandatory minicamp in mid-June. The wide receiver continued to work with starting quarterback Geno Smith and the top unit Wednesday, joining the group whenever the offense was in 11 personnel. Thornton ran an impressive 4.30-second 40-yard dash time at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, which makes sense considering he averaged 25.4 yards per catch as a vertical threat in his final season of collegiate action with Tennessee in 2024. The wide receiver will likely have every shot to carve out a consistent role for himself with the Raiders in 2025. |
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Phillip Dorsett Phillip Dorsett Lands in Las Vegas
Tue, Jul 22, 2025, 6:58 PM
The Raiders signed Dorsett to a contract Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Analysis: Dorsett previously signed with the Raiders in March of 2023, but he was unable to break camp with the club. The veteran wideout hasn't gotten into an NFL game since that 2023 campaign, when he played in two regular-season contests with Denver and didn't catch any of his three targets. Dorsett will now have a chance to compete for a depth role in the Raiders' receiver corps, though he'll likely need to make a good impression to nab a roster spot. |
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Jakobi Meyers Jakobi Meyers Still top wideout in Vegas
Tue, Jul 22, 2025, 10:48 AM
As the Raiders' first training camp practice approaches, Meyers remains locked in as a starter in the team's wide receiver corps, Tashan Reed of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Though Meyers can also line up outside, most of his reps during OTAs came in the slot. After recording an 87-1,027-4 receiving line on a career high 129 targets over 15 regular-season games in 2024, the sure-handed pass catcher seems poised to maintain steady volume in an offense that is now helmed by veteran QB Geno Smith, who should represent an upgrade over Gardner Minshew and Aidan O'Connell. While Meyers remains entrenched as the Raiders' WR1, it's a three-man competition between Tre Tucker, Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton for slotting behind the 28-year-old. |
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Jack Bech Jack Bech Signs rookie contract with Raiders
Fri, Jul 18, 2025, 12:31 PM
Bech signed a four-year deal with the Raiders on Friday.
Analysis: Bech, who was the 58th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, has an opportunity as a rookie to step into a key role in a Raiders wideout corps that continues to be led by Jakobi Meyers and also includes returnee Tre Tucker and 2025 fourth-rounder Dont'e Thornton. It remains to be seen what sort of volume the 6-foot-1, 214-pounder out of TCU will see out of the gate with Meyers (129 targets in 2024) and TE Brock Bowers (153 targets last season) destined to be QB Geno Smith's primary passing targets, but Bech could emerge as a lineup option in deeper formats if he's able to earn consistent playing time as the 2025 regular season progresses. |
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Dont'e Thornton Dont'e Thornton Working with starters
Tue, Jun 17, 2025, 8:42 PM
Thornton was working with the Raiders' starters during Monday's mandatory minicamp practice, Jonathan Williams of Sports Illustrated reports.
Analysis: Thornton was selected in the fourth round of this year's draft after catching 26 passes for 661 yards and six touchdowns during his final year at Tennessee, and he already appears to be carving out a role for himself in Las Vegas' offense. As the team currently lacks proven talent at the position behind Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker, Thornton could end up serving as one of the team's top wideouts early on in his rookie season. |
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Zakhari Franklin Zakhari Franklin Brought in by Las Vegas
Fri, May 9, 2025, 1:30 PM
Franklin signed with the Raiders as an undrafted free agent Friday.
Analysis: Franklin played for three different schools throughout his six-year collegiate career, spending the first four seasons at UTSA before transferring to Ole Miss in 2023 and finishing his career at Illinois in 2024. The 6-foot-1 wideout's best season came at UTSA in 2022, catching 94 passes for 1,136 yards and 15 touchdowns across 14 games. With much of the Raiders' wide receiver corps still unproven, Franklin will likely compete for a depth spot on the active roster or practice squad during offseason activities. |
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Collin Johnson Collin Johnson Gets chance with Raiders
Thu, May 1, 2025, 12:47 PM
Las Vegas signed Johnson to a contract Thursday.
Analysis: Johnson appeared in nine regular-season games with the Bears in 2024, ending the year as the team's No. 4 wide receiver, but he was targeted just twice over that stretch. The 2020 fifth-round pick, who has also logged action with the Jaguars and Giants, now faces an opportunity to carve out a depth role with the Raiders. |
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Sincere McCormick Sincere McCormick In mix for depth role behind rookie
Mon, Apr 28, 2025, 2:20 PM
McCormick is expected to compete for a depth role behind rookie sixth overall pick Ashton Jeanty, Tashan Reed of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: McCormick has presumably recovered from the ankle injury that landed him on injured reserve to finish the 2024 season. Prior to getting hurt, McCormick filled in capably as a starter, rushing for 64 yards in Week 13 and 78 yards in Week 14. The 24-year-old running back likely will slide down a couple pegs on the depth chart following the additions of Jeanty in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft and veteran Raheem Mostert in free agency. McCormick may be competing for a roster spot with Zamir White, who was sidelined by a quadriceps injury to finish the 2024 season. |
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Zamir White Zamir White In mix behind star rookie
Mon, Apr 28, 2025, 1:32 PM
White is expected to compete for a depth role behind rookie sixth overall pick Ashton Jeanty, Tashan Reed of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Jeanty's expected to take on a workhorse role out of the gate, and free-agent signing Raheem Mostert is better suited to playing in pass-catching situations than White, who has just 21 catches through three NFL seasons. White has presumably recovered from the quadriceps injury that sidelined him after Week 11 in 2024, but he's unlikely to meaningfully challenge Jeanty for early-down work considering White averaged just 2.8 yards per carry in 2024. Sincere McCormick (ankle), Dylan Laube and Chris Collier also will compete for roles in Vegas' backfield. |
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Raheem Mostert Raheem Mostert Falls behind Jeanty
Mon, Apr 28, 2025, 11:56 AM
Mostert will be joined by No. 6 overall pick Ashton Jeanty in a new-look Raiders backfield.
Analysis: The Raiders never figured to settle for the 33-year-old Mostert as their lead back, unchallenged, but there was at least some chance he'd compete to be 1A in a committee. He instead figures to be purely a backup, behind one of the best RB prospects in recent memory. The good news for Mostert is weak competition for backup roles, with the Raiders otherwise rostering Zamir White (quadriceps), Sincere McCormick (ankle), Dylan Laube and Chris Collier. |
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Geno Smith Geno Smith Agrees to extension
Thu, Apr 3, 2025, 2:09 PM
The Raiders and Smith agreed to a two-year extension Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Upon getting dealt from Seattle to Las Vegas on March 7, Smith still had one year remaining on his existing contract, but the Raiders have made a new commitment to the quarterback, with Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reporting the deal is worth $85.5 million, with $66.5 million guaranteed. The 34-year-old thus can be expected to be a Raider beyond the 2025 campaign after averaging 249.5 yards per game and compiling a 71:35 TD:INT over 49 starts the previous three seasons. |
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Ian Thomas Ian Thomas Lands in Las Vegas
Tue, Mar 25, 2025, 12:03 PM
The Raiders signed Thomas (calf) to a contract Tuesday.
Analysis: Thomas spent the first seven seasons of his NFL career in Carolina, and he now bolsters a Raiders tight end corps led by 2024 rookie phenom Brock Bowers and trade candidate Michael Mayer. Thomas is capable of contributing in a depth role as both a blocker and pass catcher, so his presence could make it easier for the team to move on from Mayer. He appeared in five games (two starts) with the Panthers in 2024 before landing on IR with a calf injury, but Thomas figures to be ready to go for the start of offseason activities. |
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Aidan O'Connell Aidan O'Connell Stuck in backup role again
Thu, Mar 13, 2025, 1:52 PM
The Raiders recently traded for Geno Smith, leaving O'Connell as the likely No. 2 quarterback for 2025.
Analysis: O'Connell got a chance to compete for the starting job last summer, losing out to Gardner Minshew (collarbone) but then taking over mid-season. Minshew ended up taking the job back after O'Connell suffered a thumb fracture, with things later swinging back to the latter after the former broke his collarbone. The team released Minshew on Wednesday, leaving O'Connell in the clear for the second spot on the depth chart, albeit presumably without any chance to push Smith for the starting role. |
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Raheem Mostert Raheem Mostert Links up with Las Vegas
Thu, Mar 13, 2025, 12:30 PM
Mostert is signing a one-year contract with the Raiders, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports.
Analysis: The soon-to-be 33-year-old will join a new-look Vegas offense with Geno Smith at quarterback and Chip Kelly calling plays. It's about the best landing spot possible in terms of opportunity to earn snaps and touches, as the Raiders had arguably the worst backfield in the league last year and haven't signed any other free agents so far this offseason. Of course, more help likely is on the way, be it in the coming weeks via free agency or at the end of April during the NFL Draft. Mostert and Kelly briefly worked together in Philadelphia (2015) and San Francisco (2016), but at a point in Mostert's career when he was struggling to stick around the league and mostly playing special teams. |
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Geno Smith Geno Smith Moving to Vegas
Fri, Mar 7, 2025, 6:08 PM
The Seahawks traded Smith (hip) to the Raiders on Friday for a 2025 third-round pick, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: There had been rumblings that Smith was on the trade block like WR DK Metcalf, but the signal-caller now has reunited with coach Pete Carroll in Las Vegas after spending the 2020 through 2023 seasons together in Seattle. As the regular starter for the Seahawks the last three campaigns, Smith notched a 27-22 record, completed 68.5 percent of his passes, averaged 249.5 yards per game and compiled 71 touchdown passes versus 35 interceptions. He also tacked on 703 yards and four more TDs on 158 carries during that span. With the Raiders, Smith will be operating with top-notch second-year TE Brock Bowers, but the much of the rest of the receiving corps is a work in progress. |
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Gardner Minshew Gardner Minshew Headed for release
Wed, Mar 5, 2025, 9:40 AM
The Raiders plan to release Minshew (collarbone) when the new league year begins next Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Minshew is entering the final season of a two-year contract, following a 2024 campaign that ended early when he suffered a broken collarbone Nov. 24. He should be recovered from the injury in time for offseason activities, but there's no guarantee of him getting another shot to compete for a starting job, as he may have to settle for a backup role this time around. Over his 10 appearances for Las Vegas this past season, Minshew completed 203 of 306 pass attempts (66.3 percent) for 2,013 yards, nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions while adding 58 yards on 19 carries. |
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DJ Turner DJ Turner Won't receive tender
Mon, Mar 3, 2025, 3:38 PM
The Raiders decided to not tender Turner (knee) on Monday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Turner missed Las Vegas' final five games of the 2024 season due to a knee injury that landed him on injured reserve. However, he was fairly productive when on the field, catching 16 of his 29 targets for 158 yards and one touchdown. The Pittsburgh product also added five carries for 33 yards and one touchdown on the ground last season, playing 162 offensive snaps across 12 appearances. Fowler reported that the Raiders are open to bringing Turner back to Las Vegas, but only at a price lower than the tender. |
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Michael Mayer Michael Mayer Available for trade
Fri, Feb 28, 2025, 5:18 PM
The Raiders are shopping Mayer on the trade market, Tashan Reed of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Following a decorated college career at Notre Dame, Mayer was selected No. 35 overall in the 2023 Draft by Las Vegas. He caught 27 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie, but the Raiders then used their first-rounder on Brock Bowers in 2024. Mayer appeared in just 11 games last season, and his playing time took a hit when he was available. He finished the season with 21 catches for 156 scoreless yards, and the Raiders appear to be willing to move him after just two years. |
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Kyle Philips Kyle Philips Gets opportunity with Las Vegas
Tue, Feb 18, 2025, 6:44 PM
The Raiders signed Philips to a contract Tuesday.
Analysis: Philips spent all of the 2024 campaign on the Eagles' practice squad, failing to get into a game all season for the first time since he was selected by Tennessee in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. The 5-foot-11 wideout has played in 13 regular-season contests, compiling 23 receptions on 35 targets for 259 yards and no touchdowns while also doing some work as a kick and punt returner. Notably, Philips' move to Las Vegas will reunite him with offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, who served as UCLA's head coach during the four seasons Philips played for the school. |
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DJ Turner DJ Turner To be restricted free agent
Tue, Feb 18, 2025, 1:46 PM
Turner (knee) secured 16 of 29 targets for 158 yards and one touchdown across 12 regular-season games with the Raiders in 2024. He also rushed for 33 yards and one touchdown on five carries and compiled 106 kick return yards and 77 punt return yards.
Analysis: Turner produced career-best numbers before landing on IR in early December due to a Week 13 knee injury. The 28-year-old is slated to be a restricted free agent this offseason, meaning he'll be allowed to negotiate with other teams, but Las Vegas will retain the right to match any offer he might receive. |
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