While the 2023 season certainly didn’t unfold as the Las Vegas Raiders might have hoped, it did provide glimpses of promise late in the year.
The Raiders began to find an identity in the final weeks and managed to record wins over all three divisional opponents.
Las Vegas will look to build on its momentum in 2024, though it hasn’t been afraid to add a few new pieces to the mix.
Players like Gardner Minshew, Christian Wilkins and rookie tight end Brock Bowers are expected to make an immediate impact this season.
Many of these new additions should also have secure roster spots, even if they disappoint after training camp opens on July 21.
Other players, however, will be fighting for their jobs.
Teams are allowed to carry up to 90 players into camp but will have to trim that number to 53 players by August 27.
With this in mind, let’s examine three veterans who will need to impress in the coming weeks to make the final 53.
Running back Ameer Abdullah has been on the roster for each of the past two seasons.
During that span, he has provided valuable backfield depth and held a role on special teams.
While the 31-year-old has provided just 451 scrimmage yards to the offense, he’s also played 481 special-teams snaps.
Special teams is important, but Abdullah will have to show that he can be an even bigger contributor to stick in 2024.
Zamir White is the presumptive starter, and Las Vegas added both Alexander Mattison and rookie Dylan Laube this offseason.
Mattison struggled with efficiency last season (3.9 yards per carry) with the Minnesota Vikings but received $1.7 million guaranteed from the Raiders in free agency.
Laube was only a sixth-round pick but has intriguing upside as a receiving back.
“Most of Laube’s value is in the receiving game,” Derrik Klassen of the Bleacher Report Scouting Department wrote.
“Thanks to his quick feet and short-area burst, Laube is a lethal receiver underneath.”
If Abdullah is set to contribute only on special teams, he’ll have a tough time making the final 53.
Releasing him would trigger a dead-cap hit of only $850,000 while saving $1 million in 2024 cap space.
