ClutchPoints
The Las Vegas Raiders are entering a new era under head coach Pete Carroll. Las Vegas made several exciting moves this offseason, rebuilding the offense around QB Geno Smith and rookie running back Ashton Jeanty. Raiders fans finally have some reasons for optimism heading into the 2025 season.
The Raiders laid a good foundation during the 2025 NFL Draft. Las Vegas added several talented rookies who could have bright futures with the organization. Some will even be leaned on right away in 2025.
Which Raiders rookies will have the biggest impact during the 2025 season? And which veterans could lose snaps as a result?
Below we will explore three Raiders veterans who could have their roles pushed by rookies during the 2025 NFL season.
The Raiders have some excellent offensive weapons with Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers. But the wide receiver room could still use some work.
Las Vegas added multiple receivers in the 2025 NFL Draft, headlined by second-rounder Jack Bech. He will be a Week 1 starter next to Jakobi Meyers.
But it could be fourth-rounder Dont’e Thornton Jr. who will surprise Raiders fans.
Thornton is your prototypical deep threat who can take the top off defenses. He will bring some vertical juice that Las Vegas’ offense sorely needs.
Thornton’s blazing speed could make him essential to the Raiders’ offense once he gets his bearings in the NFL.
The Raiders do not have any other dangerous deep threats on the team, which could thrust Thornton into action much earlier than expected.
Raiders fans should not be surprised if Bech, Tucker, and Thornton are the team’s starting receivers by the end of the regular season.
As for Jakobi Meyers, I think he is still a talented receiver with a few good years left in him. He is more likely to be traded at the deadline than become washed.
This may be the most optimistic projection for a rookie on this list.
The Raiders drafted Tonka Hemingway (hell of a name) in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Hemingway, and fellow rookie JJ Pegues, currently sit at the bottom of the depth chart. This should be no surprise for this part of the offseason, as training camp is still more than a month away.
That said, I believe that Hemingway could surge up the depth chart during the 2025 season.
Raiders veteran Adam Butler would be the player most likely to lose snaps in this scenario.
Butler has served a valuable function for the Raiders over the past few years. He came to Las Vegas from Miami after spending the first four years of his career in New England. Butler has been a productive player for the Raiders ever since, especially after Christian Wilkins’ brutal injury from the 2024 season.
Butler’s stats are nothing to sneeze at, as he’s logged five sacks in each of the past two...
