Silver And Black Pride
Put up or shut up time for a few guys this fall
Heading into the 2025 campaign, the clock is ticking for some players and coaches on the Las Vegas Raiders’ roster. Whether it’s living up to their draft stock or clinging onto their NFL careers, a handful of Raiders are facing a make-or-break season.
Here, we’ll dive into a few guys who meet the criteria, outlining how they’ve gotten to this point, their situation on the depth chart, and what they need to prove this fall.
Acquired via: 2023 No. 7 overall pick
It’s safe to say Wilson hasn’t lived up to being a top 10 draft pick so far. While he’s played in 33 out of 34 career games, he’s only made four career starts and has had nearly the impact Las Vegas hoped he’d have. The Texas Tech product has become a rotational player rather than a bona fide starter, and it’s hard to see that changing in 2025.
With Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce serving as the starting defensive ends, Wilson’s best chance to prove himself this season is by becoming the first defensive lineman off the bench. He has some position versatility to occasionally line up at defensive tackle and had a few solid performances last year, helping his cause moving forward. But the former top draft pick has to be more consistent or his time in Las Vegas could be coming to an end soon.
Acquired via: 2025 Free agency
White is new to the Raiders but has been around the league for a while, entering his seventh season. He’s coming off a campaign where he played for two teams, getting released by the Philadelphia Eagles in early October before signing with the Houston Texans and participating in just seven games with one start for the Texans.
However, the veteran linebacker has a chance to start this fall with how thin the position group is for the Silver and Black. He’s only on a one-year deal, so proving himself as a starter could earn him a contract extension and stabilize his career. On the other end of the spectrum, White could find himself out of the league if he struggles to see the field again.
Acquired via: Hired to Josh McDaniels’ coaching staff in 2022
To be fair, Graham hasn’t had much to work with talent-wise since he signed on with the Raiders and has done a decent job of getting the most out of his players. The 2023 campaign is a good example, as Las Vegas’ defense ranked ninth in points allowed despite the organization not spending much money on that side of the ball.
However, the coordinator’s units have ranked 26th and 25th in points allowed during his other two seasons in Las Vegas. Also, he’s been a DC for the last six years, leading the Miami Dolphins’ and New York Giants’ defenses as well, and has only finished with two top 10...
