Raiders 2024 roster: 5 players who need a strong offseason

The NFL offseason is underway and many teams have engaged in or are going through rookie minicamps and organized team activities (OTAs). The Las Vegas Raiders are in the midst of OTAs with another set on tap for May 28-29.

The offseason program along with the mandatory minicamp mid-June are designed to give the coaching staff an in-depth look at the roster built by general manager Tom Telesco, head coach Antonio Pierce, and a slew of other Silver & Black player personnel and coaches. Competition will be aplenty in all three phases — offense, defense, and special teams — and the fight for roster spots should be spirited.

NFL rosters are a robust 90 at the moment but when cut down day comes, that number dwindles to 53 for the regular season. Yes, there’s practice squad spots to be had, and some players may end up on injured reserve. But that 53-man roster is quite the shakedown from 90.

Let’s take a look at a group of five Raiders who were on the 2023 roster that can be on the bubble if they don’t have a strong offseason.

Brandon Facyson, Cornerback

2023: Three games played, zero starts; 44 defensive snaps, 8 special teams; 5 total tackles.

The oldest defensive back on the Raiders roster at 29 years old, Facyson was severely limited in 2023 due to being on injured reserve for the majority of the season.

What works in Facyson’s favor: At 6-foot-2, the cornerback is a taller and longer option who has quality starts and play under his belt. Telesco is familiar with the cornerback as Facyson’s career started as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2018.

But what’s working against the veteran corner is Telesco picked two cornerbacks in the 2024 NFL Draft in Decamerion Richardson (fourth round, Mississippi State) and M.J. Devonshire (seventh round, Pittsburgh). Both are younger and faster and Richardson is just as tall and long as Facyson.

Unless the veteran heading into his seventh NFL season has a markedly strong offseason and proves he’s worthy of a roster spot, Facyson can be overtaken by a younger corner.

Luke Masterson, Linebacker

2023: 16 games played, one start; 181 defensive snaps, 333 special teams; 27 total tackles, two forced fumbles, one pass defensed

The 26-year-old undrafted free agent out of Wake Forest made an impression when he joined the team in 2022 and was a special teams mainstay as well as the third linebacker in the pecking order on defense.

What works in Masterson’s favor: He played in 81 percent of the Raiders’ total special teams snaps last season and forced two fumbles when he got defensive snaps. Core special teamers are valuable commodity and Masterson showed he can hang.

But what’s working against the third-year linebacker Las Vegas added young and hungry talent to the position group. Amari Burney heads into year two after being a sixth-round pick in 2023 and has the speed and mentality for both defense and special teams work. Tommy Eichenberg was taken in the the fifth round of this past draft out of Ohio State and has the production and mentality to be a core special teamer in the pros. Kana’i Mauga and 2024 undrafted free agent Amari Gainer is of similar ilk.

Masterson needs to show once again he can be the trusted and productive option as both the third linebacker on the depth chart and special teamer.

Nesta Jade Silvera, Defensive Tackle

2023: Two games played, zero starts; 24 defensive snaps, three special teams; 2 total tackles

In the mold of a classic block-occupying, run-stuffing nose tackle at 6-foot-2 and 315 pounds, this 2023 seventh-round pick had the production in college that NFL teams seek. But he only played in two games his rookie year and was an afterthought in year one.

What works in Jade Silvera’s favor: Super veteran John Jenkins is the primary nose tackle and is aging at 34 years old. And Las Vegas’ depth at a big-bodies defensive tackle isn’t ideal. Jade Silvera is only 24 years old and is very moldable.

But what’s working against the Arizona State product is the other candidate for nose tackle duties — Marquan McCall — brings even heavier physique to the table at 6-foot-3 and 345 pounds. With Jenkins being very reliable in terms of availability and production, McCall and Jade Silvera will most likely be in direct competition for a roster spot.

Add in Christian Wilkins presence on the interior line — an elite defensive tackle — and snaps are going to be even more limited.

Jade Silvera needs to prove he’s a better option to be the direct backup to Jenkins, or he’s going to land on the practice squad or at worst, waiver list.

Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images

Matthew Butler, Defensive Tackle

2023: Two games played, zero starts; 11 defensive snaps, eight special teams; 1 total tackle

The 2022 fifth-round pick’s career trajectory so far has been similar to the young defensive tackle above and he too, was lost in the shuffle.

What works in Butler’s favor: He is only 24 years old heading into year three and has good size at 6-foot-3 and 290 pounds.

But what’s working against the Tennessee product is the glut of veteran talent ahead of him. Adam Butler offers more juice as a rotational pass rusher at age 30 while fellow youngster Byron Young is looking to show he’s developed heading into year two at 23 years old. And Wilkins rarely comes off the field so maybe even rotational snaps will be hard to come by.

Butler is like Jade Silvera: Practice squad or waived unless he makes coaches notice this offseason.

Jordan Meredith, Offensive Guard

2023: 17 games played, one start; 92 offensive snaps, 65 special teams

A versatile undrafted free agent that arrived in 2022 as a center but has since shifted to guard or the Silver & Black, Meredith played in all 17 games with one start this past season.

What works in Meredith’s favor: He’s got NFL experience under his belt and can both play at pivot or one of the guard spots. And he has the coaching-desired mentality of he’ll do anything to help the team.

But what’s working against the third-year Bowling Green product is Las Vegas adding veteran guard Cody Whitehair and tackle/guard Andrus Peat to the mix as well as the selection of Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson in the second round of the 2024 draft. Each can make a strong case for a starting guard spot. And Powers-Johnson was a center in college. Also, the Raiders added undrafted free agent center Will Putnam (Clemson) so there’s competition at the pivot to backup starter Andre James, too.

Meredith’s experience and versatility must be on display once more to carve out a spot this year.

Others: Darien Butler (linebacker); Byron Young (defensive tackle); Brittain Brown (running back); Sam Webb (cornerback); DJ Turner (wide receiver)