Which Raiders Rookies Impressed Most in Preseason?

The Las Vegas Raiders have dropped a preseason game for the first time since Aug. 29, 2021. They fell to the Dallas Cowboys in their preseason finale, 31-16.

Throughout the preseason, the Raiders’ 2023 NFL Draft class had the chance to experience their first NFL game action, and several of them were impressive.

The Raiders have a fairly experienced team who will play the majority of snaps throughout the regular season, but the preseason was a chance for the rookies to make their case as to why they should get some playing time as well.

With that, let’s take a closer look at a few of the most impressive rookies the Raiders featured during the preseason.

The most obvious answer is quarterback Aidan O’Connell, who looked every bit like the player Coach Josh McDaniels and General Manager Dave Ziegler raved about when they traded up to select him in the fourth round of the draft.

O’Connell finished the preseason by completing 43-of-62 passes for 482 yards and three touchdowns. He showed off accuracy on his throws, quick decision making, and did not turn the ball over. These are all things teams want to see from rookie quarterbacks, and O’Connell delivered.

Undrafted free agent linebacker Drake Thomas was the leading tackler for the Raiders for the second straight week with seven against the Cowboys. Thomas, who was not selected out of North Carolina State, has been a surprising player throughout training camp. He has put himself in a great position to make the 53-man roster.

Thomas can provide the Raiders with young depth at linebacker, and his aggressive playing style adds an important dynamic to their defense.

Offensive lineman McClendon Curtis, another undrafted free agent, is another player who is pushing to make the 53-man roster. Curtis had the makings of a day three selection, but the Raiders got good value picking him up after the draft.

Curtis offers the Raiders versatility along the offensive line with the ability to play both guard and tackle. While there is good depth on the offensive line, Curtis might have put himself in a better position to make the cut on Tuesday.

The Silver and Black open the regular season at the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Sept. 10, at 4:25 p.m. EDT/1:25 p.m. PDT.

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