There is no question that Las Vegas Raiders 2024 sixth-round pick and running back Dylan Laube has been one of the team's most pleasant surprises so far this offseason, and we definitely wouldn't fight back against any argument for him being the most pleasant surprise.
It seems like we see something positive coming out of practice about Laube every day, whether it's his performance on the field, praise from a coach, or both.
As a result, Laube has gone from an uncertainty to make the roster to someone who could very well carve out a role for himself on offense in Year 1 — and that could come in form of a passing-down back, a role he believes he excels at.
"I think that's kind of my best quality as a player, because I'm more of a receiving back," the rookie said Friday, per Vegas Sports Today. "I can still run the ball, but in a sense, me getting a matchup with a backer is super important and I can win every single time."
Laube is the true definition of an underdog. He was under the radar going into the draft as a small-school prospect, and his status as a late-round pick only stacked the deck against him more in terms of his chances of succeeding in the NFL.
But Laube figured out pretty early on that he belongs in the NFL, something he appears to be proving on a daily basis at practice.
"I'd say definitely at the Senior Bowl and the combine definitely prepared me for this, but at the same time, when you step on this field and you don't really know what to truly expect, and that first day at camp was kind of my first kind of step to be like, "OK, I truly belong here," Laube said, per Levi Edwards or Raiders.com. "And it's been all business since."
“My best quality as a player, I’m more of a receiving back…me getting a matchup with a backer is super important and I think I can win every single time.”
— Vegas Sports Today (@VegasSportsTD) August 2, 2024
Raiders rookie RB Dylan Laube speaks on his confidence as a receiver out of the backfield.
🎥: By @Sean_Zittel… pic.twitter.com/N1SaZczk9n
The most impressive compliment we've seen Laube get during training camp came from head coach Antonio Pierce, who said that the New Hampshire product is "special."
"That dude is special. I like him," Pierce said of Laube. "And he's gritty. He's a gritty (running back). One thing — he surprises you with his speed... He's going to be a difficult matchup, and it's already showing up in practice."
As of right now, it certainly seems like Laube will make the roster. The only things left to be decided are how high he ends up on the depth chart, and what kind of role he can garner out of the gate.
