The Las Vegas Raiders held their first practice of mandatory minicamp on Tuesday and are scheduled to take the field again on Wednesday and Thursday before wrapping things up for a month-plus ahead of training camp next month.
The Raiders' defense no doubt stole the show on Tuesday, as you'll find out here in a minute, but there were some bright spots on offense, also, including one signal-caller outperforming the other, although neither one was exceptional.
One Raiders Day 3 pick continues to make some noise this offseason, carrying over his momentum from organized team activities. We'll cover that and more as we take a look at the biggest standouts from Day 1 of Raiders minicamp.
Raiders minicamp standouts
RB Dylan Laube
According to Vic Tafur of The Athletic, sixth-round pick and running back Dylan Laube "had a good first day" and even saw some first-team reps on passing downs.
Rookie running back Dylan Laube had a good first day and was even on the field for some first-team passing downs. His wiggle and pass-catching skills were on display as he tries to carve out a role behind starter Zamir White and alongside backups Alexander Mattison and Ameer Abdullah.
Baller https://t.co/eECpcIh3DU
— Vincent Bonsignore (@VinnyBonsignore) June 12, 2024
Adding to that, Levi Edwards of Raiders.com reports that Laube was among the players who worked on kick returns, something he has experience with from his college days.
If Laube continues to stand out and can carve out a role on special teams in the process, it will only help his cause in making the roster. And, perhaps we need to start considering him as a threat for the No. 3 running back role.
The defense
We'll get to individual defensive players here in a second, but the entire defense was dominant on Tuesday, according to multiple beat writers.
It's hard to evaluate the trenches before pads come on, but the biggest takeaway from OTAs is the #Raiders' defense is serious. DC Patrick Graham's unit is making progress on its goal to make the leap from good to great.
— Tashan Reed (@tashanreed) June 11, 2024
At Raiders’ minicamp, a ‘hell of a start’ for Maxx Crosby, Christian Wilkins and the defense ⤵️ https://t.co/ZqdgEQkE6k
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) June 11, 2024
The defense is going to be the Raiders' biggest strength in 2024, so it comes as no surprise that the unit is having a ton of success. Las Vegas' defense has the potential to be elite this coming season.
DL Christian Wilkins
Speaking of that impressive performance by the defense, Edwards noted that one of the newest Raiders, defensive lineman Christian Wilkins, was the "defensive MVP for the day."
The defensive MVP for the day was Christian Wilkins. The sixth-year lineman got off the line of scrimmage at full speed every play, seemingly finding his way in the backfield constantly.
Christian Wilkins is POPPING OFF today, geez.
— Levi Edwards (@theleviedwards) June 11, 2024
By all accounts, star edge rusher Maxx Crosby had a great day, also. Watching Wilkins and Crosby is going to be fun in 2024.
QB Aidan O'Connell
While nobody is characterizing O'Connell's day as great by any means, Tafur did note that he was the more accurate quarterback over Gardner Minshew on Day 1, which is certainly notable considering the competition.
Neither Aidan O’Connell nor Gardner Minshew had a good day at practice, though O’Connell was the more accurate of the two. Teammates love O’Connell’s improved swagger and consider him one of the leaders, while Minshew is still getting his feet wet with his new team.
Minshew has more scrambling ability and likes to make plays off-script, so the practice setting may favor O’Connell’s plant-and-rip-it style. It’s why we may not see one of them truly take hold of the starting job until the preseason games.
O'Connell's day was highlighted by a touchdown pass to wide receiver Jalen Guyton, who made the grab despite having two defenders on him. O'Connell "put (the ball) right where it needed to be," Edwards wrote.
“He was throwing some balls (that) even as a teammate I forgot he had in him,” cornerback Nate Hobbs said of O'Connell's showing, per Vincent Bonsignore of Las Vegas Review Journal. “I know he’s got it in him. He was just making it known again.”
CBs Jakorian Bennett, Brandon Facyson
According to Edwards, both Facyson and Bennett were making plays on the outside as they continue to battle it out for the No. 2 cornerback job. Bennett had an interception, also.
Cornerbacks Brandon Facyson and Jakorian Bennett took turns making plays on the outside, including an interception by Bennett.
The battle for the CB2 job opposite Jack Jones appears to be a two-man race, as we haven't heard anything about 2024 fourth-round pick Decamerion Richardson getting involved. Look for Bennett to ultimately seize the role.
