The Las Vegas Raiders hit the practice field on Wednesday for their fifth session of organized team activities, and for the second time in this phase of the offseason program, the Raiders opened the practice up to the media.
Included in the media access was multiple players and coaches speaking. Associate head coach Marvin Lewis had some notable quotes, including on Maxx Crosby, who Lewis compared to some NFL legends.
"I've been watching how these guys who have become Hall of Fame players how they go about their day, each and every day, and Maxx has those qualities," he said.
Another theme was the positive vibes players feel throughout the building, which is something both running back Zamir White and cornerback Jack Jones touched on. Jones even went as far as to say that the swag and team camaraderie the Raiders have will "break teams by itself."
But good vibes and quotes weren't the only things to come out of Wednesday's practice. You can check out all of the biggest takeaways right here.
Now, a look at some of the players who stood out the most, according to beat writers on the ground.
Raiders OTAs standouts
TE Brock Bowers
When the Raiders drafted Bowers, many fans were puzzled by general manager Tom Telesco taking a tight end — especially that early — after the team drafted Michael Mayer in 2023.
However, when you learn more about Bowers, you understand he simply isn't your average tight end because of his elite athleticism that allows him to impact the game from pretty much anywhere on the field.
And that was on full display on Wednesday, as Bowers showcased his versatility to those who were watching. Here's more from Levi Edwards of Raiders.com:
Brock Bowers could be seen doing a little bit of everything Wednesday morning. The tight end lined up in multiple spots in similar fashion to what he was accustomed to doing at Georgia, showcasing both his pass catching and rushing abilities.
Bowers' versatility will allow the Raiders to use both of their top tight ends in the same formation plenty, so there is absolutely room for both on this roster.
RT Thayer Munford Jr.
All offseason long, Raiders fans have been wondering when the team would bring in a better option for the starting right tackle job than Munford, but that has not happened and Munford appears on track to start.
Well, there was some good news on the former seventh-round pick on Wednesday, as he was praised for his performance by Edwards. Here's the Raiders writer's review:
There are a lot of questions surrounding who will take over at right tackle, and Thayer Munford Jr. is making a strong case for himself. He had an exceptional day of practice in team period and individual drills, and a potential leap in Year 3 could be on the horizon.
Of course, you can never make too much of practices where guys are running around in shorts and t-shirts, but good news is better than no or negative news. Hopefully Munford can continue building en route to being an effective starter.
The defense
According to Tashan Reed of The Athletic, the Raiders' defense had a good day, which comes as no surprise considering that side of the ball figures to be Las Vegas' biggest strength going into 2024.
According to Edwards, defensive end Malcolm Koonce recovered a fumble for a touchdown, defensive linemen Byron Young and Charles Snowden each batted down passes, safety Marcus Epps and linebacker Robert Spillane had multiple stops, and Tre'von Moehrig recovered a fumble.
