3 Raiders Veterans Fighting for Their Jobs After the Draft

The Las Vegas Raiders came out of the 2020 NFL Draft with some legitimate franchise cornerstones, as Alabama receiver Henry Ruggs III and Ohio State corner Damon Arnette figure to be players that can help start the decade off right in Vegas. Unfortunately, Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock's haul has added new competition at several positions, and that infusion of young blood could spell the end for a few Raider veterans.

3. RB Jalen Richard

Richard seemed to be a lock for the active roster after the Raiders let DeAndre Washington go, but Vegas found a backup with a much higher ceiling in third-round pick Lynn Bowden. While a wide receiver in college, Bowden's record-breaking numbers as an option quarterback have Gruden thinking he can be a perfect backup running back and pass-catcher out of the backfield. In a sense, Bowden makes Richard's role totally redundant.

2. OG Gabe Jackson

The Raiders have been shopping Jackson over the last few weeks, as his play, while still rock solid, is not justifying the five-year, $55 million contract he currently has. The Raiders sent out further signals that they were looking to turn over their starting offensive line when they used a fourth-round pick on Clemson guard John Simpson. Simpson is one of the few guards that could theoretically handle a starting role in Year 1 given his power, which makes Jackson expendable.

1. WR Zay Jones

I'm sure Mayock regrets spending a draft pick on Jones. Not only did he allow Tyrell Williams and Hunter Renfrow to supplant him in the pecking order, but Gruden attacked the wide receiver position early in this draft, picking Ruggs in the first round and South Carolina stud Bryan Edwards in the third. At best, Jones would be the fifth wide receiver on this team. His struggles last year, however, might force Gruden and Mayock to pull the plug on Jones and just run with the young guns in 2020.