Ranking the Raiders’ undrafted free agents

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Friday, May 1, 2020 | 2 a.m.

As part of the new CBA passed last month, NFL rosters will be increasing from 53 to 55 players for the 2020 season, with the two additional spots devoted to practice squad call-ups. Those players will be eligible on game day, giving front offices more flexibility than ever when it comes to building their teams.

That is excellent news for the Raiders’ recent crop of undrafted free agents. Four such UDFA’s made the roster last year, and with two more spots to work with there should be a similar opportunity for this year’s overlooked gems.

Which undrafted rookies have the best chance of making it to Week 1? Working off my colleague Case Keefer’s early roster projection, let’s rank the incoming UDFA’s from most to least likely to stick:

1. Madre Harper, CB, Southern Illinois

It’s not out of the question to envision Harper sneaking onto the Las Vegas roster as depth at cornerback, as it is shaping up to be one of the Raiders’ weakest position groups for 2020.

Harper’s college production wasn’t great. He barely played his first two years at Oklahoma State, then transferred to Southern Illinois, where he accumulated just two interceptions in his final two seasons. None of that screams “future pro.”

There’s more to being an intriguing prospect than production, however. Harper checks in at 6-foot-2 and he tested really well leading up to the draft, as he ran a 4.43 40-yard dash at his pro day and clocked in with a 4.25 in the 20-yard shuttle. That shuttle time would have ranked seventh among cornerbacks at the NFL Combine (with the caveat that not all the top corners ran the shuttle there), and that combination of size, speed and agility makes Harper more interesting than a typical UDFA.

2. Javin White, LB, UNLV

Local Las Vegas fans want to see White stick with the Raiders, and the loud, lanky, loose-hipped linebacker will get a chance to make his case.

The Raiders’ pass-coverage woes were evident last year, especially among the linebacking corps. That led the team to sign starters Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski in free agency, but the unit could still stand to be bolstered. Enter White, who was a beast in coverage as a senior at UNLV (three interceptions, 10 passes defensed).

His skills are intriguing. The issue, as it always has been for White, will be his size. He spent the last two years of his college career trying to put on weight for a permanent move to linebacker but is still way too thin to man that position in the pros. The Raiders will give him a shot at defensive back, but his coverage skills are less special at that position. Linebacker is his best shot.

That could lead the Raiders to give him an opportunity on the practice squad as he tries to enhance his body. A roster spot isn’t out of the question if he dominates on special teams and takes to safety more smoothly than expected, but the taxi squad would be a good outcome for White this year.

3. Dominik Eberle, K, Utah State

Incumbent placekicker Daniel Carlson has been pretty reliable in his year-and-a-half with the Raiders, but his accuracy from long distance waned in 2019 (6-of-10 on kicks from 40-49 yards, 0-of-2 on 50-plus). Eberle’s best attributes are that he’s automatic on the short stuff (he made all 167 of his PAT attempts in college) and he’s cheap.

Carlson contract isn’t bad, however, ($750,000 against the cap in 2020), so he should be able to hold off Eberle in a training camp competition.

4. Kamaal Seymour, OT, Rutgers

Even if the Raiders end up jettisoning starting guard Gabe Jackson this offseason (a move that would save the team $9.6 million), the offensive line is a crowded position group. Clemson guard John Simpson was drafted in the fourth round, providing even more depth. Seymour is more of a developmental project than a threat to make the team in 2020.

5. Mike Panasiuk, DT, Michigan State

Las Vegas has invested heavily in its defensive line over the last two offseasons, drafting ends Clelin Ferrell and Maxx Crosby last year and signing free agents Maliek Collins and Carl Nassib this year. Panasiuk was solid against the run last year, posting 10 tackles for loss and an 83.9 Pro Football Focus grade on running plays, but it’s hard to see him cracking the roster out of camp.

6. Siaosi Mariner, WR, Utah State

The Utah State offense took a step back last year, but Mariner was one of the bright spots. He became one of Jordan Love’s most trusted targets and finished with 63 catches for 987 yards and 10 touchdowns. He’d have a better shot of making the team if the Raiders didn’t spend high picks on receivers Henry Ruggs, Lynn Bowden and Bryan Edwards in the same draft.

7. Liam McCullough, LS, Ohio State

McCullough was regarded as one of college football’s best long snappers (by the types of people who evaluate that sort of thing), but the Raiders have a fairly reliable specialist already in Trent Sieg — and most coaches view long snapper as a “don’t fix what ain’t broke” situation. McCullough can help in camp, but it’s likely Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden will opt to stick with the veteran that they know and presumably trust.

8. Nick Bowers, TE, Penn State

Bowers was a respectable blocking tight end for the Nittany Lions, but he has a long way to go to prove he’s an NFL-caliber pass catcher after hauling in just 17 balls in three years at Penn State. Throw in the fact that tight end may be the Raiders’ deepest position group and Bowers' odds of making the final 55 are slim.

Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.