It’s real easy to “predict” a player who has already been successful in the league to have a “breakout” season. That seems to be all the rage this offseason. But what of those players who have yet to truly break out? Those players who are looking to take a step out of the shadows and into the spotlight? Well, that’s what this list is all about.
For that reason you’re not going to find multiple-season starters like Nate Hobbs or Tre’von Moehrig on this list. Even at his worst Hobbs has been the best cornerback on the Raiders roster for three seasons. Moehrig already took a step forward last season. Is there room for more improvement? Sure. But that’s hardly a “breakout” type thing.
Likewise, you won’t see Malcolm Koonce here. He broke out in a big way over the final nine games of last season, so he’s arrived already. Now it’s just a matter of keeping it going and seeing it play out over a full season.
So, you’ll have to forgive me for wanting to dig a little deeper here for players whose emergence would actually fit what it means to be a breakout player.
T Thayer Munford
Let me start by saying this breakout is far from a sure thing. The starting right tackle job will not be handed to Munford. He will have to earn it. But this former seventh rounder comes into his third season as the favorite to become the team’s full time starting right tackle. His primary competition at right tackle will be third round rookie DJ Glaze.
Munford’s first two seasons the right tackle job belonged to Jermaine Eluemunor. Munford stepped in to start nine games as an injury replacement last season for both Eluemunor and left tackle Kolton Miller, leading to five starts at right tackle and four at left tackle. He had his ups and downs and, as it happens, seemed to do his best work after being thrust into action on the left side late in the season.
RB Zamir White
In White’s first 30 games of White’s career, he had a combined total of 37 carries for 124 yards (3.35 yards per carry). Then late last season, when Josh Jacobs was lost to injury, White stepped in to carry the ball 84 times for 397 yards (4.73 yards per carry).
Those four starts have set the stage for White getting his shot to carry the load this season. He is expected to share more of the load than Josh Jacobs had over his five seasons with the team, but if White can keep running at the clip he did over the last four games, he would only need around 13 carries per game to reach 1000 yards on the season.
WR Tre Tucker
Tucker was the Raiders pick at 100 overall in the 2023 draft. He was chosen for his speed and early on it appeared as it the hands weren’t coming with it. Late last season, however, he started to show great improvement in that area. He has a real shot at being the team’s primary slot receiver this season after Hunter Renfrow was cut this offseason.
ED Tyree Wilson
There’s still Malcolm Koonce to think about in terms of Wilson trying to get the starting EDGE job back. And, no, I don’t think Wilson’s future is on the inside. He is built to rush the edge. It’s those physical traits that got him drafted at seven overall. What I do see is the potential for a wicked three-man rotation on the edge.
Wilson had a rough rookie season, no matter how much people like to suggest he played well inside. The thing is though, that we knew he would take some time to develop. And by “we” I mean anyone following Wilson’s career arc, including the Raiders. The only question was just how long it would take. His injury in camp last year only made it harder for him to try and beat the expected timeline.
Now he’s had a full season, and a full healthy offseason, and is in a good position to take a step forward and add some skill and technique to his raw talent. There’s enough to eat for him, Koonce, and Maxx Crosby.
CB Jakorian Bennett
Bennett’s rookie season went a lot like Wilson’s. He began the season as a starter and then lost that job to a hungry veteran. Bennett’s starting time was pretty short though. He was getting torched way too much and was benched after just four games in favor of Amik Robertson.
Now entering his second season in the same defense, he is once again being given the chance to be the starter opposite Jack Jones and Nate Hobbs. And with the Raiders yet to add a high profile cornerback this offseason, Bennett has a good chance of getting and keeping the job.
