Las Vegas Raiders: 10 free agent running backs and their fit
28. . RB. Las Vegas Raiders. Devontae Booker. 7. player
Devontae Booker was a surprise addition to the Las Vegas Raiders roster in 2020, as we thought the depth chart would feature Jacobs, rookie Lynn Bowden, Jalen Richard, and Rod Smith as a special teamer/power back. Instead, Bowden was traded to Miami, Rod Smith was released, and Booker was elevated to the backup running back role.
Booker responded with a solid performance as the backup and spot starter, as he rushed for 423 yards on 93 carries and three touchdowns, and added 17 receptions for 84 yards. He was used less as a receiving back than he had been in his previous stint in Denver but was good as rotational running back in Gruden’s scheme.
When the Raiders run game was humming, so was Booker, and he was even the team’s leading rusher on a couple occasions when not the starter.
The obvious upside of bringing back Booker is that he already knows the offense and there would be no issues with integrating him into the team. The downside is that there is no upside to who Booker is as a player or what he brings to the table.
We know that he is a solid back that can do damage when the rest of the offense is humming but is not a gamechanger.
If the Raiders chose to bring him back on a minimum deal it would be a smart business decision and a bet on a player that has been reliable and available in his short career. He is also 28 and has minimal wear on his tires from his years primarily as a backup in the NFL.