Las Vegas Raiders: 5 players to keep an eye on during the 2021 preseason

Dec 17, 2020; Paradise, Nevada, USA; A general view of a Las Vegas Raiders helmet at the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign on the Las Vegas strip. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2020; Paradise, Nevada, USA; A general view of a Las Vegas Raiders helmet at the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign on the Las Vegas strip. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Raiders
HENDERSON, NEVADA – JULY 29: Andre James #68 of the Las Vegas Raiders is shown during training camp at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center on July 29, 2021, in Henderson, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images) /

Las Vegas Raiders: 5 players to keep an eye on during the 2021 preseason

Andre James, Center

There are not too many times that a center is the ‘center’ of attention when it comes to football, but this is the case for this preseason, and Andre James. The third-year undrafted player out of UCLA has incredibly huge shoes to fill as he replaces the most decorated Raiders center in recent memory in Rodney Hudson.

The Raiders have brought in former Houston Texans Nick Martin to compete with James, but all signs point to James being the starter. Not only has James been given the stamp of approval from starting quarterback Derek Carr, but he was also rewarded with a new three-year, $12.5m contract during the offseason.

James is not expected to replace the production immediately of the former three-time Pro Bowler in Hudson who was traded in the offseason, but he has to be ready to produce immediately, as the Raiders are hoping their investment in the 24-year-old pays off. Check in on James during the preseason, this should give Raiders fans a glimpse into hopefully a bright future at the center position.