4 Las Vegas Raiders players who are vulnerable to being replaced in the 2023 NFL Draft
By Brad Weiss
4 Raiders who are vulnerable to being replaced in the 2023 NFL Draft
Austin Hooper, TE
The Las Vegas Raiders decided to trade away Darren Waller this offseason, leaving a gaping hole at the tight end position. Waller was seen as a cornerstone player for Las Vegas, but did not connect with the new regime, and was sent east to the New York Giants for a draft pick.
To fill that role, the team brought in two veterans in Austin Hooper and OJ Howard, while also re-signing Jesper Horsted. None of those players are as talented as Waller, and while Hooper is likely to make the team, the 2023 NFL Draft could bring a legitimate TE1 to the roster, especially on Day 2.
The 2023 NFL Draft is loaded with tight end talent, and the Raiders offense under Josh McDaniels needs a solid pass-catcher, and blocker at the position. Guys like Darnell Washington, Sam LaPorta, and Tucker Kraft could all fall deep into Day 2 when all is said and done, and all three could start right away in Las Vegas.