The Las Vegas Raiders have had one of the most interesting off-seasons in the NFL. After a drama-filled 2021 campaign, the Raiders brought in Josh McDaniels as their head coach while firing former general manager Mike Mayock. New general manager Dave Ziegler and McDaniels entered their first offseason together under a ton of pressure to improve a roster that has been underperforming for years. They did just that throughout free agency and the draft. Ziegler went out and traded for wide receiver Davante Adams, giving the Raiders the best pass-catcher in the entire NFL. Another notable addition was linebacker Chandler Jones, one of the better pass-rushers in the league.
Las Vegas's success continued in the draft, despite a lack of premium picks. The Raiders didn't make a pick until the third round, but they still managed to land some solid developmental talent. That trend continued in Las Vegas' class of un-drafted free agents. The Raiders made several savvy pickups, but one player in particular ranks above the rest.
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Raiders Undrafted Free Agent To Make 2022 NFL Roster
Bryce Cosby
Former Ball State University safety Bryce Cosby easily has the best chance of making the roster.
Cosby is coming off of his best season of college football. The safety racked up 108 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, and two interceptions in 2021. Those stats show how well-rounded Cosby is. Despite his smaller size, he's a strong run defender that is comfortable playing in the box. He can also play a high safety role, as his coverage skills are better than what one might expect from an un-drafted free agent. Cosby was one of, if not the best defensive player on Ball State, so it was a bit of a surprise to see him go un-drafted. The Raiders capitalized in a big way by snagging him, and now he should make the roster fairly easily.
The Raiders have invested a lot in the safety position. But, there's still reason to believe that Cosby can make the team. Jonathan Abram and Tre'von Moehrig-Woodard have the starting spots essentially locked up. Duron Harmon was just signed in free agency, and Tyree Gillespie was taken in the middle of last year's draft.
Dallin Leavitt, a guy who played a significant role for Las Vegas over the last two seasons, is also still on the roster. However, every single one of those guys has their own concerns. Abram is extremely injury prone, and when he's healthy he's struggled mightily in coverage. Gillespie played a whopping one percent of the Raiders' defensive snaps as a rookie. Harmon is an aging veteran who is better served as a backup at this point in his career. Leavitt is far from a lock to make the roster, as it makes financial sense to let him go before the regular season rolls around. There's certainly a backup role available for Cosby, despite how crowded the safety room looks at first glance.
Cosby's versatility will also make him an appealing addition. His speed and tackling ability make him a natural fit for special teams. That's often how un-drafted free agents make an impact, and Cosby will be not different. He's also elusive with the ball in his hands, so there's a chance he could return kicks and punts should the need arise. Out of all of the UDFAs the Raiders have picked up, Cosby offers the most special teams value by far. That makes him far more likely to stick around on the roster.
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