There are two hidden gems on the 2024 Las Vegas Raiders' roster that people need to know about, with one player on each side of the ball. Linebacker Tommy Eichenberg is poised to make noise. And the deep dive is running back Dylan Laube, a sixth-round pick out of New Hampshire who should carve out an effective role this season.
Laube is a 5-foot-10, 210-pound dynamo whose agility is his calling card. Eichenberg is a 6-2, 233-pounder out of Ohio State. He racked up an impressive career total of 268 tackles with 21 for loss.
RB Dylan Laube brings pass-catching threat to Raiders
There's already a home waiting for Laube, and it's located on third-down street.
Laube enters with college street credentials in the form of 2,000-plus career receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. His catching ability means he will likely get chances for snaps in the slot, too.
Look for the Raiders to use his unique skills to create mismatches against linebackers, which means open catches and run-after-the-catch opportunities. Translation: 20-plus-yard plays. Route running and acceleration are among Laube's strong points.
So while he only carries a sixth-round tag, he enters the NFL with a chance to easily outshine that draft assessment. But it's not only about the air game.
Laube also excelled in the ground game with 2,773 career yards rushing with 29 scores. And the honors came in the form of being selected as a two-time unanimous FCS All-American.
Coming from a small college won't be a hindrance in the NFL, Laube told si.com. He said he made it work in his favor at the Senior Bowl.
“Coming from a small school it was so important to show who I was as a player, especially at the Senior Bowl against the best of the best,” Laube said. “Being able to perform one-on-ones, run the ball, and show my special teams skills was so important. I got to show teams that I truly belong at this level.”
The Raiders agreed, and now they only need to find ways to exploit his versatility.
Raiders LB Tommy Eichenberg brings winning culture
It doesn't hurt to walk into the NFL from a perennial college powerhouse. Eichenberg seems to fit the mold for the type of player sought by head coach Antonio Pierce. And Eichenberg told raiders.com he thinks it's a match.
“I know that I played football at the highest level in college at Ohio State where the expectations are so high, and someone is trying to take your spot and if you don't show up, your spot is on the line,” he said.
Eichenberg's practice habits caught the Raiders' attention. And his determination to reach and take down ballcarriers matches every NFL team's checklist. His strong hands create opportunities for him to get off blocks and make big plays. Also, his aggressiveness is yet another plus. He's currently second on the Raiders' depth chart at middle linebacker.
Along with the size, skills, and effort, Eichenberg said he likes what he sees from his Raiders' teammates.
“I think that they're really, really tough dudes that love the game of football and play really hard,” he said. “That's something that I try to pride myself on, too, and it's something I hope to add to this team.”
Another thing that helps Eichenberg is fitting into the Raiders' current system. He played in a 4-2-5 scheme at Ohio State, and Las Vegas will likely employ that attack frequently in 2024.
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