With the Las Vegas Raiders not renewing contract Josh Jacobs in free agency, the team will use multiple running backs more often. Ameer Abdullah’s role probably won't change much.
Abdullah was mainly a third-down back last season and will continue in that role if he stays on the team. However, his spot on the team is less certain after the Raiders drafted Dylan Laube in the sixth round. Laube is expected to compete for a spot as a third-down running back in the NFL.
Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report believes this could lead to Abdullah being off the roster.
“Laube is older for a running back prospect at 24 years old,” Ballentine wrote in a May 8 column. “That impacted his draft stock, but it also means that the Raiders could be more confident in his ability to play right away.
“Abdullah is reaching the age where running backs decline and is a leftover from the Josh McDaniels era. … It wouldn’t be surprising if he is released if Laube proves himself.”
Abdullah is 30, which is typically when running backs start to decline. However, he has only had more than 100 carries in a season twice in his career. He hasn’t made a big impact since joining the Raiders, with only 342 combined receiving yards over two seasons. Despite this, he may have an advantage over Laube because of his familiarity with the other players on the roster.
Dylan Laube Excited About Joining Las Vegas Raiders
The main competition for Abdullah’s roster spot is Laube. Although he was a sixth-round pick, he was highly productive in college at New Hampshire, accumulating 1,163 receiving yards over his last two seasons.
Laube also matches the type of player that head coach Antonio Pierce wants on the team.
“When I was on the phone with coach Pierce, I said, ‘Hey coach, you got a dog’,” Laube said during his April 27 press conference. “He was like, ‘Hey, Dylan, that’s our culture here, just a bunch of dogs.’ And I’m super excited man, just because it’s just a bunch of gritty, hard-nosed dudes, man. It’s going to be so fun. I can’t wait to suit up in the black and gray, it’s going to be so fun. I’m so excited.”
Laube will have to work hard to make the roster, but he will be an intriguing player to watch.
Dylan Laube Expect to Fill a Number of Roles
Laube may struggle to play offense in his first year. Zamir White will probably start with Alexander Mattison as the backup. Abdullah could be the third-down running back, but Laube might not necessarily be cut.
He believes he can contribute in various aspects of the game.
“I think special teams is, if not the most important, the most underrated thing in a football game,” Laube said. “I take pride in playing running back and receiver. But also, special teams I feel like is what separates me from every running back in this class. I think me being able to do a bunch of different stuff like kick return, punt return, gunner, jammer, I think I’m able to do so many different things.”
