Raiders return game: Draft class should add juice to special teams

Late-round picks Dylan Laube, M.J. Devonshire can elevate competition

Tom McMahon arrived as the new special teams boss in the desert with two elite specialists in Daniel Carlson and AJ Cole III. The place kicker and punter, respectively, are one of the top producers at their positions giving McMahon a leg up as coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders.

But there remains a special team problem area for the Silver & Black: Return game.

While the NFL has diminished — at least severely dampened — the kickoff return aspect of the game due to rule changes for player safety, field position remains a critical thing. And being able to flip the field on punts — which Cole does an extremely good job of — and on returns — which the Raiders haven’t done too much of or very well — puts an offense and defense in the best possible position to succeed.

Las Vegas hasn’t been a home for impact return specialists.

In order to change that, general manager Tom Telesco did add two late-round picks from the 2024 NFL Draft with special teams production to help elevate the competition on McMahon’s side of the ball in Dylan Laube and M.J. Devonshire.

Of that pair, Laube (a sixth-round pick, No. 208 overall, from New Hampshire) has the most collegiate experience as a return man. The running back field 90 kickoffs, returning two for a touchdown with 2,207 yards total. Laube also fielded 34 punts, housing two, and galloping for 426 yards. The 5-foot-10 and 208-pounder had a 100-yard kick off return score and 92-yard punt return touchdown in 2022 while having another 100-yard kickoff return for a score and housing a 58-yard punt return in 2023. It may be small-school production, but it’s impact nonetheless.

By NFL standards, Laube’s 4.54 second timed speed in the 40-yard dash isn’t overtly blazing, but he is an elusive and quick runner.

Devonshire, on the other hand, served primarily as a punt return specialist at Pittsburgh. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound cornerback fielded 46 punts for 347 yards and a touchdown. He glided 82-yards for the score in 2022 — his best season fielded punts, with 24 returns for 233 yards and a healthy average of 9.7 yards per return. Devonshire’s 4.45 speed was on full display on not only punt returns, but interception returns where he showcased the ability to slither through traffic en route to the end zone (three touchdowns on defense, one on special teams).

Laube’s vision and quickness and ability to stop and go swiftly can serve him well in the competition to win return gigs — kickoff or punts. Ditto for Devonshire.

Telesco and Raiders scouting personnel weren’t done adding talent to bolster McMahon’s special teams group. Shortly after the draft, Las Vegas added a slew of undrafted free agents and two of the signees bring special teams experience to the table too: Wide receivers Lideatrick “Tulu” Griffin and Jeff Foreman.

Griffin, a Mississippi State product, has two end zone visits as a kick return specialist racking up a total of 1,640 yards on 54 returns. The 5-foot-10, 181-pounder is a smooth runner in the open field with 4.43 speed as his two touchdowns were of the 100-yard and 92-yard variety in 2021 and 2022, respectively. He was the SEC’s lead kickoff return specialist in 2022 with 19 returns for 613 yards (32.3 average) with a score and broke the Mississippi State school record in 2021 with an average of 32.8 (14 returns for 459 yards, a record held by long time Buffalo Bills wide receiver Eric Moulds).

Foreman, on the other hand, hasn’t returned a kickoff since 2020 but did produce 383 yards on 18 returns (21.3 average). The 6-foot, 173-pounder from Arkansas State is fast with 4.41 wheels, however.

Laube, Devonshire, Griffin, Foreman, and a potential slew of others are slated to get a chance to become the return specialist to replace veteran DeAndre Carter, who served as the primary kick and punt return man for the Raiders in 2023. The 31-year-old wide receiver cut his teeth as an undrafted free agent as special teamer and provided 11 kick returns for 262 yards (long of 40 yards) and 24 punt returns for 232 yards (with a long of 32).

Standing out on special teams is one of the easiest ways to earn a roster spot on the 53-man or practice squad and with Las Vegas lacking a return specialist on both kick and punt units, a key spot is up for grabs.

Especially since it’s in dire need of electricity and juice, the Raiders are wanting someone to take the reins and literally run away with it.