Updated look at Raiders rookie class through 3 days of training camp

The Raiders haven’t gotten a lot of immediate contributions from their rookies classes that past couple years. That must change this year as they look to get off to a fast start in their rebuild. In the spirit of that, let’s look at what we’ve seen from their rookie class through the first three days of training camp.

Day one of camp, Mendoza took the field as the newly minted backup to Kirk Cousins. This after Mendoza had been the number three QB throughout offseason workouts. He looks smooth playing under center and throws a very good ball. Each day he seems to be asked to make tougher throws and he has kept pace well. As of yet, he has not thrown an interception. Mendoza has said he has a long way to go to fully absorbing the playbook and having full command of the offense, but is feeling fairly comfortable already.

He was drafted to challenge for either a safety job or nickel cornerback spot. Perhaps a hybrid role like Jeremy Chinn played last season. As of yet, the first team safeties have consistently been Chinn and fellow incumbent starter Isaiah Pola-Mao with veteran addition Taron Johnson nailing down the nickel corner job. But lots of camp still to see if Stukes can earn more reps, perhaps with the first team.

He has been pretty routinely running with the third team and until pads go on, he won’t have a shot to change that.

He was a college tackle who was projected as a center and drafted as a guard. The Raiders have been testing his versatility, playing him as the second team center behind Tyler Linderbaum and third team right guard behind Jackson Powers-Johnson and Caleb Rogers. Zuhn has had his struggles with giving up pressure inside and Friday he launched a snap way over Fernando Mendoza’s head. Yeah, he’s still working out the kinks.

The team has high hopes for the fourth rounder and he’s seen some first team reps. The other day McCoy forced a fumble and returned it for a TD. But he doesn’t see a ton of reps as Klint Kubiak said they’re “monitoring his mileage”. After practice he can often be seen doing extra light sideline drills to ensure his knee is holding up well after they played it safe with him and kept him off the practice field through most of the offseason.

Like Stukes, there isn’t much to report. He hasn’t stood out or seen his standing on the depth chart change.

He has looked very smooth as a runner, which is to be expected. He is a one-cut-and-go back who will be the complement to starter Ashton Jeanty. With that in mind, he has seen some first team reps, but mostly shares second team reps with Dylan Laube. The Raiders are testing his pass blocking and receiving skills. Both have been up and down. He runs good routes, but has missed a couple tough catches he probably should have had.

He goes by Zeke or Z. One of the surprises of the offseason, he has been routinely seeing first team reps as he is a frontrunner in the battle for the starting left cornerback job.

An explosive college receiver, he has a very good chance to carve out a role on the team. And he has made some nice catches in camp so far. He and Fernando Mendoza have developed some decent chemistry. I expect that to continue and to mention Benson more as camp goes on.

Buried in a group of defensive tackles and will have a chance to make some noise when pads go on.

This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Updated look at Raiders rookie class through 3 days of training camp