Raiders Depth Bolstered By Johnson, Hemingway

Las Vegas’ NFL team is leaning on a mix of youth and steady veterans as it rebuilds, with young players like fourth-round pick Tonka Hemingway pushing for a starting role after a strong training camp and late-season surge. GM John Spytek highlighted Patrick Johnson, a veteran he signed just before camp, whose versatility and special-teams excellence earned him a coveted 53-man roster spot. The Raiders also placed emphasis on internal development over free-agent additions to upgrade the defensive front, leaving the defensive tackle position unaddressed this offseason. In roster moves, veterans reshuffled numbers—Folorunso Fatukasi switching to 94 and Matt Gay to 4—while Shedrick Jackson was cut, signaling ongoing roster adjustments as the season approaches. The overall narrative centers on a deliberate rebuild that prioritizes young talent and proven depth players to close the gap with other contenders.