Nov 19, 2022; Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA; Air Force Falcons safety Trey Taylor (7) looks on before a game against the Colorado State Rams at Falcon Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Raiders' Trey Taylor Set to Make Push at Safety Position

Originally posted on Las Vegas Raiders on SI
By Michael Canelo | Last updated May 12, 2025 3:00 PM ET

The Las Vegas Raiders are looking to get things going in the right direction in 2025. The big question for the Raiders is how the defense will look next season. The Silver and Black had a lot of key players leave in free agency this offseason.

But the Raiders also made a couple of moves to get their own free agent signings to take their place. New head coach Pete Carroll and new general manager John Spytek made the decision not to overpay players who were looking for new contracts, and instead signed players that they believe will help the team win more games next season and fix the things they are trying to do in Las Vegas.

The safety position for the Raiders is going to be interesting to see. The Raiders are going with Isaiah Pola-Mao to lead the way in the secondary at the safety position.

The Raiders lost Tre'Von Moehrig in free agency. But Pola-Mao showed last season that he is ready to take the next step to be a top safety in the league. The team also brought in veteran safety Jeremy Chinn to take the other safety position.

The good news for the Raiders is that defensive coordinator Patrick Graham has done a great job in getting all his defensive players ready, and they have found success when they take the field. Graham will look to do that again with the safeties in 2025.

Our Hondo Carpenter talked about Trey Taylor making a push up the depth chart on a recent episode of the "Las Vegas Raiders Insider Podcast."

"The guy that is right behind Chris [Smith II] and is pushing him ... and quite frankly, I think could beat Chris or Lonnie [Johnson Jr.]. It would not surprise me if he beats either one. I am all in on this guy," said Carpenter. "I like him as a human, I like him as a player, all the accolades from the Air Force ... Trey Taylor."

"Raiders really stole him in the draft last year. And last year was a disappointment. But it was a disappointment ... you know it was an adjustment. So when I say it is a disappointment, it is not a disappointment because of character or work ethic. He just has to work hard, which is never a question with him. He got to stay healthy, and I expect him to produce."