Underdog Raider headed for ‘make-or-break’ season

The Las Vegas Raiders have not exactly been considered a model of stability in recent years, with the franchise on their third head coach and Week One starting quarterback in as many years.

However, one coach that has survived the constant turnover has been defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. Hired to work under then-head coach Josh McDaniels, Graham has seen both him and Antonio Pierce be booted out the door before Pete Carroll came along. It is a testament to how well-regarded Graham is in some football circles, and players on defense have certainly benefitted from his steady tutelage.

One such player has stuck around nearly as long as Graham has, and the time is now for him to prove he can make an impact at the NFL level.

The current state of the Raiders secondary provides amazing opportunity for a former undrafted free agent.

Cornerback Sam Webb came along in 2022 at the same time as Graham and, outside of a brief stint with the Carolina Panthers, has spent his NFL career with the Raiders.

In his three seasons in the NFL, Webb has played 28 games and started three with the Raiders. He has recorded 37 tackles, three passes defended and a forced fumble in that span. The raw numbers are nothing to get too excited about, but Webb has clearly earned the trust of past coaching staffs to warrant playing time.

Now in his fourth year in the league, Webb has a tremendous opportunity in front of him.

Despite the Raiders making moves in the secondary, the slot cornerback spot once occupied by Nate Hobbs is still vacant. Webb will likely begin training camp as the backup behind Darnay Holmes, but his grip on the position is tenuous at best. A strong training camp and preseason could force the Raiders’ hand, and maybe even keep them from exploring outside options.

The next couple of months are shaping up to be the most crucial of Webb’s career, as a path to significant playing time is open.