RAIDERS DRAFT 2024: DYLAN LAUBE SKILLSET MAKES HIM AN IDEAL 3RD-DOWN BACK
Tom Telesco hinted early on, shortly after he was hired as Las Vegas Raiders general manager, that the team may to take a running-back-by-committee-approach instead having a bell cow back when Josh Jacobs was the unquestioned starter.
Based on the moves Telesco made at tailback, the committee is shaping up.
The Silver & Black’s chief personnel man went about adding more talent to the running back room by brining in veteran Alexander Mattison via free agency, re-upping veteran Ameer Abdullah, and drafting Dylan Laube out of New Hampshire in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft (208th overall). In total, Las Vegas has six running backs on the roster and each bring something different to the table.
Zamir White is the favorite to get early carries as the “starter” while Mattison and Abdullah offer change of pace skills and third-down back potential as pass catchers out of the backfield.
And then, there’s Laube (pronounced la-ow-bee). He’s a late-round prospect who is older at 24 years old, but he brings the most balanced skillset and production as not only a ball carrier and pass catcher, but he’s a special teams hound. And, if he develops in time, he can make Abdullah redundant and expendable.
By The Numbers: Dylan Laube
- School: New Hampshire
- Position: Running Back
- Height: 5-foot-10
- Weight: 206 pounds
- 2023 Stats: 160 carries, 749 yards, 9 touchdowns; 68 receptions, 699 yards, 7 touchdowns
- Career Stats: 556 carries, 2,773 yards, 29 touchdowns; 171 receptions, 1,791 yards, 14 touchdowns; 90 kick returns, 2,027 yards, 2 touchdowns; 34 punt returns, 426 yards, 2 touchdowns
Laube impressed at the Senior Bowl with his low center of gravity as a running back and his ability to run routes both out of the backfield and split out wide as a pass catcher. Displaying the shiftiness and smooth cuts and hands, the New Hampshire back showed that his small school production wasn’t a fluke.
The 5-foot-10, 206-pound running back is also has the work ethic that Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce loves and is a quick study. Laube’s versatility and progression will entail his role this coming season and beyond.
Offensive Fit
The expectations for Laube aren’t lofty like his higher draft classmen, however, with his ability to run and catch, the New York native has an opportunity to carve out snaps on offense. If Las Vegas does go with the committee approach, the usage of multiple backs will keep the running back stable fresh while keeping opposing defenses off balance.
But with veterans Mattison and Abdullah on the roster, Laube is likely to be buried on the depth chart unless he showcases better third-down back talents. Both the veterans offer similar carry and catch skills and have done so at the NFL level already. But the Raiders have preached competition across the board and Laude does have the skill set to be a third-down back and everyone will be new to offensive coordinator Luke Getsy’s scheme. Perhaps Laube can assimilate quickly.
As a multidimensional running back who has the hand-eye coordination to catch passes while maintaining his full speed, Laube improved every season at New Hampshire as a pass blocker. That’s integral to be a third-down halfback in the NFL as if you’re not running routes, you’re helping the quarterback by buying them time to throw and keeping defenders at bay.
And it goes without saying: The jump to the pros from a small FCS school like New Hampshire can be quite the leap.
Laube may never be a full-time running back or receiver in the NFL, however, he has the suddenness and speed to take advantage of any work he gets — minimal as it may be.
Rookie Outlook
The place where Laube is most likely to make is mark in Year 1 is on special teams. Tom McMahon and his special teams crew are in need of explosive youngsters to jump into the mix and Laube is one of the the five Day 3 picks the Raiders made that have special teams experience in college.
Laube fits the profile as a core special teamer and that’s the quickest way to a 53-man roster across the league. At New Hampshire, Laube showcased impact return man production as both a kick returner and punt returner. Las Vegas needs more electricity from its return game and Laube should be in a good competition for both kickoff and punt return duties.
He also has the build, speed, and toughness to be on coverage units too. And Laude has the proper mindset as he embarks on his Raider journey.
“I think special teams is, if not the most important, the most underrated thing in a football game,” Laube said in a conference all after being drafted. “I take pride in playing running back and receiver. But also, special teams I feel like is what separates me from every running back in this class. I think me being able to do a bunch of different stuff like kick return, punt return, gunner, jammer, I think I’m able to do so many different things.”
Special teams is an excellent way to ingratiate Laube to the Silver & Black and prove he can produce against pro-level opposition and not just FCS competition.