Oakland Raiders: 3 UDFAs who could make an impact

Lester Cotton, OG, Alabama

This last one was a bit more difficult. I see both Doss and Ingold as likely contributors for the Oakland Raiders going forward. After that, their UDFA class is much more difficult to judge.

Linebacker Te’Von Coney has the pedigree but lacks the speed and overall athleticism to succeed in today’s NFL. Offensive tackle Tyler Roemer has big-time upside, but has real off-field concerns and lacks functional strength up front. Instead, I am going with offensive guard Lester Cotton as the final UDFA who will make an impact for the Raiders.

Cotton is a massive (6-foot-3, 324 pounds) offensive lineman who shows impressive power at the point of attack. He shows clean hand placement, a strong initial punch and very good overall hand usage in the run game. He can dominate opposing defenders on impact and also shows the ability to steer them out of the way.

Cotton’s athleticism is not overly impressive, but he does move well for a man of his size. He shines as a pull blocker and can make blocks on the second level.

Unfortunately, the Alabama product will struggle at times against speed rushers and that is why he went undrafted. He is a bit slow out of his stance, leading to him finding himself behind explosive three-technique rushers. That being said, if Cotton can get his hands on the defender early, the block is usually completed. He also shows impressive anchor in pass protection, holding his ground on the interior a majority of the time.

His lack of quickness will get him in trouble at times, but Cotton is a smart, powerful and competitive offensive lineman who likely has a future in the NFL. The Raiders are not exactly loaded with depth on the interior offensive line. With a strong training camp, Cotton could easily find himself in the offensive line mix.