Experience, knowledge from older Raiders vital for young roster

Raheem Mostert, Alex Cappa, Geno Smith are important lead-by-example types in Las Vegas

At age 34 and 33, respectively, Geno Smith and Raheem Mostert are the two oldest on the Las Vegas Raiders. As such, the quarterback and running back bring over a decade of experience and knowledge as older players that’s vital for a young roster.

Smith, who has 13 NFL seasons under his belt, has seen the trials and tribulations as a pro signal caller and went from prized second-round selection by the New York Jets to castoff and to franchise quarterback with Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks.

Mostert, who has 11 years on his resume, is a classic tail of an undrafted free agent that bounced around before given the opportunity to showcase his fleet-feet with the San Francisco 49ers and then being a bell cow back for the Miami Dolphins in 2023.

As quarterback, Smith is at the helm of an offense that features big-time weapon and second-year tight end Brock Bowers — who is just 22 years old — while Mostert is part of a running back room that boasts the 2025 NFL Draft’s sixth overall pick Ashton Jeanty — who is 21 years old. With both Smith and Mostert knowing what it takes to sustain a career in the the pros, it’s imperative the rest of the Raiders soak up the tutelage and work ethic displayed by both.

“Honestly, I like the challenge,” Mostert said when asked about a leadership and mentor role as a veteran, when asked about being a veteran voice after one of the Raiders’ training camp sessions last week. “I feel like it’s a way for me to display who I am as a player and as an individual, and also to showcase my abilities as being a leader. You want to say you want to be a leader on the team, but for me, it’s all about action. This is ‘What have you done for me lately?’ That’s the mantra that’s always been around.”

We’ve already mentioned Jeanty’s age above and the rest of the running back room is young with Zamir White, Dylan Laube, and Chris Collier all 25 years old and Sincere McCormick 24. Thus, it’s abundantly clear the elder Mostert — who has defied Father Time — is the standout vet. And the neat thing for the running back room — and other Raiders — when it comes to the Purdue tailback is he’s willing to impart his knowledge.

“So if I’m able to come in in a situation like here and provide my leadership and my presence and to show everybody that, ‘Hey, look, I’m going to put in the work, you can learn from me, just ask the questions. I’m an easy going guy. I’m one of those guys that you can come up to and talk to about anything, and if you want to keep it on the hush, that’s fine with me too. I have an open door policy with my personality as you guys will get to know,’ so it’s a lot of fun,” Mostert explained. “And just wanting to be there for those guys, like once my career is over with, I want to look back and be like, ‘Hey, I helped that guy out, and whether he took the advice or not, I did my part.’ And that’s something I got to look myself in the mirror at.”

Smith, Mostert, and other newly-added veterans are set to bolster a standard set by incumbent Raiders like defensive end Maxx Crosby, defensive tackle Adam Butler, and left tackle Kolton Miller.

Throughout the offseason — from OTAs, to minicamp, to training camp — Las Vegas is assimilating to Pete Carroll’s culture and the Raiders head coach brings uncanny energy even at age 73. It’s at a level that rivals Crosby and has the buy-in is clear.

Which amplifies the veteran leadership in this rendition of the Silver & Black.

Take for example offensive guard Alex Cappa — added by general manager John Spytek before the onset of free agency back in March.

The 30-year-old lineman was a draft pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Spytek was a personnel man for the Bucs during that time period — and once he became the Raiders chief personnel man, Cappa was an addition after he was cut by the Cincinnati Bengals. So familiarity is there from the get, but is also multiplied by Raiders minority owner Tom Brady, who Cappa blocked for during the Bucs’ title run.

And to no surprise, the Humboldt State product is imparting his know-how to his fellow offensive lineman.

“He’s got experience. He’s played many years. So, just another guy you can go to if you have a question or if you need something,” Raiders right tackle DJ Glaze, who enters his second season in the league, said of Cappa. “Him playing beside me, we talk all the time. So, it’s been huge just to have another guy like that who can, just talk, feel through things. We learn the plays together. I feel like it’s helped out a lot, especially me playing beside him. But in meetings or whatever he’ll see a young guy do something, he’ll speak up, he’ll talk so I feel like it’s been huge and impact the whole room.”

The results will eventually speak for themselves, of course.

The good vibes that Carroll and his crew are bringing to the desert will be thoroughly tested when games start to count in the win-loss column. Lauded for his relationship building, Carroll made no bones about his lofty expectations for his Raiders in 2025. And for Las Vegas to win football games and reverse course on a downtrodden seasons, they’ll need to do it together — veterans and youngsters alike.

The Raiders do have sound leadership at integral positions. But Raider Nation is eager to see if that all pays off.

We’ll see soon enough.