On pure speed alone, no other wide receiver on the roster can approach what Shedrick Jackson brings to the table in that regard.<\/p>\n
Blazing to a 4.25-second 40-yard dash time at the Auburn Pro Day as Jackson prepped for the 2023 NFL Draft, that kind of scintillating speed is a familial trait, as his great uncle and fellow Auburn and Raider product Bo Jackson was even more fleet of foot.<\/p>\n
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In comparison to other Las Vegas Raiders wideouts, Dont\u2019e Thornton Jr.<\/a> (second year, 4.30 40-time at the NFL Combine), veteran Phillip Dorsett<\/a> (eighth year, 4.33 40 at the combine), rookie Malik Benson (4.37 40 at the combine), undrafted rookie Jonathan Brady (4.39 40 at Indiana\u2019s Pro Day), and Tre Tucker<\/a> (fourth year, 4.40 40 at the combine) are the other blazers on the current 90-man squad.<\/p>\n Being fast is great. But it won\u2019t be the sole determining factor for Jackson\u2019s roster chances under a new head coach in Klint Kubiak. Especially with others having jets<\/a>, albeit not the same realm as Jackson. The Auburn product did have flashes last season in minimal offensive work (22 total snaps on offense in 2025) and is providing fleeting moments of impressiveness in the Raiders first mandatory minicamp session this past Tuesday.<\/p>\n By The Numbers 2025: 5 games (zero starts), 5 targets, 4 receptions, 56 yards, 1 touchdown; 1 carry, 3 yards.<\/p>\n Career: (2023-25), 10 games (zero starts), 6 targets, 4 receptions, 56 yards, 1 touchdown; 1 carry, 3 yards<\/p>\n But ensuring those aren\u2019t flukes is key. Which makes the third-year undrafted free agents quest to land on the 53-man roster a steep uphill climb.<\/p>\n Jackson spent six seasons with Auburn (2018-22) with the 2021 season being the most productive: In 13 games totaling 40 receptions for 527 yards and one touchdown. In total, the Alabama native saw action in 53 games netting 66 receptions for 874 yards and one touchdown, alongside one carry and rushing for 12 yards. Not surprisingly, Jackson went undrafted and signed with the Cincinnati Bengals<\/a>.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n After yo-yoing with on and off the Bengals active roster and practice squad his rookie season, Jackson was outright releasd in September of 2024 and the Raiders scooped him up in late December of that year before inking a reserve\/future contract for the 2025 season.<\/p>\n Once again, Jackson played the active\/practice squad shell game but did haul in his first-career touchdown catch \u2014 a 25-yard dart from then-quarterback Kenny Pickett<\/a> \u2014 in a Week 14 24-17 loss to the Denver Broncos<\/a>. This offseason, the 6-foot-1 and 198-pound 26-year-old is one of 12 wide receivers vying for not only a 53-man roster spot, but also practice squad considerations.<\/p>\n However, Raiders wide receiver coach Zach Azzanni stressed last week, at this point in time, there are no established roles at the position group and it\u2019s a wide open competition. Let\u2019s quickly take a look at projected starters: Tucker, Jalen Nailor<\/a>, Jack Bech<\/a>. Behind that group are most likely Benson, Thornton Jr., and Dareke Young<\/a>.<\/p>\n From a size\/speed perspective, Jackson is an intriguing talent. But ditto for Thornton Jr., who is a freakish 6-foot-5, 205 pounds, with 4.30 speed. That noted, Thornton, the Raiders\u2019 fourth-round pick (108th overall) in the 2025 draft didn\u2019t play a lick on special teams \u2014 zero snaps as a rookie, in fact.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n That\u2019s where Jackson\u2019s opening is. But he\u2019s got strong competition in that regard.<\/p>\n
Shedrick Jackson, Wide Receiver<\/p>\n