AFC West news: Raiders sign former Broncos back Devontae Booker

The Las Vegas Raiders have bolstered their backfield by signing running back Devontae Booker away from the Denver Broncos.

The Las Vegas Raiders continue to retool their offense with the addition of a familiar face from the AFC West. Reporter Sean Cunningham has word that the Raiders will sign Denver Broncos running back Devontae Booker.

Booker was the Broncos fourth round choice in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Utah and despite myriad opportunities to earn significant reps, Booker could never quite make it work. Booker had 174 carries for 612 yards and 4 touchdowns for the Broncos during his rookie year but would never again earn nearly that sort of workload. In ensuing years, the Broncos would unearth Phillip Lindsay, invest in Royce Freeman and, as of this year, sign Melvin Gordon to a free agent deal.

With the Raiders, Booker is still going to have to do some serious climbing on the depth chart in order to make his presence felt. The Raiders watched DeAndre Washington sign with the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this offseason, but Jalen Richard remains as the complementary, third-down back alongside Josh Jacobs in the bell cow role.

Raiders rookie Lynn Bowden could take some reps here as an offensive weapon and other candidates on the roster include Rod Smith, a journeyman back formerly with the Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans, and William Stanback, a CFL All-Star in 2019 with the Montreal Alouettes.

Interestingly, the Raiders were also reportedly in on veteran back Frank Gore, although he decided to sign with the New York Jets instead.