Las Vegas Raiders roster changes as Fast-track cornerback,defensive line and wide receiver added to the

When you consider how their season began and the midseason alterations the squad went through to get 5-5, the Las Vegas Raiders can make an unlikely postseason run.

Interim head coach Antonio Pierce has transformed the tone in the locker room, and it’s showing on the field. Since taking over for former head coach Josh McDaniels, who struggled to use the club’s offensive talent, he’s gone 2-0.

After victories over the New York Giants and New York Jets, the Raiders will move on to a more difficult stretch of the schedule, with games against the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs on the horizon.

While it’s nice to see the Raiders gaining momentum before facing playoff-caliber teams, they’ll surely need to increase their level of play, beginning Sunday against the Dolphins.

Coach Pierce and his staff can make squad changes to meet up with the high-flying offenses and stout defenses that his team will face in the coming weeks in order to compete with clubs at the top of the AFC.

We’ll look at five personnel moves the Raiders can make to help them compete against top-tier opponents.

Follow along with each Raiders game on the updated NFL game schedule.

Fast-track cornerback Jack Jones into a big role

If not for academic struggles and off-field transgressions, Jones may have been a Day 2 pick last year. He had a solid rookie campaign as a starter with the Patriots, logging six pass breakups and two interceptions while allowing a 54.1 percent completion rate and zero touchdowns in 13 starts.

This year, Jones fell out of favor with the Patriots and didn’t start in five appearances. He provided a simple explanation for his departure from New England.

“I would say it wasn’t the best fit,” Jones said via ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez. “I can’t really speak too much about it, just because I’m not on the coaching staff. I can’t call it. Just wasn’t the best fit, but I’m glad to be here.”

As a collegian, Jones recorded 26 pass breakups and 10 interceptions in four terms (one at USC and three at Arizona State). He became a first-year starter in New England, which isn’t an easy task for a middle-round pick.

Despite his lean 5-foot-11, 175-pound frame, Jones has the ball skills to earn a sizeable role in the Raiders secondary.

Amik Robertson has played well, but he’s in concussion protocol. Nate Hobbs has missed nine games because of injuries over the past two seasons. Rookie fourth-rounder Jakorian Bennett isn’t ready for a lead role; he’s giving up a 69.4 percent completion rate and a 105.2 passer rating.

Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and Co. should prepare Jones to play by easing him into nickel and dime packages. The Raiders’ eighth-ranked pass defense needs solid reinforcement in case of attrition due to injuries.

Related: See where Aidan O’Connell lands in Sportsnaut’s NFL QB rankings

Insert Nesta Jade Silvera into the defensive line rotation

Another Coach Pierce pupil from Arizona State, rookie seventh-rounder Nesta Jade Silvera has only appeared in two games this season, logging just two tackles. He played well in the preseason and essentially took Matthew Butler’s spot on the 53-man depth chart.

Through 10 weeks, Las Vegas has allowed 135.6 rushing yards per contest. Starting this weekend, when the Raiders face the Miami Dolphins’ second-ranked ground attack, they will need all big bodies on deck.

Though Bilal Nichols, John Jenkins, Adam Butler, and Jerry Tillery have all had solid games on the interior, the coaching staff should explore Silvera’s upside.

At this point, Byron Young’s inability to make any impact should ring alarm bells. He’s a rookie third-rounder who’s appeared in six games but hasn’t flashed in limited duty.

Clearly, the Raiders’ 29th-ranked run defense needs more help to plug holes on the interior. They need one or both of their rookie defensive tackles to provide some bulk up front.

Related: Top 2023 NFL Rookie of the Year candidates: C.J. Stroud in a league of his own

Experiment with Tyree Wilson’s position on the defensive line

As previously mentioned, the Raiders don’t have a consistent defender on the interior who can stop the run. On top of that, the team hasn’t had an interior pass rusher to take pressure off its edge rushers. Maxx Crosby can wreck the opponent’s game plan, but the Raiders cannot expect him to do it every week.

At 6-foot-6”, 275 pounds, Tyree Wilson may have the size and the quickness, if he gets off the ball with urgency, to win battles at the line of scrimmage on the interior.

Graham should find out if Wilson has inside-out versatility. He can move the rookie first-rounder between the edge rushers on obvious passing downs to test him against slower defensive tackles.

After undergoing foot surgery early this year and missing just about all of training camp, Wilson has had a slow start to the season, but he’s made incremental progress in recent weeks. Since Week 7, the Texas Tech product has logged 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

Wilson can pick up momentum in the remaining seven contests, though Graham could unlock another feature of his game by lining him up in different spots between Crosby and Koonce.

Related: How does the Las Vegas Raiders defense stack up to the competition?