The Oakland Raiders open training camp on July 29 at the Napa Valley Marriott in Napa, California. Here's a closer look at the Raiders' camp:
Top storyline: The Raiders ended a 13-season playoff drought last year with their first winning season since, yes, 2002. As such, they seem primed to make a serious Super Bowl run, so long as quarterback Derek Carr is fully recovered from his broken right fibula (it appears so) and the 26th-ranked defense, even with reigning NFL defensive player of the year Khalil Mack, can plug holes up the middle (stay tuned). Then there's this: How will the fans, who gave the Raiders one of the top home-field advantages in the league, react to the team's impending move to Las Vegas? The Raiders appear ready to take that next step, but karma remains undefeated ... if you're into such things.
QB depth chart: Carr's five-year, $125 million contract extension this summer made him the highest-paid player in league history, so the Raiders are more than convinced that his leg is healed. Although Connor Cook started Oakland's playoff loss at the Houston Texans in January in only the second game for which he dressed, veteran signee EJ Manuel appeared to have the edge as Carr's backup late in offseason workouts.
Bubble watch: Keep an eye on right tackle Austin Howard, who started 10 games last season but is scheduled to carry a salary-cap number of $6.4 million in 2017, and running back Taiwan Jones, the last remaining Raiders position player drafted by Al Davis. Jones is entering a contract year, and though he has become a special-teams ace as a gunner, he has been edged out for carries. Howard, meanwhile, was relegated to backup status with the signing of Marshall Newhouse this offseason.
That rookie could start: Gareon Conley fell to the Raiders at No. 24 during the draft due to his being accused of rape at Ohio State. There is still no word on whether Conley will face any charges. There is a thought that Conley, if he is cleared, could supplant Sean Smith at cornerback and slide into the slot in nickel situations, with Smith going on the outside.
Carr's mobility: Sure, he's joking (we think), but Carr insists that he is faster than Mack and could beat him in a footrace. For the Raiders to succeed, though, Carr merely needs to avoid sacks, such as when he actually scrambled into Trent Cole's grasp on Christmas Eve and suffered that broken leg. Carr showed no limitations in offseason practices open to the media while showing off his ability to turn the corner on a few zone-read option plays.
Beast mode or bust mode?: Marshawn Lynch insists that he is coming out of retirement to play for his hometown team for all the right reasons -- he's doing it for the local kids so they can see him and other stars play before the team moves to Las Vegas. If he is right, his physicality makes Oakland's offense one of if not the most dangerous in the league. But what happens if Lynch, who has a heavily incentive-based contract, is not getting the touches he feels he deserves and if the Raiders, who have the fourth-toughest schedule in the league, get off to a slow start?
For daily updates at camp, check out the Oakland Raiders clubhouse page.