The Oakland Raiders open training camp July 27 at the team’s facility in Napa, California. Here’s a 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACK (2): Derek Carr, Nathan Peterman.
Is it too hysterical to call this a make-or-break season for Carr? Well, all of his guaranteed money is paid out and if the Raiders have another top-five draft pick, well, that likely means Carr had a bad season and with two first-round picks next year, the Raiders can run the draft. Peterman over Mike Glennon? Peterman is younger, cheaper, more athletic and surely Jon Gruden sees a higher ceiling with him.
RUNNING BACK (4): Doug Martin, Josh Jacobs, Jalen Richard, Chris Warren III.
If Jacobs, the last of Oakland’s nine draft picks to sign his rookie contract, shows he has enough in camp to be the every-down back, then put Martin on the chopping block and give DeAndré Washington new life. Can Warren, then, be the thunder to Jacobs’ lightning?
FULLBACK (1): Keith Smith.
If undrafted rookie Alec Ingold has better hands than Smith catching the ball out of the backfield, this will be an enticing camp battle to keep an eye on.
WIDE RECEIVER (6): Antonio Brown, Tyrell Williams, Dwayne Harris, Hunter Renfrow, Ryan Grant, Marcell Ateman.
A renovated WR Corps is decidedly top heavy, but Carr has never had a weapon at his disposal like the tireless Brown. Williams can take the top off of defenses and diminutive rookie Renfrow’s sure hands are welcomed. Of these six receivers, though, only Ateman started more than one game at receiver for the Raiders last season and he’s still no sure thing to stick, either.
TIGHT END (3): Darren Waller, Derek Carrier, Foster Moreau.
Much is expected of Waller, both on and off the field, and fourth-round draftee Moreau better be a good blocker. Expect Carrier to battle it out with vet Luke Willson.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Kolton Miller, Denzelle Good, Rodney Hudson, Gabe Jackson, Trent Brown, Brandon Parker, Jordan Devey, David Sharpe, Jonathan Cooper.
While Richie Incognito is eligible to participate in camp and exhibitions, he will miss the first two regular season games due to an NFL-mandated suspension for bad behavior … that's he is not a camp casualty. Expect Good, then, to compete with the recently-signed Cooper to start the season at left guard. Can this rebuilt unit with the large Brown and his just-as-massive contract at right tackle keep Carr upright a year after he was sacked 51 times?
DEFENSIVE LINE (9): Clelin Ferrell, Johnathan Hankins, Justin Ellis, Benson Mayowa, Arden Key, P.J Hall, Maurice Hurst, Maxx Crosby, Eddie Vanderdoes.
The Raiders’ league-low 13 sacks last season were 17 fewer than the team with the next fewest. Enter No. 4 overall pick Ferrell, who many think could have been had much later. But he was the Raiders’ guy, and he comes with unquestioned character and a high football IQ. But, as some in the organization have wondered, is he “mean” enough? Keep an eye on Ellis as a potential salary cap casualty and on Key, whose skillset as a third-down pass rush specialist will be utilized this season.
LINEBACKER (7): Tahir Whitehead, Vontaze Burfict, Brandon Marshall, Marquel Lee, Kyle Wilber, Jason Cabinda, Nicholas Morrow.
Burfict, warts and all, fits exactly what defensive coordinator Paul Guenther wants his “quarterback” to do. “I’m not looking for nice linebackers,” Guenther told ESPN. The question, then, is will Burfict play within the rules enough to stay on the field at middle linebacker?
SECONDARY (9): Daryl Worley, Gareon Conley, Johnathan Abram, Karl Joseph, Lamarcus Joyner, Trayvon Mullen, Isaiah Johnson, Erik Harris, Nevin Lawson.
Even with Conley staying healthy and showing enough flashes to justify his selection as a first-round draft pick two years ago, and Worley settling into his role, the biggest addition is free-agent Lamarcus Joyner to solidify the slot corner role, while also filling in at free safety and being a solid locker room presence. Mullen and Johnson, drafted in the second and fourth rounds, respectively, could be steals and make last year’s fourth rounder, Nick Nelson, expendable.
SPECIALIST (3): K Daniel Carlson, P Johnny Townsend, LS Andrew DePaola.
Carlson, who set a Raiders franchise record by converting 94.1 percent (16 of 17) of his field-goal attempts after joining the team in Week 8, might not only have a new snapper in DePaola, coming back from a torn ACL suffered in last season’s opener, but a new holder, should A.J. Cole beat out Townsend, who had a rough rookie season punting the ball.