Serious
Offensive Tackle
Returning starters: Kolton Miller
Depth: Thayer Munford, Jackson Barton, Sebastian Gutierrez
Free agents: Jermaine Eluemunor, Brandon Parker
Miller is one of the more solid left tackles in the NFL. However, the Raiders continue to search for the answer at right tackle. Eluemunor held his own for the latter part of last season, but he is looking at free agency.
Defensive interior
Starters: Bilal Nichols
Depth: Neil Farrell Jr, Matthew Butler, Adam Butler, Kyle Peko
Free agents: Andrew Billings, Jerry Tillery
The interior unit was made over wholesale this year and it was not an upgrade. Is hiring a new defensive line coach the answer here? I don’t think so. Time to stop messing around and take this position seriously. Time to bring in a dominant force in the middle.
Running back
Returning starters: None
Depth: Zamir White, Brittain Brown, Brandon Bolden, Austin Walter, Sincere McCormick
Free agents: Josh Jacobs, Jakob Johnson, Ameer Abdullah
Jacobs was relied upon heavily last season and ran to the league rushing title. The team would like to re-sign him but has yet to do that. If they aren’t willing to meet his asking price, he will be gone and the position will be void of proven talent. They used draft picks on Zamir White and Brittain Brown last season, but neither emerged.
Linebacker
Returning starters: Divine Deablo
Depth: Luke Masterson, Darien Butler, Harvey Langi, Curtis Bolton
Free agents: Denzel Perryman, Jayon Brown, Micah Kiser
Why: They need to bring back Denzel Perryman, first and foremost. If they don’t, they will have to be in the market for his replacement at middle linebacker.