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Defense will be the strength of this Raiders team and there’s a lot of returning starters. But the preseason isn’t really about entrenched starters. It’s about hopefuls and those looking to be the guy who, if called upon, would keep the group from …
Defense will be the strength of this Raiders team and there’s a lot of returning starters. But the preseason isn’t really about entrenched starters. It’s about hopefuls and those looking to be the guy who, if called upon, would keep the group from missing a beat.
With that in mind, here are the top five positions battles to watch when the Raiders take on the Vikings on Saturday.
Two high picks the past two seasons at tight end makes for a heated competition heading into camp for Raiders.
A year ago the Raiders were heading into camp with one of the top tight end prospects in the draft. They had traded up in the second round to select former Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer at 35 overall.
Many people thought Mayer was the best tight end in that draft and thus were shocked when he fell into the second round. The Raiders included it would seem. So, they made sure they got him before anyone else could.
Then in last April’s draft they went and shocked the world at 13 overall. Thus setting up quite the camp position battle.
Moments after Bowers was selected, people began imagining how he and Mayer would co-exist. Discussions of two tight end sets became commonplace. But there is still only one ball on the field. And there’s the likes of Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers to think about as well.
Bowers dominated the SEC the past three years, most expect he will be an immediate star. But you might recall that Mayer also carried some high expectations as an immediate starter and difference-maker and he didn’t exactly cement himself as a surefire star at the tight end spot.
Even if Bowers is a star in the making, there’s no guarantee he will come flaming out the gates. Meanwhile Mayer is hoping to take the second-year leap.
It’s one thing to trade up in the second round for a guy. It’s entirely another to take a player at 13 overall with glaring needs at other critical positions. It’s also worth noting that Mayer was selected by the previous GM and head coach. So, there’s some pressure to prove Bowers was the right pick. Along with, you assume, is specific plans for him. So, while Mayer will see plenty of snaps, Bowers will be given every opportunity to shine right away.
Biggest battle at Raiders camp will come at the most important position.
Happy July, everyone. We are officially just three weeks away from the start of Raiders training camp. Among the first to report will be the quarterback who will arrive in Costa Mesa along with rookies on July 21 for the three-day pre-camp warmup.
The purpose of the early arrival for the quarterbacks is to try and shake the rust off before they are joined by their teammates. But will that be enough?
Based on what I saw the last time this group took the field, there is a lot more than rust to shake off. Namely with regard to the two who are currently competing for the starting job.
O’Connell got the nod for ten games last season as a rookie. He was not terrible, albeit notably stiff and immobile with little ability to create plays on his own. But he showed he does have a good arm.
Minshew is not known for his arm. He doesn’t throw a gorgeous ball. He just hangs around and manages to get the most out of his talents.
What everyone saw in the offseason practices were two quarterbacks struggling to find a groove. O’Connell was throwing wild, off target passes. While Minshew’s throws seemed to flail and wobble with no zip on them. It wasn’t a display that would yield a great deal of confidence in either player.
Regardless, this is what the Raiders have to work with and barring any further additions to the room, these two figure to duke it out for the job.
It will be the gritty journeyman backup versus the young buck with his third offensive coordinator still trying to find his rhythm.
This isn’t an ideal scenario to say the least. O’Connell has not shown he can be the guy and Minshew is considered a high-level backup on most teams. It feels like the Raiders will be faced with the lesser of the evils.
In the end, if these two are who they are choosing between, I’m going with Minshew. The Raiders are hoping their defense can lead the way, and the offense can just not lose games for them. Minshew is coming off a situation just like that last year in Indianpolis.
These 5 positions are up for grabs for Raiders this offseason
If you really want to get down to it, there are only a few positions that are completely settled for the Raiders at this very moment. But there are levels to this. Some offer a pretty good idea of who is on track to be the starter. While others the picture is far less clear.
This is about those positions at which the picture is quite unclear. Ones you can’t with any kind of certainty pin down a sure starter, or even, in some cases, a depth chart.
For that we look at five particular positions which will likely take through training camp to settle.
Right tackle is shaping up to be a free-for-all in Las Vegas
To say the Raiders’ right tackle job is up for grabs would be an understatement. Predictions on who will be the starter come the season as well as opinions on who is should be are vast.
There are probably about five guys who could potentially take this spot. They include last year’s top pick Alex Leatherwood, incumbent Brandon Parker, journeyman Jermaine Eluemunor, guard Denzelle Good, and rookie seventh-round pick Thayer Munford.
One could make a case for any of these guys to stand out from the rest. But the truth is no one really knows how it will shake out. And that includes the coaching staff.
Leatherwood was selected at 17 overall in the 2021 draft to be the team’s right tackle and was moved inside after just four games. Could he have developed since then and reclaim the right tackle job? That is the primary question for him. He also wasn’t great at guard, but he has a high salary and that could prompt the team to try to get him on the field in some capacity.
Parker stepped into the right tackle job after Leatherwood was moved inside. He wasn’t great, but the team brought him back anyway which suggests they see something in him. Perhaps a backup swing tackle?
Eluemunor’s three starts last season all came at the right guard spot. But started eight games at tackle in 2020 with the Patriots and Josh McDaniels. That could give him a leg up in this competition.
Good slid over from guard to tackle early in the 2020 season and played quite well for a couple of games. He may be best suited at guard, but if he is one of the best five options to be on the field, tackle could be where he lines up.
Munford may be a seventh-round pick, but he has a lot of tackle experience and was projected as a mid-round pick. Being a draft pick of the new regime means they have high hopes for him and could favor him over holdovers from the previous staff’s roster.
Honestly, any of these guys have a legit shot at the right tackle job depending on how things shake out in camp. The next step is to see who is getting first-team reps come minicamp in June.
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Dylan Parham will be given every opportunity to seize a starting job at either center or guard for Raiders
All through the draft process, the Raiders have talked about valuing versatility, particularly along the offensive line. So, when they made Dylan Parham their first pick at 90 overall, it made a whole lot of sense.
Parham has extensive experience, starting every game over the past four seasons for Memphis at both guard spots as well as right tackle. And since he started the draft process, the book on him is that he translates to the center position in the pros.
He began his college career starting two seasons at left guard. Then after a season at right tackle, he earned First Team All AAC at right guard. The Raiders could potentially use him at either guard or center and his ability to do both made him all the more intriguing.
“Definitely a part of the allure,” said GM Dave Ziegler of Parham’s versatility. “The value of a guy that can come in and play two spots. Just adds depth to your team. That’s an important part of the evaluation. Allows you the opportunity to add more players to the game.”
Parham, of course, said he would play wherever the Raiders ask him to play. The center position comes with a longer list of demands than guard, so there are reasons why NFL talent evaluators see him translating to center.
“I feel like center-wise, my intelligence,” said Parham. “I’ve had 51 starts throughout my time at Memphis so I’ve seen a lot of football. I’ve learned a lot of different things, seeing defenses and things like that, so I feel like it’s a combination of a lot of things.”
There is a large group of interior lineman on this Raiders team, but none of them have a lock on a spot. Parham will be thrown into that mix with the opportunity to earn a starting job.
“We’re going to let him come in and see what he can do,” said Ziegler. “And the more he can do, we’re going to allow him to do. We’re not going to set out with ‘you’re going to start here or start there. We’ll just give him an opportunity and see where it goes.”
“All our offensive linemen, they all get cross-trained across the board. . . The interior guys all work at guard and center. He’ll be no different than all the other guys on our team. We’ll give all the guys opportunities to work at both spots.”
Assessing the Raiders level of need at the cornerback spot with free agency coming up.
With free agency under a month away, it’s time to check in on the Raiders’ cornerback position to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.
Heading into last season, Trayvon Mullen was the only sure starter. Then he got injured, Casey Hayward ran away with the title of Raiders best DB and fifth-round rookie Nate Hobbs emerged as a phenom in the slot.
Mullen was injured in week four and placed on IR. He returned in week 14, and promptly landed back on IR. Despite the back-to-back injuries, this isn’t a common thing for Mullen. It’s actually the first time in his career he’s missed any games at all. So, he figures to once again be in line to start on the outside.
Hobbs was a force in the slot from the opener. He won the job in camp and never looked back. He has no glaring weaknesses on the field. I say on the field because his weakness seems to be poor judgment off of it. Behind the wheel of a car specifically, having been arrested for DUI and pulled over for going 115 in a 65 just two weeks later. If he gets his head on straight, he’s got a bright future.
They got only spot duty and marginal play from the others. Nixon has been serviceable at times, but nothing that would suggest he is starting caliber.
The Raiders a looking at the very real possibility of losing their top cornerback in free agency. Hayward followed Gus Bradley to Las Vegas last offseason, he could do it again with Bradley in Indianapolis. If that happens, or if Hayward simply takes a better deal elsewhere, the Raiders will have to be a player in the free-agent market for a corner.
What condition Raiders position is in ahead of free agency: Defensive tackle
With free agency under a month away, it’s time to check in on the Raiders’ defensive tackle position to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.
Last season the Raiders had a pretty decent rotation of defensive tackles in Hankins, Jefferson, Philon, and Thomas. McCoy was in the mix to start the season, but was injured in the season opener and didn’t return.
Hankins continued to be the lane clogging nose tackle, just as he had been the previous three seasons for the Raiders. He was joined by the others. The Raiders hoped they would get at least one starter and a solid rotation player, and they got that and more.
Jefferson turned out to be the closest to an every-down tackle among them, offering a good balance of run stopping and pass rush. While Philon and Thomas offered pass rush off the bench.
You may notice that word “None” by Returning starters. That’s right, every one of the defensive tackles who were either starters or solid rotational guys are headed for free agency. They would be smart to make a play to keep at least a couple of them. If not they will have to either sign an outside free agent or spend a high draft pick on one.
What condition Raiders position is in ahead of free agency: Center
With free agency under a month away, it’s time to check in on the Raiders’ center position to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.
Andre James was given the nod as the starter this season when the team traded away Pro Bowl center Rodney Hudson. Then James was given a vote of confidence with an extension. His start week one was just his second start of the former undrafted free agent’s three-year career. He had an up-and-down season as the starter. Not entirely justifying the former staff’s confidence in him, but showing some flashes and signs of improvement as the season went on.
Heggie was added to the practice squad late in the season and retained on a reserve/future contract.
The main question is whether the new coaching staff will be as enamored with James as the last one. James started the season rough, seemed to put things together in the middle part of the season, and then saw his performances dip in the final few weeks and the wildcard loss. An upgrade is very possible. Competition is a near certainty.
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What condition Raiders position is in ahead of free agency: Tight end
With free agency under a month away, it’s time to check in on the Raiders’ tight end position to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.
Darren Waller’s down numbers this season are mostly due to getting injured and missing five games. He isn’t injured much and has a legit shot at being an All-Pro at any given time.
Moreau is a serviceable second tight end. He is a decent blocker with underrated hands. While his overall numbers aren’t going to raise many eyebrows, he can sneak up on a defense and is enough of a threat to force them to respect him as a receiver.
When you have one of the best tight ends in the game, you are usually in pretty good shape. He is in line for a big contract extension, but regardless, he is under contract for next season, so there’s no real concern there.
Carrier and Bowers are mostly special teams players, so they won’t move the needle whether or not they stay.
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