Making our way through the defense, we head into the secondary to take a look at the cornerbacks, which aren’t quite as deep as some other positions, but has strength at the top and some good competition for the final few spots.
Starters
David Amerson – 4th year
Sean Smith – 8th year
When the Raiders started last season, neither of these two were on the roster. Amerson was claimed off waivers from Washington after week two and Smith was signed this offseason. Making the Raiders starting cornerback situation night and day better than it was this time last year, going from arguably the worst cornerback rotation in the league to one of the best.
Reserves
TJ Carrie – 3rd year
DJ Hayden – 4th year
Neiko Thorpe – 4th year
If you need proof of the upgrade in the secondary see the three reserves here who were the top three corners on the roster to begin last season. Carrie has shown he is a capable starter, while former top pick Hayden hasn’t shown much. Last year Hayden found himself tumbling down the depth chart. Thorpe comes back on a second round tender, showing how much the team values him as depth.
Position battle
TJ Carrie vs DJ Hayden
Currently these two are battling it out for the nickel cornerback spot. Whomever proves they can play the slot will win the job. That would figure to give Carrie the advantage. Even while Hayden was the nickel corner at times in his first three seasons, he never played the slot. Whenever he would come in, Carrie would move inside and Hayden would stick to the boundary. Hayden will now have an entire offseason and training camp to prove to the Raiders he can play the slot. They like his quick feet, which would suggest he can make the transition, but there’s more to it than that. If he can’t do it, he’ll once again be buried on the depth chart.
Bubble watch
Dexter McDonald – 2nd year
The team’s final draft pick last year, he appeared in six games as a rookie. With Sean Smith onboard, everyone moves down a click which means making the roster again will be more difficult.
Practice squad
SaQwan Edwards – 1st year
A standout in camp last year, the undrafted cornerback out of New Mexico spent last season on the practice squad. Another camp performance like last year will have him hanging around again and perhaps earn call up to the regular season roster at some point.
The rest
Kenneth Durden – Rookie (UDFA)
Antonio Hamiliton – Rookie (UDFA)
53-man roster projection (45/53)
Quarterbacks (3)
Derek Carr
Matt McGloin
Connor Cook
Running backs (4)
Latavius Murray
DeAndre Washington
Jamize Olawale
Taiwan Jones
Wide receivers (5)
Amari Cooper
Michael Crabtree
Seth Roberts
Andre Holmes
Joe Hansley
Tight end (3)
Clive Walford
Lee Smith
Mychal Rivera
Offensive line (8)
Donald Penn
Kelechi Osemele
Rodney Hudson
Gabe Jackson
Menelik Watson
Austin Howard
Jon Feliciano
Vadal Alexander
Defensive line (8)
Dan Williams
Mario Edwards Jr
Denico Autry
Jihad Ward
Justin Ellis
Damontre Moore
Leon Orr
Stacy McGee
Linebackers (9)
Khalil Mack
Bruce Irvin
Malcolm Smith
Ben Heeney
Neiron Ball
Shilique Calhoun
James Cowser
Daren Bates
Korey Toomer
Cornerbacks (5)
David Amerson
Sean Smith
TJ Carrie
DJ Hayden
Neiko Thorpe
Bubble watch
RB Roy Helu Jr
TE Gabe Holmes
OL Matt McCants
CB Dexter McDonald
Practice squad (9/10)
RB Jalen Richard
WR Max McCaffrey
WR Jaydon Mickens
OL Denver Kirkland
OL Oni Omoile
DT Darius Latham
DE Greg Townsend Jr
LB Cory James
CB SaQwan Edwards
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