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Ranking all Raiders positions from strongest to most critical condition plus poll results

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We rank every Raiders position heading into training camp giving it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Touch and go, Serious, or Critical.

After examining the status of each of the Raiders’ positions groups heading into training camp, we collect them in order from strongest to most critical, taking into consideration the results of the poll for each position ranking.

1. Guard

Starters: LG Kelechi Osemele, RG Gabe Jackson

Depth: Denver Kirkland, Chauncey Briggs, Ian Silberman, Jordan Simmons

See the detailed breakdown of the position here.

Diagnosis: Strong

Poll results: 95% Strong

My take: Easily the strongest position on the team with All Pro left guard Osemele and Pro Bowl caliber and recently extended right guard Jackson. Many options for depth as well.

2. Center

Starter: Rodney Hudson

Depth: Jon Feliciano, Oni Omoile

See the detailed breakdown of the position here.

Diagnosis: Strong

Poll results: 84% Strong

My take: Accurate. Hudson is among the best centers in the league. Feliciano is a passable utility interior backup.

3. Edge rusher

Starters: Khalil Mack, Bruce Irvin

Depth: James Cowser, Shilique Calhoun, Jimmy Bean, LaTroy Lewis, Brady Sheldon

See the detailed breakdown of the position here.

Diagnosis: Strong

Poll results: 74% Strong

My take: It’s hard not to think about how much stronger this unit could be with Aldon Smith in the lineup. But he is not here because he can’t get himself together long enough to be reinstated. It’s a testament to how well Mack and Irvin played last season that the position is still Strong even with little in the way of quality depth behind them.

4. Quarterback

Starter: Derek Carr

Depth: Connor Cook, EJ Manuel

See the detailed breakdown of the position here.

Diagnosis: Strong

Poll results: 71% Strong

My take: The fans agree with the strength of this position. The newly very rich Carr is among the league’s elite QB’s while Manuel has shown himself to be a real contender to take the primary backup spot from Connor Cook.

5. Running back

Starters: Marshawn Lynch, Jamize Olawale (FB)

Depth: Jalen Richard, DeAndre Washington, Taiwan Jones, Elijah Hood, John Crockett

See the detailed breakdown of the position here.

Diagnosis: Stable

Poll results: 71% Strong

My take: My diagnosis was below the fan’s take. And I may be underselling it due to my slight hesitance to be certain about Lynch at 31 years of age. I accept that. I am as excited as the next person to see Marshawn Lynch run behind that line with change-of-pace backs Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington back there as well, so I get it.

6. Wide receiver

Starters: Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree

Depth: Cordarrelle Patterson, Seth Roberts, Johnny Holton, Jaydon Mickens, KJ Brent, Keon Hatcher, Isaac Whitney, Ishmael Zamora

See the detailed breakdown of the position here.

Diagnosis: Stable

Poll results: 63% Strong

My take: Judging solely on the two starters, yes this position is strong. Coop and Crab were both 100-yard receivers last season. My reasoning for not having it strong is the still uncertainty at the slot position. The addition of Cordarrelle Patterson doesn’t solve that.

7. Tight end

Starters: Jared Cook, Lee Smith

Depth: Clive Walford, Gabe Holmes, Ryan O’Malley, Cooper Helfet, Pharaoh Brown

See the detailed breakdown of the position here.

Diagnosis: Stable

Poll results: 50% Stable (42% Strong)

My take: Adding a new starter is exciting. Cook and running back Marshawn Lynch are the only sure new starters on the team. Cook is an upgrade. He stabilizes a notoriously weak position for the Raiders over the past few years.

8. Safety

Starters: Reggie Nelson, Karl Joseph

Depth: Obi Melifonwu, Keith McGill, Shalom Luani, Rickey Jefferson, Marcus McWilson, Anthony Cioffi

See the detailed breakdown of the position here.

Diagnosis: Stable

Poll results: 63% Stable

My take: Returning a Pro Bowler in Nelson and last year’s 14th overall pick Joseph with a full offseason under his belt. Add Melifonwu as this year’s round two pick with the ability to either take the field with the starters or potentially take over at strong safety if needed and you have a stable situation.

9. Cornerback

Starters: Sean Smith, David Amerson

Depth: Gareon Conley, TJ Carrie, Antonio Hamilton, Dexter McDonald, Kenneth Durden, Breon Borders, Chris Humes

See the detailed breakdown of the position here.

Diagnosis: Touch and go

Poll results: 43% Touch and go (41% Stable)

My take: I am impressed with the results of the poll, to be honest, because it has Touch and go narrowly outperforming stable. On one hand, spending a first round pick on a corner is a good thing. On the other hand, there’s still uncertainty surrounding Conley’s sexual assault allegations and he is, after all, just a rookie, so there could be growing pains.

10. Offensive tackle

Starters: LT Donald Penn, RT ???

Depth: Austin Howard, Marshall Newhouse, Vadal Alexander, Denver Kirkland, David Sharpe, Jylan Ware, Chauncey Briggs, Kareem Are

See the detailed breakdown of the position here.

Diagnosis: Touch and go

Poll results: 39% Touch and go (38% Stable)

My take: I can only assume the close call between Touch and go and Stable is because many believe there are several good options to choose from at right tackle. There is nothing certain about that. The Raiders are hoping the cream rises to the top, but we could just as easily be looking at a lesser of evils situation (again).

11. Defensive interior

Starters: Mario Edwards Jr, Denico Autry

Depth: Jihad Ward, Branden Jackson, Eddie Vanderdoes, Treyvon Hester, Chris Casher, Fadol Brown

See the detailed breakdown of the position here.

Diagnosis: Touch and go

Poll results: 49% Touch and go (25% Stable)

My take: It’s good to see grounded fans who answer polls honestly. Because while we’d like to believe the return of Mario Edwards Jr will make all the difference, that’s just cautious optimism at this point.

12. Nose tackle

Starter: Justin Ellis

Depth: Darius Latham, Paul Boyette

See the detailed breakdown of the position here.

Diagnosis: Serious

Poll results: 44% Touch and go (28% Serious)

My take: It may be splitting hairs here between Serious and Touch and go. Only because Tough and go suggests the position could be Serious and fans tend to want to believe could be ok. I’m assuming the potential for DT Eddie Vanderdoes to play some at the nose is where some believe an upgrade could occur.

13. Inside linebacker

Starters: Cory James, Tyrell Adams

Depth: Jelani Jenkins, Marquel Lee, Ben Heeney, Xavier Woodson-Luster, Najee Harris, Nicholas Morrow

See the detailed breakdown of the position here.

Diagnosis: Critical

Poll results: 47% Critical (31% Serious)

My take: It’s a head-scratcher that this position is so consistently in critical condition. But here we are again.