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.
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