How many Raiders 2018 starters will be back next year?

As we pointed out recently, with so much turnover the task of finding even 12 returning players can be difficult. This was obvious when we posted the Raiders 2018 calendar and 7 of the 12 players on it were not on the team’s active roster this season. In many cases if a Raiders fan kept the calendar up, they were staring at former players. Often painfully, as was the case with October where Khalil Mack was featured.

The question is if there are even 12 players on this team who figure to be back next season, let alone be worthy of being the face of the team for a whole month. Let’s see.

Current Raiders starters who are under contract next season are as follows:

Offense (7)

QB Derek Carr

WR Jordy Nelson

G Kelechi Osemele

C Rodney Hudson

G Gabe Jackson

T Kolton Miller

T Brandon Parker

Defense (5)

LB Tahir Whitehead

LB Marquel Lee

DT Justin Ellis

DT Maurice Hurst

CB Gareon Conley

Total: 12

And that’s it. Out of 22 starters, nearly half of them will see their contract up after this season.

Other sometimes starters include fullback Keith Smith, slot receiver Seth Roberts, blocking tight end Lee Smith, and situational pass rusher Arden Key.

Starters who the team could look to re-sign include Jared Cook and Daryl Worley.

Making it quite likely we will see at least 8 new starters next season at running back, wide receiver, linebacker, defensive end (2), cornerback, and safety (2).