Which running backs will not make Raiders 2018 roster?

The backfield got a little crowded for the Oakland Raiders once they signed Doug Martin in free agency at the behest of head coach Jon Gruden. Elijah Hood, the team’s 7th-round pick last year, was already cut weeks ago. And Chris Warren III, the son of former Pro Bowl running back Chris Warren Jr., was signed as an undrafted free agent this spring.

At 6’2”, 247 pounds, Warren is the type of big, physical back Gruden loves (remember Mike Alstott?). He’s also very talented but had his college career ruined by a knee injury. So he will get a chance to compete with Martin, who’s trying to show he has something left, to be Marshawn Lynch’s backup.

Gruden usually has one scat-back so DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard will likely compete for that role. The Raiders are only expected to go three deep at running back so the losers of those two battles will be cut during or after training camp.

It’s hard to say what happens with Martin and Warren because Warren is coming off that knee injury while Martin was good at one time but averaged just 2.9 yards per carry for his last two seasons in a row.

It will be equally as hard to win the scat-back job as neither has been special at that. Washington is a 2016 5th-round pick and Jalen Richard an undrafted free agent from the same year. In 2017, Richard has the edge in Pro Football Focus grade at 70.8 to 56 for Washington. But watching them on tape, they like they look evenly talented.

So what do the Raiders do here?

You can’t have draft picks back so will that be an edge for Washington?

Will Richard’s ball-security issues in 2017 be a factor against him?

Or will the big plays he made be a factor in favor of him?

Will Martin show he has something left or will Warren bounce back from his injuries?

Tell me what you think.