Oakland Raiders' Projected Final 53-Man Roster, Pre-Training-Camp Edition
It’s about that time to start speculation on who makes the final 53-man roster for the Oakland Raiders.
Which players sit atop the depth chart? Which players are barely clinging to roster spots? And which players have taken a tumble off the depth chart into obscurity?
Before delving into the depth chart, there are a few curveballs to address. According to ESPN’s Adam Caplan (h/t ESPN’s Bill Williamson) offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave won’t utilize the fullback position. As a result, Marcel Reece is designated as an H-back.
Also keep in mind, NFL teams usually have at least two kick and punt returners on the active roster; at times these players are specialist even though they’re listed under their natural position.
Finally, long snappers are often neglected, but they’re crucial aspects to the special teams unit.
These small aspects are all in play when putting together a solid 53-man roster. When assessing a depth chart, it’s more important to add depth to thinner positions than activate players based on potential.
Teams can sign players off another team’s practice squad for more lucrative deals, so it’s important to keep undeveloped players with high potential active if possible.
After much consideration, here’s how the current roster shakes out for the Raiders.
Quarterbacks
1 of 10
| Position | Starter | No. 2 | No. 3 |
| Quarterback | Derek Carr | Christian Ponder | Matt McGloin |
Derek Carr comes into training camp as the consummate leader on offense. It was clear to running back Roy Helu Jr. once he arrived in Oakland, per Raiders.com writer Rebecca Corman.
“Once I came here, I knew who the leader was,” said Helu. “Derek was that guy and I’ve seen how he’s brought everything together. His leadership is very evident.”
The Raiders offense will go as far as Carr’s arm carries them, with questions surrounding the rushing attack.
Christian Ponder is slated as the No. 2 quarterback. Unfortunately for Matt McGloin, politics are involved, and he’s getting the short end of the stick.
Ponder got first-team reps during Carr’s absence in organized team activities, per Corman:
"My job, I understand, is the backup and I’m here to help Derek and help this team out. It is exciting for me to be out there right now taking first-team reps, but I know that this is Derek’s team right now. But I am bringing a competitive nature to it. I know Derek is a very competitive guy, and so is Matt McGloin. Bringing some competition in the room only helps all of us.
"
McGloin spent two seasons with the Raiders, yet Ponder comes in and immediately takes first-team reps while Carr nursed his finger injury. That’s politics. Musgrave pushed his former Minnesota Vikings running mate over a talented two-year player who knows the system.
It’s a small gesture, but it’s a slight indicator as to how Musgrave will handle the backup position at quarterback going forward. Ponder must be horrendous to lose the No. 2 spot to McGloin.
Running Backs
2 of 10
| Position | Starter | No. 2 | No. 3 |
| Running Back | Latavius Murray | Trent Richardson | Roy Helu Jr. |
| H-Back | Marcel Reece |
According to Oakland Tribune writer Jerry McDonald, Latavius Murray is the lead back in Oakland heading into training camp. Raider Nation hopes Murray expands on that impressive small sample size from the 2014 season.
Trent Richardson will get a legitimate opportunity to revitalize his career, but he’s behind Murray in terms of touches. Offensive line coach Mike Tice made reference to Richardson losing weight and gaining some quickness via SiriusXM NFL Radio (h/t Raiders.com): “I thought the young man out of Alabama [Trent Richardson] came on. He lost some weight, his quickness came around.”
It remains to be seen whether weight loss spurs Richardson’s rejuvenation and cures his case of happy feet when he approaches small creases.
Helu will likely become a threat on 3rd-and-short situations as a downhill rusher and capable pass-catcher. He’s an underrated ball-carrier and won’t see any significant touches unless the Raiders inherit the same Richardson who was booted out of Indianapolis.
Reece is the true X-factor within the running backs stable. His role isn’t clearly defined as the Raiders remove the fullback position from their offensive design. He projects as a tight end with running back qualities, which poses a dynamic threat when utilized properly.
The seventh-year veteran will have more opportunities to make plays, but he’ll contend for targets with two viable receiving tight ends and Helu, who possesses a knack for catching the ball out of the backfield.
Wide Receivers
3 of 10
| Position | Starters | Reserves | Reserves |
| Wide Receiver No. 1 | Amari Cooper | Rod Streater | Josh Harper |
| Wide Receiver No. 2 | Michael Crabtree | Andre Holmes | Austin Willis* |
| *Will serve as KR/PR on special teams | |||
Carr gets two new starting wide receivers in a revamped offense. He gets one veteran in Michael Crabtree and a promising rookie in Amari Cooper.
The Raiders will get the best out of Crabtree after an underwhelming demand for his services on the free-agent market in a contract year.
Cooper comes with so much talent that he's drawing comparisons to Marvin Harrison, per Reese’s Senior Bowl Executive Director Phil Savage via NFL.com: “Amari is super athletic, very fluid and highly skilled as a route runner and hands catcher. Because of his reserved demeanor and similar ability, I compared him to Marvin Harrison during the season.”
Rod Streater has very little experience working with Carr, but the tandem made up for lost time by working on their timing during the layoff. Streater also has some pressure on his shoulders in a contract year that should decide his financial fate with the Raiders or another franchise for years to come.
Andre Holmes will likely play his last season with the Raiders, barring an unforeseen spectacular 2015 season. In 2014, he led the team in receiving yards, which keeps him locked into the No. 4 wide receiver spot.
Undrafted free agents Josh Harper and Austin Willis round out the final spots within the wide receiver stable.
This may come as a surprise to some, but Harper’s connection with Carr should help him earn a spot. The Raiders are trying everything in their power to equip Carr with weapons and make sure he’s comfortable in the pocket.
Brice Butler is a Raider Nation favorite, but he loses priority to Willis, who has experience returning kicks, per SilverandBlackPride.com writer Levi Damien: "The Raiders have a great deal of competition at the wide receiver position in this year's camp. The Raiders are looking for someone to step up as a kick returner, which is something Willis can provide. That could be his key to carving out a roster spot."
In 2014, Butler recorded a mere nine catches for 92 yards over the last seven weeks of the season. He totaled 280 receiving yards for the entire season. Injuries during the offseason haven’t helped his cause and could be the reason for his demise in Oakland. Willis should solidify his spot as a kick returner, which pencils him into the No. 6 receiver spot.
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Tight Ends
4 of 10
| Position | Starter | No. 2 | No. 3 |
| Tight End | Clive Walford | Mychal Rivera | Lee Smith |
Clive Walford should take over as the starting tight end. The Raiders made it clear they needed an upgrade at the position by drafting him in the third round. Thus far, he has made quite an impression on teammates and the coaching staff, per CSN Bay Area reporter Scott Bair via Twitter:
"It’s clear from listening to Del Rio over the last few weeks and Ponder today that TE Clive Walford is making a solid first impression.
— Scott Bair (@BairCSN) May 26, 2015"
Walford and Mychal Rivera have the potential to become one of the best tight end duos in the league, if there are enough footballs to go around.
Blocking tight end Lee Smith won’t contend for any targets and makes the roster as a solid addition to the line to provide protection for Carr or the rushing attack.
Offensive Line
5 of 10
| Position | Starter | Reserves |
| Left Tackle | Donald Penn | Matt McCants |
| Left Guard | Gabe Jackson | J'Marcus Webb |
| Center | Rodney Hudson | Tony Bergstrom |
| Right Guard | Khalif Barnes | Jon Feliciano |
| Right Tackle | Menelik Watson | Austin Howard |
The left side of the offensive line stands strong with veteran Donald Penn and Gabe Jackson. Penn was ranked seventh among starting offensive tackles in the league, per Pro Football Focus. Jackson was praised by Tice as a rising star on the offensive line, per CSNBayArea.com:
"I think a guy that’s had the best offseason of everybody, and that’s Gabe Jackson out of Mississippi State," the Raiders O-line coach said.
[I’ve] had some familiarity with him in the Senior Bowl two years ago, when we coached the Senior Bowl when I was in Atlanta, he was on the opposing team and I got to spend some time with him. Gabe is a big, athletic, strong — great football background. His dad was a high school football coach. I think he’s a rising star. I think he has a chance to be a really good one.
"
Rodney Hudson steps in as the new anchor for the offensive line. He ranked third among starting centers in 2014, per PFF. He has the highest-paid salary on the roster, averaging $8.9 million per year on a five-year, $44.5 million contract. Musgrave feels he’s “worth every penny,” per Bair.
The JV side, also known as the right side of the offensive line, could change at any point leading up to the regular season. According to Williamson, J’Marcus Webb holds an edge over Khalif Barnes, and Menelik Watson holds a slight advantage over Austin Howard.
Watson is a second-round pick and likely gets another shot to prove his worth. On the other hand, Webb won’t maintain his spot over Barnes.
This is Webb’s first year playing at guard after starting one game in the past two seasons at tackle. Barnes should be on the field as an interior lineman for Week 1 of the season, unless Tice moves Howard back to guard.
Matt McCants adds depth behind both tackle positions. The three-year pro only has three starts, but he's only 25 years old with room for development.
Rookie guard Jon Feliciano isn't ready to step into the starting lineup; however, the subpar options at right guard could force Tice's hand in allowing the fourth-round pick to play earlier than expected.
Tony Bergstrom would likely take snaps as the emergency center behind Hudson. He took significant snaps as the backup center during last year's offseason and this year's offseason, per Damien: "The one development on the offensive line that I saw was Tony Bergstrom was getting some good work at center. Previously it was mostly just Rodney Hudson with Lamar Mady behind him. Bergstrom worked at center some in training camp last year."
Defensive Line
6 of 10
| Position | Starters | Reserves |
| Left Defensive End | Justin Tuck | Max Valles |
| Left Defensive Tackle | Justin Ellis | Stacy McGee |
| Right Defensive Tackle | Dan Williams | C.J. Wilson |
| Right Defensive End | Mario Edwards Jr. | Benson Mayowa |
Sadly, Justin Tuck is still the best pass-rusher on the defensive line and therefore needed as a starter. Mario Edwards Jr. will be expected to take on pass-rushing responsibilities, but without a track record of recording sacks, he seems way in over his head.
Keep an eye on Benson Mayowa as a rotational player in the lineup. Nonetheless, his limited track record for accumulating sacks also leaves question marks in his ability to fulfill a need for pressure up front.
Max Valles has the resume coming out of Virginia as a quarterback crusher, but he needs to flash that particular skill set during training camp to earn his snaps as a 20-year-old rookie.
The Raiders have made it tough for ball-carriers up the middle with the addition of Dan Williams alongside Justin Ellis. The two mammoth defensive tackles will plug the gaps, stuffing draw plays up the gut. But are they capable of pushing forward for a few sacks? Pressure directly up the middle would sufficiently supplement the pass rush on the outside.
Both C.J. Wilson and Stacy McGee will see limited action behind the starters. Wilson, the five-year veteran, fits the mold as a 3-4 defensive end with average pass-rushing skills.
Linebackers
7 of 10
| Position | Starters | Reserves |
| Strong-Side Linebacker | Khalil Mack | Malcolm Smith |
| Inside Linebacker | Curtis Lofton | Ben Heeney |
| Weak-Side Linebacker | Sio Moore | Ray-Ray Armstrong |
Oakland’s linebacker corps will generate a large portion of the sack total in the upcoming season, starting with Khalil Mack. Head coach Jack Del Rio intends to tweak Mack’s role, per ESPN’s Jeffri Chadiha:
"Del Rio wouldn't give many specifics on how Mack's role would change but he did make it apparent that Mack won't spend nearly as much time in pass coverage as he did in 2014. This time around, Mack will be chasing quarterbacks as much as possible, which is something he did quite well when given the chance, even if the sack totals don't look significant.
"
According to Corman, Sio Moore returned to mandatory minicamp and should continue to make strides headed into training camp:
"Recovering from his injuries kept Moore out of a majority of the offseason work on the field, but he was finally able to get some good reps during the Mandatory Mini-Camp. “It was even more of a learning experience going out there because now I see where I am and where I need to get to by the time camp comes around,” said Moore.
"
Ray-Ray Armstrong was impressive during the offseason and potentially earned some extra snaps in the regular season for his efforts. However, he's listed behind two highly productive starters in Mack and Moore.
Malcolm Smith has yet to turn any heads this offseason, but his former linebackers coach and current defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. should get the most out of him as a talented reserve linebacker.
Curtis Lofton will add an extra layer to a tough run defense. He’s also capable of defending intermediate pass routes to prevent tight ends from gashing the pass defense in the middle of the field.
Rookie Ben Heeney exhibited his ability to choreograph the defense in relief of Lofton, per Williamson. He’ll continue to learn from the backup position.
According to CBSSports.com rankings, Neiron Ball was projected to go undrafted. His injury history and lack of production at Florida really hurt his stock. As a result, the Raiders could comfortably stash him on the practice squad for a year or two instead of burying him as a third-string linebacker on the active roster.
Defensive Backs
8 of 10
| Position | Starters | Reserves | Reserves |
| Left Cornerback | Travis Carrie | D.J. Hayden | Dexter McDonald |
| Free Safety | Charles Woodson | Jonathan Dowling | |
| Strong Safety | Nate Allen | Brandian Ross | |
| Right Cornerback | Keith McGill | Neiko Thorpe |
There’s a small shake-up within the cornerback ranks. Carrie is locked in as a starter, but Norton should push Keith McGill into the starting lineup over D.J. Hayden. McGill provides a coverage style that Hayden and Carrie cannot duplicate. At 6’3”, 211 pounds McGill can get physical and win jump-ball situations against physically gifted wide receivers.
Hayden relies on footwork, shifting his body and quickness to make plays; these qualities are helpful when defending more agile receivers in the seam.
McGill’s size alone diversifies the Raiders' coverage options on the outside. Inserting the two-year cornerback into the lineup adds to the physicality and the toughness that Del Rio hopes to instill within the culture of this team. While Hayden is more of a finesse defender, McGill is the rugged type who is equipped to disrupt timing.
Neiko Thrope will see action in dime packages, unless Dexter McDonald exceeds expectations as a rookie. The No. 4 cornerback slot isn’t sealed yet. McDonald has an opportunity to impress the coaching staff as a physical defender capable of plucking passes out of the air. Oakland should keep him off the practice squad and active at a position full of unknowns.
Nate Allen fills a thin position at safety and brings the element of turnovers when quarterbacks throw to his area on the field. In 2014, Oakland recorded nine interceptions and was unable to stop the bleeding when attacked through the air. Signing Allen was an underrated move that should pay dividends.
Charles Woodson will undoubtedly start another year for the silver and black. He hasn’t missed a start since his return to Oakland. Last season, he led the team with four interceptions, and the Raiders hope to squeeze another decent season from the 18-year veteran.
Brandian Ross has played well in his 23 starts over the past two seasons and should still get a decent amount of snaps with the forthcoming retirement of Woodson on the horizon.
Two-year safety Jonathan Dowling is someone to watch as the season progresses. He’s a ball hawk with Ed Reed's return skills after creating turnovers. The Raiders' safety depth is thin but not short of talent.
Special Teams
9 of 10
| Position | Starters |
| Kick Returner | Taiwan Jones |
| Punt Returner | Austin Willis |
| Kicker | Sebastian Janikowski |
| Punter | Marquette King |
| Long Snapper | Jon Condo |
| Holder | Marquette King |
As previously mentioned, Willis makes the 53-man roster as a kick and punt returner. In 2013, Taiwan Jones led the Raiders in kick returns. He’ll resume his duties as a kick returner after nearly a year off the field with a foot injury. Technically, he’s the No. 4 running back, but the Raiders need his special teams prowess, per Raiders.com writer Eddie Paskal:
"Jones boasts incredible speed, running a 4.33 40 yard dash coming out of college, and that speed was on full display in 2013 as he excelled in both punt and kickoff coverage, leading the Raiders with 14 special teams tackles (12 solo). The former Eastern Washington Eagle also recovered a fumble and returned 26 kickoffs for 623 yards.
After the team struggled on kickoff coverage in 2014, Jones’ return to the field will be a welcome sight for new special teams coordinator Brad Seely and the entire special teams unit.
"
Maybe you thought Reece was the forgotten man on the Raiders roster. When was the last time someone preached about the importance of linebacker Jon Condo? Yes, he’s the seventh active linebacker who steals the spot from Ball. Condo has a defined role on the roster, unlike the rookie hybrid linebacker. In fact, Condo found his niche as the long snapper for the Raiders dating back to the 2007 season.
Punter Marquette King and kicker Sebastian Janikowski maintain their positions in kicking duties. However, it’ll be interesting to see how or if the new extra point rules affect Janikowski's leg. Then again, he's considered the man with the iron leg. We’ll see how that holds up.
Full Depth Chart
10 of 10
| Offense | |||
| Positions | Starters | Reserves | Reserves |
| Quarterbacks | Derek Carr | Matt McGloin | Christian Ponder |
| Running Backs | Latavius Murray | Roy Helu Jr. | Michael Dyer |
| H-Back | Marcel Reece | ||
| Wide Receiver No. 1 | Amari Cooper | Rod Streater | Andre Holmes |
| Wide Receiver No. 2 | Michael Crabtree | Brice Butler | Seth Roberts |
| Tight Ends | Mychal Rivera | Clive Walford | Lee Smith |
| Left Tackle | Donald Penn | Matt McCants | |
| Left Guard | Gabe Jackson | J'Marcus Webb | |
| Center | Rodney Hudson | Tony Bergstrom | |
| Right Guard | Khalif Barnes | Jon Feliciano | |
| Right Tackle | Menelik Watson | Austin Howard | |
| Defense | |||
| Positions | Starters | Reserves | Reserves |
| Left Defensive End | Justin Tuck | Max Valles | |
| Left Defensive Tackle | Justin Ellis | Stacy McGee | |
| Right Defensive Tackle | Dan Williams | C.J. Wilson | |
| Right Defensive End | Mario Edwards Jr. | Benson Mayowa | |
| Weak-side Linebacker | Sio Moore | Ray-Ray Armstrong | |
| Inside Linebacker | Curtis Lofton | Ben Heeney | |
| Strong-side Linebacker | Khalil Mack | Malcolm Smith | |
| Left Cornerback | Travis Carrie | D.J. Hayden | Dexter McDonald |
| Free Safety | Charles Woodson | Jonathan Dowling | |
| Strong Safety | Nate Allen | Brandian Ross | |
| Right Cornerback | Keith McGill | Neiko Thorpe | |
| Special Teams | |
| Positions | Starters |
| Kick Returner | Taiwan Jones |
| Punt Returner | Austin Willis |
| Long Snapper | Jon Condo |
| Holder | Marquette King |
| Punter | Marquette King |
| Kicker | Sebastian Janikowski |
How would you construct your depth chart? Who you would add and who would you remove? You can follow Maurice Moton on Twitter for the latest news on the Raiders.
All statistics are provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com, Sports-Reference.com and ESPN.com unless otherwise noted. Team rosters courtesy of Raiders.com. Player contracts courtesy of Spotrac.
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