Raiders' Projected Winners of Key Position Battles

The Las Vegas Raiders' preseason opener has come and gone, which means that the Raiders are one step closer to filling out their 53-player roster.

Las Vegas showed that it had a lot of foundational pieces in place during its late surge in 2023. However, few would argue that the Raiders had one of the more complete teams in the NFL.

This probably remains the case, though the addition of players like Gardner Minshew, Christian Wilkins and rookie tight end Brock Bowers does make for a better roster, on paper. Of course, the task of making roster cuts and filling starting roles remains ongoing.

As is the case for every team, Las Vegas will look to solidify its starting lineup through training camp battles.

Below, you'll find a look at three of the Raiders' most important training camp competitions and a few predictions based on past performances, player potential, roster makeup and any relevant recent buzz

Quarterback

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Aidan O'Connell

The Raiders are one of the few NFL teams with a legitimately open quarterback competition this offseason. Incumbent Aidan O'Connell got the start in the preseason opener, but both he and Minshew did some good things.

O'Connell was efficient on his only drive, going 7-of-9 for 76 yards and leading Las Vegas to a field goal. A third-down sack erased O'Connell's shot at putting a touchdown on the board.

Minshew was less efficient but flashed superior arm talent and mobility while leading two touchdown drives against the Minnesota Vikings' backups. He finished 6-of-12 for 112 yards and a touchdown. Minshew also picked up a key first down with a seven-yard scramble.

"I thought the quarterbacks responded well," head coach Antonio Pierce said, per The Athletic's Vic Tafur.

While Saturday's game certainly didn't settle much, it showed the differences between the two quarterbacks. Minshew is more of a running threat, and his ability to push the ball down the field complements big-play pass-catchers like Bowers, Tre Tucker and Davante Adams.

The remainder of the preseason could change things. However, the prediction here is that Minshew's skill set earns him the starting job for Week 1. If he struggles in the regular season, Las Vegas can always turn back to the "safe" starter, O'Connell.

Projected Winner: Minshew

Right Tackle

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Thayer Munford Jr.

Regardless of who wins the starting QB job, the Raiders need to field a quality offensive line if they hope to compete in the AFC West this season. Left tackle Kolton Miller, center Andre James and right guard Dylan Parham have three of the five spots locked up.

However, there's an ongoing battle at right tackle between holdover Thayer Munford Jr. and rookie third-round pick D.J. Glaze. Munford made 10 starts along the offensive line last season but had his fair share of ups and downs—he allowed four sacks across 521 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.

However, Munford appears to be holding off the rookie for the time being, but that could change in the coming weeks.

"Munford's grip on the starting job appears safe—for now—but Glaze forced himself into the mix for playing time," Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal wrote on August

The prediction here is that Glaze does indeed push into a starting role, though perhaps not entirely for obvious reasons. Miller is still recovering from shoulder surgery, and after playing both right and left tackle last season, Munford is better positioned to fill a very valuable swing-tackle role.

As long as the rookie continues to progress, Glaze should be in the Week 1 lineup.

Projected Winner: Glaze

Cornerback

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Jackson Powers-Johnson

Expectations are likely higher for rookie second-round pick Jackson Powers-Johnson than they are for Glaze. However, the Oregon product may actually have a harder time cracking the starting lineup ahead of Week 1.

Powers-Johnson is competing against Cody Whitehair, who brings a big advantage with him over from the Chicago Bears. He has experience playing for new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy.

"I've seen a lot playing in this offense a couple years," Whitehair said, per Aidan Champion of SI.com. "I've heard a lot of the play calls, a lot of the cadence and stuff."

While Powers-Johnson is a very promising prospect—he was the 23rd-ranked player on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's final draft board—it's feeling more and more likely that Whitehair will hold him off.

Whitehair, a 2018 Pro Bowler, has 118 starts on his resume plus the aforementioned experience under Getsy. That earned him a starting spot on the Raiders' first unofficial depth chart and should earn him the starting role early in the season.

Powers-Johnson may eventually take over, but opening camp on the physically unable to perform list with a shoulder injury has likely set him back in the competition.

Projected Winner: Whitehair