Checking in on Oakland Raiders' Biggest Project Players

Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio has been purposely tight-lipped about disclosing his standouts during OTAs, but there are some insightful tidbits about developing project players in Alameda.

Wide receiver Amari Cooper and tight end Clive Walford have defined roles and early expectations at their prospective positions. What about draftees and fringe players who are transitioning or considered low-risk, high-reward pickups? Have their roles been defined? Do they have a legitimate shot to make the final 53-man roster?

We’ll answer some of those poignant questions about five players who are in undefined roles or seeking to solidify a roster spot as developmental talent.

Mario Edwards Jr.

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Yes, he was a second-round pick of the draft, but there was much confusion and displeasure concerning his prospective fit within the Raiders defense.

Inside Bay Area writer Jerry McDonald sheds some light on the parameters for defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. in an interview (via ibabuzz.com):

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Q: What’s the weight range that you feel comfortable playing at, because I know you’ve played different positions?

Edwards Jr.: “Talking to them, they like me at the 280-285 weight range, so that’s pretty easy to stay at.”

Q: Do they want you as an end then at that weight?

Edwards Jr.: “They want me as a Leo and to rush and then mismatch on the inside and do things like that as well.

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Two questions with two intriguing answers. A 280-285-pound Leo? Previously, the term Leo was attached to No. 3 overall pick Dante Fowler Jr. (261 lbs) and Bruce Irvin (245 lbs). It says a lot about what the Raiders think about Edwards’ athleticism even at 280-plus pounds.

Then again, what 280-pounder does backflips like this without dropping to the floor like a mass of heavy metal?

What’s also interesting is the variety of spots Edwards may line up across the defensive line. He won’t just be a gap-stuffer as many initially thought; he’ll also have the responsibility of developing a knack for rushing the quarterback.

Edwards' role as a defensive end was disputable, but many wondered if he’s just a setup defender for a more aggressive Khalil Mack as a pass-rusher at the linebacker position. As Edwards mentioned in his response to McDonald, he’s there to rush from the outside as well as create mismatches on the inside against less athletic offensive guards.

Max Valles

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Defensive end Max Valles is right behind Edwards in the pecking order in rushing quarterbacks, or is he? 

According to ESPN.com's Jeffri Chadiha, Del Rio was open about increasing Mack’s sack total:

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Since Del Rio coached Pro Bowl outside linebacker Von Miller as the Denver Broncos defensive coordinator from 2012-14, he'd like to see Mack have a similar impact on opposing passing attacks. "I think Khalil is way more physical than Von," Del Rio said. "Von got up to somewhere around 250 pounds when I had him but he's naturally closer to 240. Khalil can be up around 260 or 265 and they both play that strongside linebacker position and sub-pass-rusher role. Since most teams use their sub packages for two-thirds of the game, there will be some opportunities there. They're different but they're both special.

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Del Rio's comments focused on Mack, but the increased opportunities for Mack—in efforts to mirror what linebacker Von Miller accomplished in Denver—open up more opportunities for other players.

In 2014, three defensive ends for the Denver Broncos played 390-plus snaps as pass-rushers in a 4-3 base defense, per Pro Football Focus. Miller played 485 snaps as a pass-rushing outside linebacker.

If this is any indication as to what Del Rio plans to implement in Oakland, the top three DEs on the roster will get a fair shot at taking down the quarterback. Valles should be in the mix with Justin Tuck and Edwards as solid pass-rushers. There's no telling who will emerge as the second-best pass-rusher behind Mack if the coaches give each DE the same amount of snaps. 

It takes a little bit of investigative work, but it’s plausible Valles will have an earlier impact on the defensive line than originally projected. If the sixth-round pick gets anywhere close to 400 snaps, he could quickly progress into the second-best pass-rusher on it.

Neiron Ball

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Hybrid linebacker Neiron Ball (6'2", 236 lbs) hasn’t been discussed as extensively in pass-rushing duties. According to Marcus Allen Krause of Silver and Black Pride, he’ll have to earn his keep on special teams and also provide depth at outside linebacker:

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Though he wasn't able to be much of a contributor at Florida, he was a leader for the team with his strength and will power to battle through tough times. He will be depth at the outside linebacker position for the Raiders and is expected to be a contributor on special teams right away. 

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Ball’s outlook isn’t as clear and prominent as Valles', but he’ll become that burst of energy from sideline to sideline on special teams needed to complete a football team . Not every player on the roster is a standout performer. Every team needs grinders who aren’t concerned with statistics but are the glue in the locker room and on the field.

His strength and speed make him a great candidate to bolster blitz packages as an inside linebacker making a beeline toward the QB. Ball will not lead the team in sacks, tackles or tackles behind the line of scrimmage, but he’s capable of making a game-saving tackle, a game-ending sack or a major stop on fourth down in critical situations. He brings toughness and tenacity on every play.

Michael Dyer

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Two years ago, picking up running back Michael Dyer would have been a major deal. He likely would have competed for the starting position against Latavius Murray. He exploded onto the college scene, rushing for 2,335 yards in two years at Auburn.

Pro Football Talk writer Darin Gantt sums up Dyer’s roller-coaster ride from college standout to a relatively unknown undrafted free agent:

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Dyer was a key player at Auburn in 2010, winning the BCS game MVP and helping the Cam Newton-led team to a national championship with over 1,000 rushing yards.

But then a series of off-field issues caused him to transfer three times. After not playing at either Arkansas State or Arkansas Baptist, his college career ended at Louisville this year, but he was academically ineligible for their bowl game.

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Dyer is the classic low-risk, high-reward prospect. With the exception of Murray, the Raiders cleaned house at the running back position, but the starting spot is still up for grabs. Murray propelled his status from a sixth-round pick to potential starter, and his college resume is much less impressive than Dyer’s.

The former Auburn star was a backup RB limited by injuries, which explains his lackluster performances in two years at Louisville. However, an impressive offseason could create an opportunity in Oakland.

According to quotes AL.com writer Brandon Marcello provided, it looks like Dyer finally has his head on straight.

"I came out of high school and I had good talent and a lot of people around me supported me, but never really the structure to understand what it takes to maintain. Going through everything I went through, I understand that now," he said.

Considering the Raiders' hard stance on bringing high-character players into the locker room, it’s clear the organization saw potential in Dyer as a contributor. He has a steep mountain to climb to make the 53-man roster, but Oakland’s RB competition remains wide open.

Neiko Thorpe

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Cornerback Neiko Thorpe enters his second year as a Raider and third year in the league, but he still lacks experience, much like Oakland's CBs atop the depth chart.

After a brief stint playing in the Canadian Football League for the Toronto Argonauts, he has done nothing but impress in the offseason, per Silver and Black's Levi Damien.

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The one interception on the day came from Neiko Thorpe who made a nice play on a Matt McGloin pass. Thorpe, as you may recall, showed up big in training camp last year and earned his spot on the squad. He doesn't get mentioned a lot and didn't see the field much last season. I see him as a real sleeper for this secondary this season.

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Thorpe showed up impressively at OTAs yet again, but this season might be different in terms of his playing opportunities. Cornerback D.J. Hayden is in the spotlight and expected to deliver, a setback would elevate either cornerback Keith McGill or Thorpe in an extended role.

Thorpe has a lot more playing experience than McGill considering his rookie season playing with the Kansas City Chiefs and his stint in the CFL. Don’t be surprised if he gets the nod over McGill in case of a crisis at cornerback.

You can follow Maurice Moton on Twitter for the latest on the Raiders and NFL chatter.

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Player measurements courtesy of NFL.com