Predicting Oakland Raiders' Training Camp Standouts

The opening of Oakland Raiders training camp is less than a week away. Raider Nation's anticipation, and the butterflies within the players begin to mount.

It’s the beginning of the second phase in building a sound foundation for the upcoming season. The Raiders have plenty of rookies and second-year players slated to take on huge roles. There are veterans entering proverbial make-or-break seasons as potential starters.

There are also plenty of questions that need answers before kickoff August 13 at home against the Cincinnati Bengals. We’ll discuss part one of a series of training camp questions coming forth.

Which players are primed to stand out during training camp? Who’s going to continue to impress the coaching staff leading into the preseason? 

Wide Receiver Amari Cooper

Noah Berger/Associated Press

Amari Cooper

This is the most obvious choice as a breakout training camp performer. Wide receiver Amari Cooper had a solid showing during organized team activities and minicamps minus a couple of days marred by dropped passes.

No need to worry because Cooper and quarterback Derek Carr worked out the kinks on their own time prior to the opening of training camp, per CSNBayArea.com reporter Scott Bair:

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Despite being hours away from the East Bay during prime time for last-minute vacations, attendance was strong. Nearly everyone showed up for the two-day session, which featured passing drills and conditioning work.

While first-round pick Amari Cooper wasn't in Bakersfield, he and Carr worked out privately earlier in the offseason.

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According to Bair, Hall of Fame wide receiver and Raider icon Tim Brown sees Cooper as a future great. Well, it takes one to know one, right?

There’s no basis to disagree with Brown on his assessment of Cooper. He’s plugged in mentally, and his track record doesn’t show any sign of slowing down upon breaking into the NFL. Expect Cooper to establish himself as “the guy” among all Raiders’ receivers. 

Carr understands the Raiders drafted Cooper with the No. 4 overall pick to push the vertical attack into overdrive. Both wide receivers Rod Streater and Michael Crabtree are playing in contract years as variables for the future. Cooper will undoubtably remain on the roster over the next few seasons. It's important for the Raiders offense to establish the Carr-Cooper tandem. 

Running Back Latavius Murray

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Latavius Murray

This choice wasn’t as clear-cut as Cooper, but running back Latavius Murray comes off as a very convincing candidate to impress during training camp.

According to NBCBayArea.com writer Doug Williams, Murray knew the conclusion to last season wasn’t enough to earn his spot as the starting running back with the new coaching staff. The third-year running back continued to hone his craft leading up to OTAs and minicamps; now, he’s ready to push things into a higher gear for training camp:

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It’s me proving to them that it wasn’t just a couple carries here and there at the end of the season,” Murray told Ditota. “It’s what I can do. I know how important training and everything I put into the summer is going into the year because I know how important the season is for me and for the team in general.

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Murray is definitely talking the talk. He’ll have to walk the walk starting July 31, and he’s equipped to do so with his work ethic. He’s well aware his teammates Trent Richardson, Roy Helu Jr. and Michael Dyer all have something to prove at different stages in their respective careers.

Murray has to compete at a high level during practice with a chip on each running back’s shoulders. The competition should bring out the best in Murray once players put the pads on.

Tight End Clive Walford

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Clive Walford

Tight end Clive Walford opened plenty of eyes during OTAs and minicamp to develop his outlook as a starter in September, per ESPN’s Bill Williamson:

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There is hope inside the Raiders' building that Walford can become an instant impact player and become the second best option for Carr behind Cooper early in his career. While Rivera will have a role, it will likely be as Walford's backup. 

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Tight end Mychal Rivera isn’t a poor talent, but he’s considered one-dimensional. Walford comes into a situation with expectations of providing Carr with another solid receiving threat and supplementing the offensive line as a big body of obstruction (6’4”, 258 lbs).

Rivera was ranked as the worst run-blocking tight end among starters in 2014, per Pro Football Focus, an area the Raiders hope to improve for the benefit of their rushing attack. Walford is on his way to solidifying his spot as a starter if he continues to show effort as an extra offensive lineman on the edge.

Cornerback Keith McGill

Eric Risberg/Associated Press

(Front) Travis Carrie (Middle (Keith McGill) (Back) Neiko Thorpe

The competition for the No. 2 cornerback slot alongside Travis Carrie can go in two different directions. One solution favors allowing D.J. Hayden another opportunity to perform at a high level as a starter. The other solution favors going big at cornerback to combat the increasing size of the average wide receiver coming into the league.

The competition is dead even right now with Hayden starting the offseason as the unquestioned starter and ending with Keith McGill stealing first-teams reps from Hayden, per Williamson.

Both players have a lot to prove, but Hayden has loftier expectations because of his status as a former first-round pick. McGill has less to lose as a second-year player expected to play behind Hayden. The fact McGill has taken first-team reps bodes well for his outlook in the upcoming season.

He offers a different skill set to the Raiders pass coverage, which explains why defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. should be more interested in starting the second-year cornerback.

In this case, change is good. It doesn’t mean tossing Hayden off to the side, but possibly shaking up the lineup to get better results. Expect McGill to show off his ability to get physical and blanket receivers with his 6’3”, 211-pound frame.

Wide Receiver Austin Willis

Eric Risberg/Associated Press

(left) Austin Willis

Let’s transition from the high-profile players and controversial position battles to an overlooked potential standout. The No. 5 and No. 6 wide receiver positions seem insignificant to most, but for wide receiver Austin Willis, they mean everything as an under-recruited, undersized receiver out of Emporia State in Kansas, per Emporia Gazette writer Corbin McGuire.

Willis faces tough competition for the last two spots on the wide-receiver depth chart with Brice Butler, Kenbrell Thompkins and Josh Harper all in the mix. Taiwan Jones will likely return kicks on special teams as he did in 2013, and Willis could join him.

He had limited success as a kick returner in his college days, per 247sports.com writer Jeremy Warnemuende:

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A speedster who has reportedly run a sub-4.4 second 40-yard dash, Willis hopes to use that quickness and a determined effort to make the team. He plans to prove his willingness and ability to be a difference maker on special teams after returning just seven kicks as a senior, with one going for an 89-yard touchdown.

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Willis would benefit from expanding his mastery on returns in addition to his receiving skills to claim his spot on the Raiders roster. He’s obviously up for the challenge and no stranger to climbing uphill battles to earn his position.

The lack of return specialists on the field leaves a clear opportunity for the Emporia State product to make a statement with this franchise.

All statistics are provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com and Sports-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.

Player measurements courtesy of Raiders.com.

Player salaries courtesy of spotrac.com.

Which players are you excited about leading into training camp? All comments are welcome below. Follow Maurice Moton on Twitter for NFL and Raiders news.