Full Oakland Raiders Midseason Awards

The Oakland Raiders’ midseason award show takes place seven games into the season. Everyone, decked out in black and silver tuxedos, take your seats as we go through player achievements worth noting.

The Raiders have surprised some analysts and spectators as a competitive team with a potential to contend for a playoff spot. The front office made some risky acquisitions. The new coaching staff shuffled players around to exploit weekly matchups.

The players on the field continue to respond to tough challenges with the weight of re-energizing the franchise for seasons to come.

Who’s leading the charge on both sides of the ball? Who’s surprised you the most? What key addition to the roster has paid the most dividends? 

The answers to those questions are enclosed in a silver and black envelope.

Most Valuable Player: Derek Carr

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This award clearly belongs to one player. In the NFL, the quarterback holds the key to the franchise. It’s not a coincidence teams with solid signal-callers generally claim playoff spots.

Quarterback Derek Carr’s 105.7 QB rating ranks fifth in the league among players with at least 300 snaps, per Pro Football Focus. He boasts a 15-to-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio and stands on pace to eclipse 4,000 passing yards.

Most importantly, Carr elevates the offensive skill players around him. He’s built a strong rapport with a rookie and free-agent wide receiver as his go-to options on offense.

The second-year quarterback also led a game-winning touchdown drive for the Raiders’ first victory of the season. He’s transitioned from checkdown Carr to Cadillac Carr, averaging 7.8 yards per pass with a 65.5 pass completion percentage.

Most Valuable Defensive Player: Charles Woodson

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Safety Charles Woodson presents himself as the clear-cut leader on the defensive side of the ball. He leads by example: playing at his best through injury, helping the young defensive backs along in development and mastering the art of making big plays.

At 39, the 18-year veteran leads the league in interceptions (five), and anchors the defense from the back end. Opposing quarterbacks have evaded sacks, but they cannot avoid Woodson in the secondary.

He’s forced a turnover in four of the last 5 games and sealed a victory with a game-winning interception in Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns.

Most Improved Player: T.J. Carrie

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Defensive back T.J. Carrie developed into a smart, physical and versatile defensive back over an offseason. He exhibited some talent toward the end of his rookie campaign due to injuries within the Raiders secondary, but he’s shown the most growth from the previous year.

Some would argue running back Latavius Murray's candidacy for this award. He deserves an honorable mention, but the third-year tailback flashed considerable talent in the last quarter of the 2014 season.

Carrie moved from the slot to defending No. 1 wide receivers and played center field at safety against deep-threat wideouts. He’s now an essential piece of the defense and a complement to Woodson’s playmaking ability as the closer. 

The ascension from seventh-round slot defender to becoming the most complete defensive back on the roster justifies his status as the most improved player.

Rookie of the Midseason: Amari Cooper

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It’s too early to name wide receiver Amari Cooper offensive rookie of the year, but he’s going to earn some votes. Right now, he’s the Raiders' most productive rookie.

The Raiders front office made the right decision in selecting offense over defense in the 2015 draft.

Cooper took the NFL scene by storm, recording 100-plus-yard games in three out of seven contests. He ranks second, behind fellow Alabama wideout Julio Jones, in yards after the catch.

Finally, the Raiders have a No. 1 wide receiver for their quarterback. Oakland’s passing attack currently ranks 10th in the league, averaging 265.6 yards per game.

Biggest Underachiever: Curtis Lofton

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Unfortunately, inside linebacker Curtis Lofton earns an unflattering award for his play on the field.

The eighth-year linebacker struggled with the New Orleans Saints, hoping to renew his career with the Raiders.

Oakland signed Lofton to provide direction for the defense, but he’s clearly on the decline. Based on Pro Football Focus, the inside linebacker grades minus-2.1 in run defense, an area highlighted as his strength in years past.

In Week 5, Lofton lost his starting position to rookie linebacker Neiron Ball, who suffered a knee injury against the San Diego Chargers in Week 7.

There’s still time left in the season, but the veteran inside linebacker continues to give way to younger talent on the roster. In Week 8, defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. allocated more snaps to defensive lineman Benson Mayowa (27) than Lofton (18) in Ball’s absence.

Best Free-Agent Pick Up: Michael Crabtree

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Oakland didn’t set its sights on wide receiver Michael Crabtree as a primary target in the offseason. The former San Francisco 49ers wideout didn’t garner widespread attention on the free-agent market, but he’s displaying his talents in Oakland as a huge asset. 

He’s on pace to nearly match his career high in receiving yards (1,105) with a renewed energy, lining up on the opposite side of Cooper.

The spotty contributions from wide receivers Andre Holmes and Seth Roberts, along with Rod Streater’s inactivity, boosts Crabtree’s importance within the offense. Despite much-deserved praise for Cooper, he cannot upgrade this offense alone.

In Week 8 against the New York Jets, Crabtree put together his second-best performance of the season against cornerback Antonio Cromartie, accumulating seven receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown.

Biggest Surprise Contributor: Mario Edwards Jr.

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Defensive end Justin Tuck suffered a season-ending pectoral injury, thrusting second-round pick defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. into the starting lineup. Edwards didn’t outperform Tuck for the job, but he’s making the most out of his extended role.

According to Pro Football Focus, he grades plus-2.4 in run defense with four quarterback hits and a sack. As a rookie, he’s sealing the edges on runs with a nasty demeanor and toughness that resonates across the defensive front. 

In the offseason, many wondered about Edwards’ fit within the Raiders' 4-3 defense needy for a pass rush. Norton transitioned to a 3-4 base alignment and uses the rookie in pass-rushing and run-stopping situations.

Initially, this seemed like Edwards' redshirt season where he’d learn behind Tuck. Instead, the rookie plays with confidence, showing promise as a versatile defensive lineman ready to solidify his spot within a young and talented front seven.

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All statistics are provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com, Pro Football Focus and Team Rankings unless otherwise noted. 

Weekly play-by-play courtesy of NFL.com.