8 Players on Oakland Raiders' 2017 Roster Bubble

The volume on training camp buzz increased a notch with players around the NFL reporting back to the practice field. The Oakland Raiders still have time before their offseason action continues on Saturday.

Coming into camp, rookies, developing players looking to make the 53-man roster for the first time and veterans have something to prove.

Head coach Jack Del Rio encourages in-house competition before the games count in September. As a result, you can disregard last year's accomplishments and focus on who's taking advantage of their 2017 offseason audition.

As we know over the past few seasons, veteran free-agent pickups don't have a lock on a roster spot. The front office signed experienced players such as quarterback Christian Ponder, running back Trent Richardson and defensive end Damontre Moore, but none of them made it to through summer cuts.

We'll take a final pre-training camp look at the roster bubble before the team's first practice on Saturday.

RB, Taiwan Jones

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Taiwan Jones has the safest spot on the roster bubble after the team lost defensive back Brynden Trawick, safety Nate Allen, linebacker Daren Bates and wide receiver Andre Holmes—all of whom listed within the top six contributors on special teams via snap count in 2016.

It's a backbreaker to lose games or fall behind on kick and punt returns. The Raiders defense still needs improvement, which makes it important for special teams to limit yardage before offenses take over.

Jones' experience on special teams likely helped him edge George Atkinson III for a roster spot in the previous season. He'll continue to compete with rookies and budding talents for space on the depth chart this summer.

The coaching staff will likely play it safe with Jones as an experienced asset in kick coverage. Nonetheless, he goes into his seventh season as a Raider with an overlooked skill set and something to prove.

Prediction: Special teams

RB, Elijah Hood

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North Carolina product Elijah Hood poses the biggest threat to Jones' place on the roster. The seventh-rounder turned heads at rookie minicamp, per MMQB's Albert Breer.

Second, his physical run style resembles Marshawn Lynch's bruising technique. As Beast Mode's understudy, there's an early spotlight on the former Tar Heel.

However, Hood's chance at making the 53-man roster would greatly increase with a solid showing on special teams covering kicks. The Raiders already have three ball-carriers to feed at running back, and fullback Jamize Olawale will likely log 15-20 rush attempts throughout the season as well. 

It's not a high-profile camp battle, but Hood vs. Jones for special teams duties holds significance. The Raiders seventh-rounder could secure a roster spot and a potential pathway to a feature running back position if he makes it through summer cuts.

Prediction: Practice squad

WR, Johnny Holton

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Johnny Holton emerged as the fifth wide receiver on the 2016 depth chart, but he didn't have many opportunities to show his ability to stretch the field.

After averaging 27.1 yards per catch as a senior at Cincinnati in 2015, former offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave relegated Holton to a gadget option handling wide receiver reverses in the backfield. He ran the ball six times and only saw three pass targets in the previous season.

Holton will have to show off his wide receiver skills with stiff competition at the position. Jaydon Mickens caught the coaching staff's attention through May and June, per Kyle Martin of the team's official site. At 6'4" with soft hands, K.J. Brent could become a red-zone threat. The Raiders also signed a talented undrafted rookie in Ishmael Zamora, whose speed and size may open eyes during training camp.

A handful of young players have opportunities to claim the No. 5 spot at wide receiver during the summer. Similar to Jones, Holton must display his special teams capabilities to pave an inroad to the 53-man roster. 

Prediction: Cut

TE, Gabe Holmes

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The Raiders made two notable pickups at the tight end position this offseason. Jared Cook should take over starting opportunities as a solid receiver, and he'll likely share the field with Clive Walford or Lee Smith in two-tight end sets. 

After the draft, general manager Reggie McKenzie signed Pharaoh Brown, who logged 846 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in his last two full seasons at Oregon.

Brown suffered a serious leg injury that almost called for an amputation during the 2014 campaign, per Oregonian reporter Andrew Greif. He missed the following season but returned with comparable numbers to his pre-injury year.

Despite a 4.82 and 4.78 40-yard time at his pro day, Brown's receiving skills give him an outside shot at playing in September. 

The additions at the position will push Gabe Holmes during the summer. He spent his rookie year on the practice squad, then suffered an ankle injury, which landed him on injured reserve last year. The third-year tight end showed flashes in 2016 preseason action, but it's difficult to envision the coaching staff keeping four tight ends on the final roster.

Prediction: Practice squad

OT, Marshall Newhouse

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Marshall Newhouse, the seventh-year veteran will come into training camp with an opportunity to replace the departed Menelik Watson at right tackle as a cheap alternative.

The Raiders signed him to a two-year, $3.5 million deal, per Spotrac. He's also equipped to play four positions across the offensive line. At the very least, the 28-year-old lineman provides depth for Carr Insurance. 

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the front office can cut Newhouse and only owe $500,000 in dead cash. The Raiders will have a competitive camp, with extra bodies needed or coming in at linebacker. The coaching staff may have to release quality backups at deeper positions on the roster. 

Newhouse's experience at left tackle likely keeps him safe. Donald Penn has only missed one start in 10 seasons, but he turned 34 in April. Despite his reliability in terms of availability, injuries become a major concern as time passes and the veteran plays more games. It's never smart to take health for granted in a violent league. Keep a capable backup.

Prediction: Utility offensive lineman

OT, Austin Howard

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Offensive lineman Austin Howard stands on similar ground to Newhouse. However, he's spent the past three seasons with the team. An injury-plagued season doesn't give the 30-year-old an excuse at a crowded roster position.

McKenzie drafted David Sharpe in the fourth round and Jylan Ware in the seventh round, which sent a subtle message to Howard to shape up or get shipped out. Second-year pro Vadal Alexander logged reps with the first team in June, per Silver and Black Pride writer Levi Damien.

Howard starts a few yards behind the starting line because his availability for camp remains unclear, per NBCS Bay Area reporter Scott Bair. The team can also release him and save $3.6 million, per Over the Cap, if he's unable to reclaim his starting spot at right tackle.

Howard doesn't have comparable experience to Newhouse on the left, which gives the newcomer an advantage on an even playing field. Nonetheless, if cleared, the coaching staff may opt to strengthen chemistry with the same five faces that started a majority of games together in the previous season. Right now, Alexander and Newhouse lead the right tackle competition.

Prediction: Cut

DE/LB, James Cowser

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Oakland brought in John Pagano as a defensive assistant during the offseason. Thus far, he's focused on the secondary, but he left behind a track record with the now-Los Angeles Chargers that suggests his influence may bring out the best in the Raiders pass rush.

Under Pagano, defensive lineman Joey Bosa became an immediate impact player in his first 12 games. Melvin Ingram amassed 18.5 sacks over the past two seasons.

James Cowser logged 42.5 sacks during his tenure at Southern Utah. There's untapped pass-rush potential in his skill set. The Raiders released him before the 2016 season started, signed him to the practice squad in October and activated him for the Carolina Panthers game in Week 12. He played every game, including the postseason contest, thereafter.

Six tackles, one sack and one fumble recovery doesn't say much about his rookie campaign, but he could develop into another rotational pass-rusher with more time on the field.

Prediction: Rotational pass-rusher

S, Keith McGill

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It's been a humbling journey for safety Keith McGill through three seasons. He came into the league as a fourth-round pick and logged one start during his rookie campaign.

In the following year, McGill went into training camp as a potential full-time starter at cornerback, but T.J. Carrie and D.J. Hayden emerged as starters. In the previous season, the coaching staff moved him to safety, hoping for better results, but he took a backseat to Karl Joseph after two starts.

McGill will compete for a prominent role on special teams as a holdover from the previous year. Among players on the roster who took snaps for the Raiders in kick coverage last season, he listed second, with 281.

The fourth-year pro, in a contract year, should continue to fill a backup role, but rookie Shalom Luani may push the veteran out of a spot with solid special teams play.

The Washington State product's collegiate resume illustrates playmaking ability in coverage. He also flashed during camp, per Bair. However, NFL Media's Lance Zierlein questions his tackling ability—an issue that may land him on the practice squad for a year. McGill will finish his time in Oakland on special teams.

Prediction: Special teams