Post 2016 NFL Draft: Oakland Raiders Depth Chart
By Jon Dove
The Oakland Raiders Depth Chart looks like one that’s more than capable of fighting for a playoff spot.
It’s been a long time since the Oakland Raiders Depth Chart featured enough talent to be considered a strong contender. General Manager Reggie McKenzie has done a great job building this team from the ground up.
Quarterback
Starter: Derek Carr
Backups: Matt McGloin and Connor Cook
Derek Carr is on the verge of stardom which can be accomplished by leading the Raiders to the playoffs this year. McGloin should remain the backup for one more year as Connor Cook gets use to the NFL.
Running Back
Starter: Latavius Murray
Backups: DeAndre Washington,Taiwan Jones and Roy Helu
Murray is the lead back and should get a large majority of the carries. Depth is a concern at this position and maybe something the Raiders address with a late-offseason signing.
Fullback
Starter: Marcel Reece
Reece is a versatile weapon who impacts the game as a pass catcher and runner.
Wide Receiver
Starters: Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree
Slot: Seth Roberts
Backups: Andre Holmes and Maxwell McCaffery
Cooper and Crabtree are a strong starting group that bring a lot of things to the table. Seth Roberts is an underrated player who can cause some damage out of the slot.
Tight End
Starter: Clive Walford
Backups: Lee Smith and Mychal Rivera
Oakland is hoping that Walford’s offseason ATV accident doesn’t cost him any time. Otherwise, it’s Mychael Rivera who should see the majority of playing time.
Left Tackle
Starter: Donald Penn
Backups: Menelik Watson and Matt McCants
The Raiders ability to bring back Penn was one of the more underrated offseason moves. He’s a veteran presence who played well while in Oakland.
Left Guard
Starter: Gabe Jackson
Backups: Vadal Alexander and Jon Feliciano
Gabe Jackson is a stud and often overlooked among the talent on this offensive line.
Center
Starter: Rodney Hudson
Backup: Vadal Alexander
The Raiders paid Hudson a ton of money and he proved worthy. He’s the quarterback of the offensive line and one of the better centers in the league.
Right Guard
Starter: Kelechi Osemele
Backups: Vadal Alexander and Austin Howard
Kelechi Osemele was Oakland’s prize free agency addition as someone capable of dominating at the point of attack. Vadal Alexander struggled playing tackle his final year at LSU, but has strong tape at guard.
Right Tackle
Starter: Austin Howard
Backups: Menelik Watson and Matt McCants
Austin Howard should hold on to his starting job, but based on talent Menelik Watson could make a push. The issue is that Watson has been unable to stay healthy.
Defensive End
Starters: Khalil Mack and Mario Edwards Jr.
Backups: Jihad Ward, Shilique Calhoun, Denico Autry and Damontre Moore
Oakland is confident Mario Edwards will fully recover from the neck injury he suffered late last year. This is important because he and Mack have a chance to from a dominating duo. There’s good depth here with both Jihad Ward and Shilique Calhoun able to contribute as rookies.
Defensive Tackle
Starters: Justin Ellis and Dan Williams
Backups: Jihad Ward, Stacy McGee and Leon Orr
Dan Williams is an elite run-stuffer who does the dirty work. Justin Ellis is an underrated young player who gets better from week to week. Look for rookie Jihad Ward to get some snaps inside where he can use his quickness to his advantage.
SAM Linebacker
Starter: Bruce Irvin
Backups: John Lotulelei and Cory James
Irvin is going to see action all over the field, but his main task will be to generate pressure on the quarterback.
Middle Linebacker
Starter: Ben Heeney
Backup: Cory James
Oakland is asking a lot of Heeney as the signal caller of the defense.
WILL Linebacker
Starter: Malcolm Smith
Backups: John Lotulelei and Korey Toomer
Malcolm Smith continues to be a solid contributor and steady presence at linebacker. The depth across the linebacker position is something that should concern the Raiders.
Cornerback
Starters: Sean Smith and David Amerson
Nickelback: Travis Carrie
Backups: DJ Hayden, Keith McGill and Neiko Thorpe
Sean Smith was a great free agent signing as a big-bodied defender on the outside. He and Amerson will form a strong staring duo. There’s excellent depth at this position with Travis Carrie in the nickel role. Things will look better if DJ Hayden can get his career on track.
Safety
Starters: Reggie Nelson and Karl Joseph
Backups: Nate Allen, Dexter McDonald and Chris Hackett
Reggie Nelson is on the back-end of his career but still a productive player. Karl Joseph is a big-hitter who also has strong coverage instincts. Overall, this is a strong secondary in Oakland.