On Thursday, we talked about how the Raiders were optimistic about their offense because they have so many players returning.
Well, the opposite is true on the defensive side. There are a lot of new faces, and that’s a good thing. General manager Mike Mayock and coach Jon Gruden plucked a lot of players in free agency and the draft this offseason to shore up a defense that allowed 26.2 points a game last season, which ranked in the bottom third of the league.
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Five of the Raiders’ free-agent signings — linebackers Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski, defensive tackle Maliek Collins, cornerback Prince Amukamara and safety Damarious Randall — could start, with pass rusher Carl Nassib also set to play a lot.
First-round draft pick Damon Arnette will push Amukamara, with rookie cornerback Amik Robertson and linebacker Tanner Muse probably settling for scraps this season.
“I love our pickups,” defensive end Maxx Crosby said in a telephone interview this week. “Free-agent-wise and draft-wise, we did a great job. Mayock and Gruden are the best of the best when it comes to drafting.
“I just want to get on the field with these new guys and start getting to work. We are going to wake some people up this year.”
There is still a question about how soon the players actually will start practicing after the veterans report to camp Tuesday. First, they must be tested for COVID-19 and clear the protocol. (The total number of players in camp is expected to be reduced from 90 to 80 players.)
Derek Carr and the other quarterbacks were tested Thursday offsite in Las Vegas and then will be tested again Sunday. Two negative tests are needed for them to enter the team facility Monday. Other veterans start the process when training camp is scheduled to open Tuesday.
Here’s a look at the Raiders’ defensive and special-teams depth chart entering training camp (using their current roster before they must cut to 80, once that becomes official). Rookies are in italics.
Defensive end (7)
Starters: Maxx Crosby, Clelin Ferrell
Backups: Carl Nassib, Arden Key, Jeremiah Valoaga, Kendal Vickers, Ade Aruna
Reed’s analysis: At first glance, the Raiders’ pursuit of free-agent defensive end Jadeveon Clowney may appear to be a judgment about second-year ends Crosby and Ferrell, but it could just be a continued effort to bolster their pass rush. They had only 32 sacks last season (ranked 24th), so even if Crosby and Ferrell are great, they’ll need additional help. The puzzling piece is the signing of Nassib to a three-year, $25.25 million deal with $16.75 million in guaranteed money. Shouldn’t he fill that role? Perhaps Clowney is viewed as a luxury rather than a need, but it’ll be interesting to see how things shake out by Week 1.
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Tafur’s analysis: Clowney is pretty good. How could you not think about adding him? But I think he ends up back in Seattle. Mayock likes to talk about how the Raiders will look getting off the bus, with three long, athletic ends in Crosby, Ferrell and Nassib. We haven’t talked to Nassib yet, but I know that Crosby and Ferrell worked very hard this offseason, with Ferrell putting on 13 pounds. The fourth edge player could be Arden Key or he might get pushed by Nick Usher. Key still has trouble maintaining weight, but the coaches don’t really care how big he is anymore if he shows enough twitch to get past blockers.
Defensive tackle (6)
Starters: Maliek Collins, Johnathan Hankins
Backups: Maurice Hurst, Daniel Ross, P.J. Hall, Mike Panasiuk
Reed’s analysis: Hankins has one of the starting defensive tackle jobs pretty much on lock. The other spot likely comes down to a two-way battle between Collins, who was signed away from the Cowboys in free agency, and Hurst, who started four games for the Raiders last season. Ross, who was also signed from the Cowboys, and Hall will compete for the other backup job. Hall could be a dark-horse candidate to earn a role, but the 2018 second-round pick hasn’t looked like much of a difference-maker thus far.
Tafur’s analysis: New defensive line coach Rod Marinelli brought Collins and Ross with him from the Cowboys, and we really don’t know what he thinks about Hankins, Hurst and Hall. We will have to wait for a Zoom chat during camp.
Linebacker (10)
Starters: Cory Littleton, Nick Kwiatkoski
Backups: Marquel Lee, Nicholas Morrow, Tanner Muse, Kyle Wilber, Javin White, Nick Usher, Ukeme Eligwe, Justin Phillips
Reed’s analysis: The Raiders primarily run a 4-2-5 front with two linebackers, so Littleton, who’ll play will, and Kwiatkoski, who’ll play mike, are going to command the middle of the field. Lee and former starter Morrow will push each other to determine who’ll be put on the field when three ‘backers are used and will be the primary backups. Fourth-round pick Muse will mostly be a special-teams contributor while the rest of the field claws for a roster spot.
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Tafur’s analysis: The Raiders have two legit playmaking linebackers in Littleton and Kwiatkoski. The fan base is going from day-old hot dogs the last 10 years to steak. Also, if this was a normal camp and preseason, you would almost assuredly read a nice story on Usher, coming over from the Canadian Football League and being on the list of players whom the coaches hope play well and push some veterans. Heck, we will still try to get it for you, though I think only established players will be on the Zoom calls with the media. Local player Javin White is also a good story, but I can’t see how he beats out Morrow or Lee. Maybe the coaches mentally earmark him f0r the practice squad early on.
Cornerback (11)
Starters: Trayvon Mullen, Prince Amukamara
Backups: Damon Arnette, Nevin Lawson, Isaiah Johnson, Madre Harper, Keisean Nixon, D.J. Killings, Dylan Mabin, Jordan Brown, Ken Crawley
Reed’s analysis: The Raiders were high enough on Arnette to take him 19th overall but still felt the need to go out and sign Amukamara. He started 15 games in each the last two seasons with the Bears and, without rookie minicamp and OTAs this offseason, I think Arnette still needs time before he’s ready to start. He could prove me wrong in training camp, but potentially taking some time to adjust isn’t the worst thing in the world. Johnson and Lawson are set to compete to be the other backup corner.
Tafur’s analysis: The Raiders took Arnette high because they thought his skill set translated well, and his nasty, tough demeanor on the field is one they want their whole defense to have. Ideally for the Raiders, Arnette, Mullen and safety Johnathan Abram are the foundation of the secondary for many years to come. So, basically, Arnette had better push Amukamara pretty quickly or else No. 19 was too high for Arnette. The other interesting battle will be on the back end of the depth chart — Raiders coaches and front-office types spoke so well of rookies Mullen, Johnson and Nixon at the end of last season and then went out and signed or drafted two potential starters. Johnson and Nixon are now fighting for one roster spot, if that.
Nickelback (2)
Starter: Lamarcus Joyner
Backup: Amik Robertson
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Reed’s analysis: Although Joyner is listed as a safety, he spent most of his time last season in the slot. He didn’t play all that well, so we could see a position switch in training camp, but signs point toward the Raiders running things back. Robertson was a fourth-round pick this year but was extremely productive during his career at Louisiana Tech and is hyper-competitive. He’s not going to sit on his laurels and could carve out a legitimate role as the season progresses. If Joyner is moved back to safety then Robertson could even make the leap to start in the slot. Under the scenario with Amukamara and Mullen starting at corner, Arnette could be another option here.
Tafur’s analysis: The Raiders are stubborn and I see Joyner staying in the slot until Robertson takes over at the end of this season or next. That is, unless Robertson makes a run at a role on the outside and Nixon backs up Joyner. Joyner should be better this season. Not only is he in his second year in coordinator Paul Guenther’s system, but he missed Vontaze Burfict and Abram when they went down last year and never got in sync with their replacements. I think the Raiders think Joyner is better at the slot than safety and they have plenty of options there this camp, anyway.
Safety (5)
Starters: Damarious Randall, Johnathan Abram
Backups: Erik Harris, Jeff Heath, Dallin Leavitt
Reed’s analysis: There hasn’t been any drop-off in the hype surrounding Abram despite the fact that he played just one game last season before getting hurt. The expectation is for him to be an instant-impact contributor at strong safety this season and there’s zero doubt about his status as a starter. On the other hand, there’s a legitimate competition at free safety between Randall and Harris. While Harris was more productive last season, Randall’s numbers weren’t far behind despite playing in five fewer games. Harris is bigger and the superior tackler, but I prefer Randall’s speed and coverage skills next to the hard-hitting Abram. The trio could see the field together in situations that call for a “big nickel” with three safeties and two corners.
Tafur’s analysis: I agree that the Randall-Harris competition will be a good one, but I imagine longtime Cowboys starter Heath feels like he will be in the mix as well. Gruden can’t wait for Abram to hit somebody, but I do think Gruden wonders a tiny bit how well last year’s first-round pick will hold up in the passing game. I see a lot of pump fakes from quarterbacks in Abram’s future. Leavitt is another young guy Mayock and Gruden were excited about at camp last year and now he is buried on the depth chart.
Special teams (5)
Kicker: Daniel Carlson
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Backup: Dominik Eberle
Punter: A.J. Cole
Long snapper: Trent Sieg
Backup: Liam McCullough
Kick returner: Lynn Bowden Jr.
Backup: Jalen Richard
Punt returner: Bowden
Backup: Richard
Reed’s analysis: Carlson and Sieg have competition on the roster, but I don’t anticipate that either will be supplanted. Cole doesn’t have much else to focus on outside of getting reps. The suspense comes down to what happens at both returner spots. Mayock suggested that both Henry Ruggs III and Bowden will be used in the return game, but something in me doubts that they’ll throw their first-rounder out there. It’s hard to see the incentive to do this, especially considering Bowden averaged 22.9 yards per kick return and 22.1 yards per punt return in college. Richard has proven to be a steady return man throughout his career and is a solid alternative.
Tafur’s analysis: Bowden’s best chance to have an impact will be on kick returns. Eberle is pretty good and will give Carlson some real competition. Apparently, too, McCullough is a long-snapping son of a gun, so that’s two battles, though Sieg is really solid. Cole had a good approach last season and seems ready to move up from where he left off.
(Photo: Naomi Baker / Getty Images)