LAS VEGAS -- The Raiders are scheduled to open training camp on July 28 at the Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center in Henderson, Nevada, as the kickoff to their first season in Las Vegas.
Jon Gruden looks to try to make the playoffs in Year 3 of his second stint with the Silver & Black. The Raiders have only made the postseason once in the previous 17 years and haven't won a playoff game since the 2001 season. Here is a 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACKS (3): Derek Carr, Marcus Mariota, Nathan Peterman
Carr is coming off career highs in passing yards (4,054) and completion percentage (70.4) and will -- for the first time in his seven-year NFL career -- play in the same offensive system for the third straight season. But a slow start will get the rumor mill churning, especially if Mariota, who has had no true offseason program to get acclimated with Gruden's offense, picks up the system in short order. Might the Raiders find an extra roster spot by stashing Peterman on some sort of injury/emergency list? Stay tuned.
RUNNING BACKS (3): Josh Jacobs, Jalen Richard, Lynn Bowden Jr.
No one can question Jacobs' toughness after he suffered a fractured shoulder in Week 7 and still rushed for 1,150 yards, the Raiders' rookie record. He will be more involved in the passing game this season, which is primarily Richard's domain. Meanwhile, Bowden is the Swiss Army knife that Gruden can't wait to get his hands on.
FULLBACK (1): Alec Ingold
Without a bruising back to spell Jacobs -- unless Rod Smith makes the roster -- expect Ingold to get a few more touches in short-yardage situations. Gruden loves fullbacks, and Ingold is a fan favorite after making the team as an undrafted rookie last season.
WIDE RECEIVERS (6): Henry Ruggs III, Tyrell Williams, Hunter Renfrow, Nelson Agholor, Zay Jones, Bryan Edwards
The revamped WR corps has Ruggs -- the fastest guy in the draft -- and Williams, whose feet are healed up. Renfrow was a revelation in the slot, and Agholor is a calming veteran presence, unlike what Antonio Brown wrought last summer. Jones has been working with Carr this offseason, and Edwards is a potential red zone target. Now it's up to Carr to get the ball downfield.
TIGHT ENDS (3): Darren Waller, Jason Witten, Derek Carrier
Talk about fluid position groups. Waller is a star in the making. Foster Moreau led all rookie tight ends with five TD catches but was lost for the season with a knee injury in Week 14. He has been working out with Carr in Las Vegas this summer, but the Raiders might find a roster spot by placing him on the physically unable to perform list to start the season, which would open a way for Carrier to hang on. And how much, exactly, does Witten, 38, have left in the tank?
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (9): Kolton Miller, Richie Incognito, Rodney Hudson, Gabe Jackson, Trent Brown, Denzelle Good, David Sharpe, Brandon Parker, John Simpson
If everyone is healthy -- a big if -- this is the best offensive line in the league. That's it. That's the claim.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (9): Maxx Crosby, Johnathan Hankins, Maliek Collins, Clelin Ferrell, Carl Nassib, Maurice Hurst, Daniel Ross, Arden Key, P.J. Hall
The Raiders are so sold on Crosby (10 sacks) and Ferrell (4.5 sacks) as foundational pieces on the edge, that they did not draft a defensive end. Rather, they added an interior pass rusher (Collins) and a hybrid DE/OLB (Nassib) in free agency. Key and Hall have to hear the collective footsteps of CFL star Kendal Vickers, Jeremiah Valoaga and undrafted free agent Mike Panasiuk.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS (5): Cory Littleton, Marquel Lee, Kyle Wilber, Tanner Muse, Javin White
When all is said and done, Littleton should be the jewel of the Raiders' free-agent class. Imagine how much better the defense will be if these guys can cover tight ends effectively. Look for a key camp battle between veteran Nicholas Morrow and UDFA White, with the UNLV product getting the nod in a home-cooking storyline. Otherwise, he'll be on the practice squad.
INSIDE LINEBACKER (1): Nick Kwiatkoski
Wait, just one guy to play inside, and a relatively unproven one at that? We're fudging a bit here, thinking that Lee can also play the MIKE in the Raiders' 4-3 base defense. Plus, the Raiders are in their nickel defense so much that a prototypical MLB is more of a luxury. Otherwise, keep an eye on Justin Phillips.
CORNERBACKS (5): Trayvon Mullen, Prince Amukamara, Damon Arnette, Isaiah Johnson, Amik Robertson
Nevin Lawson will serve a one-game suspension to start the season after using his helmet as a weapon in the 2019 season finale. It was tough to leave Keisean Nixon off this version, especially with how valuable he is as a special-teams player. But the Raiders invested heavily in reimagining this group by signing the veteran Amukamara and drafting Arnette and Robertson, while expecting Mullen to take another step and Johnson to be healthy.
SAFETIES (5): Johnathan Abram, Damarious Randall, Lamarcus Joyner, Jeff Heath, Erik Harris
Abram, a first-rounder a year ago, is essentially a rookie all over again after playing just one game in 2019 thanks to a shoulder injury. Randall and Heath bring veteran stability, and Joyner needs a bounce-back season. Harris just continues to make plays.
SPECIALISTS (3): Daniel Carlson, AJ Cole, Trent Sieg
Not quite the core trio of Sebastian Janikowski, Shane Lechler and Jon Condo, but it will do. Carlson needs to show a steadier leg after missing seven of 26 field-goal attempts last season, including six from 40 yards or further, a year after making 16 of 17 overall. Utah State UDFA Dominik Eberle should push Carlson in camp.