The Las Vegas Raiders open training camp on July 28 at the Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center in Henderson, Nevada. The Raiders finished the 2020 season 8-8, good for second place in the AFC West. They have reached the playoffs once since the 2002 season, in 2016, and return 18 starters from last season's team as well as fourth-year head coach Jon Gruden and coordinators Greg Olson (offense) and Rich Bisaccia (special teams).
Here's a 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACK (3): Derek Carr, Marcus Mariota, Nathan Peterman
The more things change, the more they stay the same, right? Carr returns for his eighth season despite being rumored as trade bait for the likes of Deshaun Watson, Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers this offseason. Mariota did flash in his lone appearance last season in relief of an injured Carr, and the Raiders could find another roster spot here by parting ways with Peterman.
RUNNING BACK (4): Josh Jacobs, Kenyan Drake, Jalen Richard, Alec Ingold
Thoughts that Pro Bowler Jacobs -- who already has a pair of 1,000-yard rushing seasons to his name but saw his yards per carry average drop from 4.8 to 3.9 last season -- might have been unnerved by Drake getting such a big contract for a backup (a two-year deal worth $14.5 million with $11 million guaranteed) were quashed by Jacobs himself in minicamp. But keep an eye on Richard, the designated pass-catcher of the group, as his touches should go down with Drake's presence.
WIDE RECEIVERS (5): Henry Ruggs III, Bryan Edwards, Hunter Renfrow, Willie Snead IV, John Brown
Big things are expected of Ruggs, the team's surprising first-rounder last year -- when he was the first wideout drafted and had all of 26 catches for 452 yards -- as well as Edwards, if he can stay healthy. Renfrow is as reliable as they come as Carr's third-down security blanket, while Snead and Brown provide speed and veteran savvy.
TIGHT END (3): Darren Waller, Foster Moreau, Derek Carrier
Waller, a Pro Bowler, is a bonafide star, a top 3 TE in the league. With Jason Witten retired after a strange one-season sojourn in Las Vegas, Moreau, who is that much further away from his ACL injury late in 2019, will benefit.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Kolton Miller, Richie Incognito, Andre James, Denzelle Good, Alex Leatherwood, John Simpson, Nick Martin, Lester Cotton Sr., Sam Young
Talk about a work in progress after Las Vegas traded away three expensive assets in center Rodney Hudson, right guard Gabe Jackson and right tackle Trent Brown. After the first six linemen, it's a crapshoot because Brandon Parker, Jaryd Jones-Smith and Jimmy Morrissey could force their way onto the roster at the expense of, say, Martin, Cotton and/or Young. Miller, signed to a three-year extension this offseason worth more than $54 million, with more than $42 million guaranteed, is the foundation piece.
DEFENSIVE LINE (10): Yannick Ngakoue, Maxx Crosby, Clelin Ferrell, Malcolm Koonce, Carl Nassib, Johnathan Hankins, Solomon Thomas, Quinton Jefferson, Matt Dickerson, Darius Philon
New defensive coordinator Gus Bradley wants to see a situation where he could send waves of guys at opposing O-lines, in essence, two starting caliber D-lines. Heady thinking, but Ngakoue will command double- and triple-teams, which should open up opportunities on the other side. The Raiders' front four had just a combined 14.5 sacks last season; Ngakoue has 45.5 sacks in his five-year career and has never had fewer than eight in a season.
LINEBACKER (6): Cory Littleton, Nick Kwiatkoski, Nicholas Morrow, Divine Deablo, Tanner Muse, Javin White
Perhaps Bradley will kickstart Littleton, who was a disappointment as a high-priced and high-profile free-agent signing last season. Deablo, a third-round draft pick making the transition from safety to linebacker, is behind, as he missed most of OTAs and minicamp.
CORNERBACK (5): Trayvon Mullen, Casey Hayward Jr., Nate Hobbs, Damon Arnette, Amik Robertson
Arnette, a first-rounder last year, is on the hot seat with veteran Hayward, who knows Bradley's scheme intimately, getting those first-team reps opposite Mullen. Hobbs, a fifth-rounder, impressed in the slot in offseason workouts and Robertson might need a strong camp to make the roster, as it is hard to keep Keisean Nixon off with his special teams play, not to mention late signee Blidi Wreh-Wilson. Vet Nevin Lawson will serve a two-game suspension to start the season.
SAFETY (5): Johnathan Abram, Trevon Moehrig, Karl Joseph, Dallin Leavitt, Tyree Gillespie
Bradley couldn't wait to get his hands on the young safeties. Abram has a lot to prove, Moehrig, a second-round pick, was the top-ranked safety in the draft on many boards, Gillespie could be a steal as a fourth-rounder and Joseph brings a vet's presence. Will the unit answer the call, though?
SPECIALISTS (3): Daniel Carlson, AJ Cole, Trent Sieg
Carlson led the NFL in scoring with 144 points and Cole has been solid in averaging 45.2 yards per punt in his two seasons. Sieg is the motor as the long snapper. The unit has the looks of a long-time core unit for Las Vegas.