IT’S BACK TO WORK

Five Raiders who might surprise, five who might disappoint

Draw that last X on your calendar, because training camp is here.

Rookies and select veterans have already reported to Napa, and the others will join the team today.

First practice open to media: Friday morning, and it only picks up from there.

Let’s have a look at five Raiders who might surprise you in a good way during training camp, and five who might disappoint.

FIVE POTENTIAL SURPRISES Ryan Switzer – The shifty receiver/returner stands only 5-foot-8 and 185 pounds, but Jon Gruden loves this guy. Somehow the Raiders only had to give up defensive lineman Jihad Ward to acquire Switzer from the Cowboys on Day 3 of the draft. Switzer will be prominent in the slot this season, even if he’s technically No. 4 on the Raiders’ wide receiver depth chart. He might return both kicks and punts, too, and worked on the first units of both teams before the Raiders broke for summer.

Marquel Lee – When asked which underthe-radar players impressed him at the end of minicamp, Gruden mentioned Lee. You might’ve forgotten about the second-year middle linebacker since the Raiders signed establish veteran Derrick Johnson at the The Raiders signed veteran inside linebacker Derrick Johnson from the Chiefs in the offseason, but some question if 35-year-old can hold up.

same position, but there’s no guarantee Johnson’s 35-year-old legs will keep up throughout camp (coaches like what they see from him so far, for what it’s worth). Navorro Bowman’s presence diminished Lee’s role last season, but I wouldn’t expect Johnson’s to do so to the same extent in 2018.

Doug Martin – I’m not saying Martin will win the starting job over Marshawn Lynch, but he’ll get more of a workload than your traditional backup running back. Gruden is big on the 29-year-old despite his 2.9 yards per carry the past two seasons. Both parties hope a return home to Oakland after six years in Tampa Bay will help rediscover the Doug Martin of old, the one that rushed for 1,402 yards just three seasons ago.

Nicholas Morrow – The undrafted linebacker from Division III Greenville University was by all accounts the Raiders’ best rookie last season. He was another one Gruden highlighted when pressed for his under-the-radar names who stood out during minicamp, and don’t be surprised if Morrow parlays that into a starting role this fall beside Johnson and Tahir Whitehead.

Erik Harris – Out of the blue, Gruden mentioned Harris’ name earlier this offseason. He was a solid special-teamer at best last season, and now Harris is flying through the air during minicamp and trash talking after plucking balls out of mid-air. He won’t start at safety, but he just might see the field if Gruden’s praise is indicative, in addition to a prominent special teams role.