Top Raiders through 2018 season
ALAMEDA — If you thought this year’s roster makeover under Jon Gruden was substantial, just wait until the 2019 Raiders get sorted out.
With Monday’s demotion of James Cowser to the practice squad and the release Saturday of defensive end Bruce Irvin, only 16 players currently on the 53-man roster spent time on the 53-man roster in 2017.
(That figure does not include players currently on injured reserve such as running back Marshawn Lynch, tackle Donald Penn and defensive tackle Justin Ellis, nor does it include Eddy Vanderdoes, currently practicing with the Raiders as they determine whether he will be activated this season after coming off the physically unable to perform list).
Following an interview with Gruden last week, Fox analyst and Raiders Hall of Famer Howie Long told the Bay Area News Group he thought the roster could be 80 percent different in the next year.
With that in mind, here’s a subjective look at 10 players who look to be on solid ground in 2019 as the 2018 season continues with a 1-7 record heading into Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers at the Coliseum: Quarterback Derek Carr Spare me the “Gruden always hates his quarterbacks” theory. Carr has everything Gruden wants in terms of talent and dedication.
There have been some hiccups assimilating to yet another new offensive system, but Carr’s problems of late have little to do with that and everything to do with poor pass protection.
Carr has pledged allegiance to the Raiders. The only way that changes is if he continues to get beat up. The Raiders are his team, Oakland Raiders’ Maurice Hurst celebrates after stopping the Cleveland Browns defense on a third down attempt in the fourth quarter of their NFL game at the Coliseum in Oakland.
but his family comes first. And Team Carr, which includes his wife and kids, two brothers, his parents, his agent and business manager, want no repeat of what happened to David Carr with the Houston Texans.
If Carr goes, the impetus would likely be from Team Carr rather than Gruden wanting someone new. Left tackle Kolton Miller
The Raiders took Miller in the first round to be Carr’s blindside protector. He needs to get stronger, no doubt.. More than anything though, he needs to get healthy.
Miller is simply not the same player with a bum right knee as he was early in the season. But knees can be fixed. The Raiders won’t be bailing out on a contract which would put more than $11 million in dead money on the books. Center Rodney Hudson Not only is Hudson possibly Gruden’s favorite player, but a contract renegotiation a year ago paid him bonus money instead of salary and if he were to be traded (or released) it would create more than $5.6 million
in dead money. Hudson is still functioning at a high level, one of the top-rated centers in the NFL by Profootballfocus.com. Left guard Kelechi Osemele
A respected veteran and a tone-setter in terms of physical play, Osemele is 29 years old and should have a couple of good years left unless his current knee injury is something serious. The Raiders have already done the heavy lifting on his contract, however, and if he were to be traded, there would be no dead money attached. Guard Gabe Jackson Similar to Osemele in that Jackson would not have any dead money if cut or traded. But if you’re noticing a trend here, the Raiders will likely look to keep Carr protected above all else. Tackle Brandon Parker Got himself benched temporarily against the 49ers, but the third-round pick is viewed as a bookend tackle to go along with Miller. He’s also like Miller in that he needs to get stronger in the upper body, something that will be a point of emphasis in the offseason.
Defensive tackle
Maurice Hurst A fifth-round draft pick at the bargain price of $570,000 in salary, if Hurst has no problems with the heart issue that hurt his draft status, he’ll be in the plans as a three-technique well in to the days when the team resides in Las Vegas. Defensive tackle P.J. Hall
The second-round draft pick was praised by Gruden for “having one of his better games” against the 49ers. Might be the Raiders best hope as a physical inside presence that can penetrate both with quickness and brute strength. Defensive end Arden Key
A third-round draft pick who has yet to become the quick-twitch outside pass rusher the Raiders had hoped for. Has been compared at various times to players such as Simeon Rice and Aldon Smith as a talent, Key will be given every opportunity to make a quantum leap to that status.
Cornerback Daryl Worley: Worley is scheduled for restricted free agency so he remains under the Raiders control. He’s considered by the coaching staff to be the best player in the secondary.