Players to watch
PLAYERS WITH BREAKOUT POTENTIAL Martavis Bryant
Bryant was suspended for all of 2016, then asked for a trade last season when he didn’t get the ball enough in a Steelers offense that included Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell. A move to Oakland might be the fresh start he desperately needs.
Ryan Switzer
Derek Carr loves this guy. He’ll primarily play the slot, and he’ll also factor heavily in the return game. Don’t be surprised if he reels off a long touchdown on a short slant route or a couple of return touchdowns.
Nicholas Morrow
The 2017 undrafted rookie was the best in Oakland’s rookie class a season ago. He’s in a battle with Emmanuel Lamur to start in the linebacking corps, and Gruden is sky high on him. Morrow flew well under the radar a year ago, but don’t expect that to be the case in 2018.
OTHER KEY PLAYERS Rashaan Melvin
Melvin’s breakout year came with the Colts last season, and the veteran might take on No. 1 corner duties in Oakland if Gareon Conley doesn’t live up to his first-round billing.
Gareon Conley
Speaking of Conley, one of this year’s main storylines will be whether the Raiders’ 2017 first-rounder can actually stay healthy and play more than two games.
Marshawn Lynch
At 32, how much does Lynch have left in the tank? If the second half of last season is any indication, the answer is plenty.
Amari Cooper
After an injury-plagued 2017, Cooper returns as the focal point of Gruden’s offense. With a rejuvenated Carr, this might just be the year Cooper makes the leap into the next echelon of NFL wide receivers.
ON THE HOT SEAT Mario Edwards Jr.
He’s always injured, and even when he’s not, it’s a struggle to produce. Maybe a position change will ignite a fire under Edwards once and for all. The Raiders certainly wouldn’t mind it, especially at defensive tackle.
Donald Penn
Can Penn stay healthy and return to Pro Bowl status in his new position on the right side of the offensive line? If not, the Raiders have a bevy of options behind him.
Obi Melifonwu
Remember when Melifonwu was supposed to be the uber-athletic Swiss army knife for Jack Del Rio? Yeah, me too. He has the deck stacked against him when it comes to seeing significant time at safety this year.
POSITIONS OF CONCERN Safety
Karl Joseph seems to be the only bona fide starter, and even he’s nothing special. Reggie Nelson is 34 and slow(er), Marcus Gilchrist may be more of a slot guy, and Melifonwu is ... who knows with Obi Melifonwu. Do I dare say Erik Harris might start?
Defensive tackle
There’s a reason the Raiders used two draft picks on this position. P.J. Hall and Maurice Hurst will be counted on, but it’s also up to Justin Ellis and Mario Edwards Jr. to show they still have something in the tank.
Linebacker
Jon Gruden is high on youngsters Nicholas Morrow and Marquel Lee, but it’ll be up to veterans Tahir Whitehead, Emmanuel Lamur and Derrick Johnson to make sure this unit runs like a well-oiled machine. Lamur has never been a full-time starter, and Johnson is 35, so we’ll see how reliable they can be to lead the group. Whitehead seems like a sturdy option, for whatever that’s worth.