The Oakland Raiders are coming off of a miserable 2018 campaign in which they won just four games, but thanks to a busy offseason in which they added numerous big names, the Raiders have some hope going into 2019.
Whether or not Oakland actually contends for a playoff spot remains to be seen, but, at the very least, it should be better than the abject disaster that it was this past season.
The Raiders will kick off their preseason on Saturday night against the Los Angeles Rams as they hope to build some camaraderie and chemistry going into the regular season.
So, here are three players to watch for Oakland in its preseason opener:
3. Hunter Renfrow
Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams will obviously be the top two targets in the Raiders' aerial attack this season, but Oakland still needs a No. 3 wide receiver, and rookie Hunter Renfrow could fill that slot role.
Renfrow has looked very good in Raiders training camp and may very well be playing himself into a rather key role with the club heading into the regular season, but, of course, he'll need to show some promise in preseason against NFL competition first.
The 23-year-old wasn't overly productive at Clemson, totaling 186 receptions over four collegiate seasons, but he did his job well and was a sure-handed target.
Expect him to bring that same type of reliability to the table for Oakland.
2. Johnathan Abram
The Raiders picked up Johnathan Abram with one of their three first-round draft picks back in April, and they are loving what they are seeing from the young safety thus far.
Oakland absolutely needs help on the defensive side of the ball, and it tried to remedy that problem this offseason, making moves in both free agency and the draft to shore up its defense on all levels.
However, Abram seems to be standing out more than most and should have a starting role alongside of Karl Joseph in the secondary come the season opener (Lamarcus Joyner seems primed to play some nickelback).
But, a poor preseason could quickly change Jon Gruden's mind, so it's important for Abram to come out and produce right off the bat on Saturday.
1. Josh Jacobs
Gruden has been playing it coy with Josh Jacobs since he drafted him, saying that even though Jacobs is a first-round pick, he will have to earn his way into playing time.
Jacobs will be fighting with Doug Martin, Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington for touches in the backfield, and while none of those guys scream “featured back,” they are all still good enough to provide a challenge for a rookie like Jacobs.
You would think, though, that Gruden really wants Jacobs to be the guy. Why else would he have used a first-round pick on him? Jacobs doesn't have breakaway speed, but he accelerates well, has great vision and is a powerful running back who is hard to bring down.
The Raiders will surely be employing a committee effort in their backfield, but Jacobs could very well end up seeing the majority of the carries by season's end if he gets off to a good start and shows he is capable of shouldering the load.
Follow Us
Subscribe