The Oakland Raiders open training camp July 29 at the Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa in Napa, California. Here's a starting lineup projection:
Offense
Quarterback (Derek Carr): Carr's 53 touchdown passes through his first two seasons trail only Dan Marino's 68 in NFL history, and Carr's 698 completions in his first two years are the most of any QB in his first two seasons.
Running back (Latavius Murray): He went to the Pro Bowl as an alternate after rushing for 1,066 yards in 2015 and wants to earn a return trip this season.
Fullback (Jamize Olawale): The de facto starter at fullback with Marcel Reece serving a league-mandated suspension.
Receiver (Michael Crabtree): His 85 catches and nine TD grabs tied career highs and led to a four-year contract extension worth $32 million, with $18 million guaranteed -- so how motivated will he be this season?
Receiver (Amari Cooper): His 10 drops were the second-most in the NFL last season, per ESPN Stats & Information, so another year of seasoning should ease his case of the dropsies.
Tight end (Clive Walford): As long as his knee is fully recovered from his offseason ATV accident, Walford and his 28 catches for 329 yards and three TDs should beat out Lee Smith, primarily a blocker, and Mychal Rivera, a pass-catcher.
Left tackle (Donald Penn): Re-signed veteran is Pro Football Focus' 10th-ranked left tackle and has started 140 consecutive games, the third-longest active streak among offensive tackles in the league.
Left guard (Kelechi Osemele): Big-ticket, free-agent acquisition is the Raiders' left tackle of the future after starting four games for the Ravens there last season, but he has been rated a top-five blocking guard the past two seasons, per PFF, and gave up only one sack in 2015.
Center (Rodney Hudson): Heady anchor of the re-tuned O-line who missed three games to injury last season is equally adept in pass protection and run blocking with his quick feet and physical nature.
Right guard (Gabe Jackson): Mauler who is making the switch from left guard after starting 28 of his 29 career games there, including all 16 last season.
Right tackle (Menelik Watson): Coming back from a torn Achilles tendon suffered last preseason, the 2013 second-round pick seems to have the edge on Austin Howard.
Defense
Defensive end (Mario Edwards Jr.): His curious neck injury seemingly a thing of the past after a rookie season that saw him with 2.5 sacks in 14 games, Edwards should benefit greatly from the ascension of Khalil Mack and the addition of Bruce Irvin.
Defensive tackle (Dan Williams): Started a career-best 15 games in his first season with the Raiders and responded with a team-credited 59 tackles, a career high, including 34 solo stops.
Nose tackle (Justin Ellis): Run-stuffing "Jelly" missed four of the Raiders' first six games because of an ankle injury but came on strong to team with Williams in solidifying the run defense.
Defensive end (Khalil Mack): Bigger things are expected for Mack, who was named first-team All-Pro at both outside linebacker and defensive end following a 15-sack season. Perhaps challenging J.J. Watt for defensive player of the year?
Outside linebacker (Bruce Irvin): The loquacious Irvin said he was not brought to Oakland to be a follower, so he and the 22 sacks he compiled in four seasons in Seattle are expected to create more opportunities for Mack, and vice-versa.
Middle linebacker (Ben Heeney): Supplanted Curtis Lofton last season, when he notched 38 tackles and 2.5 sacks as a rookie. In a base 4-3 defense, he looks to be the best option to quarterback the defense in the middle.
Outside linebacker (Malcolm Smith): Keeping the seat warm until Aldon Smith's suspension ends in November? That would be too simplistic, as the versatile Malcolm Smith can also play inside, and he led the Raiders with 122 tackles last season.
Cornerback (David Amerson): An early season, waiver-wire find whose four interceptions in 2015 were a pleasant surprise, but can he hold off a challenge from D.J. Hayden?
Cornerback (Sean Smith): The size of an outside linebacker, Smith is a physically imposing presence who should stabilize the secondary as a shutdown corner after three seasons and five interceptions with the division-rival Chiefs.
Free safety (Reggie Nelson): A top-60 player in the league per the NFL Network, Nelson, whose eight interceptions with the Bengals tied for the league lead in 2015, is expected to solidify things in the back with the retirement of Charles Woodson ... even if Nelson did not practice during the offseason programs.
Strong safety (Karl Joseph): The first-round draft pick who had five interceptions in four games at West Virginia last season has yet to take an offseason practice snap, but his knee is expected to be fully healed in time for camp.
Special teams
Kicker (Sebastian Janikowski): Franchise's all-time leading scorer has been kicking in Oakland since Bill Clinton was in the White House, and needs to rebound from his field goal percentage dipping last season to 80.8 percent from 86.4 percent as another Clinton aims for 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Punter (Marquette King): The most fit punter in the league is angling for more than coffin corners; he wants the Pro Bowl a season after setting a franchise record with 40 punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
Long-snapper (Jon Condo): Former Pro Bowler coming off a shoulder injury that ended his 141-games-played streak last December.
