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NFL training camp: Best battle to watch for each team

By John Buhler

CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 30: Justin Bethel
CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 30: Justin Bethel /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 06: Defensive back Gareon Conley of Ohio State in action during day six of the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 6, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 06: Defensive back Gareon Conley of Ohio State in action during day six of the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 6, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Oakland Raiders: T.J. Carrie vs. Gareon Conley

The Oakland Raiders were an exciting team last year and should be one in the AFC for the foreseeable future. It helps to have solved the biggest issue on the football field in finding a franchise quarterback. Derek Carr certainly is one, but will need to play division rivals Denver and Kansas City better for Oakland to emerge as a serious Super Bowl contender in 2017.

Another area where Jack Del Rio’s team has to get better is in the back-end of its defense. While outside linebacker Khalil Mack is one of the five best players in football today, who is going to pop playing behind him on that Raiders defense this fall.

With David Amerson and Sean Smith likely getting both starting cornerback spots this fall, who will wind up winning the coveted nickel sport in the Oakland defense: T.J. Carrie or first-round pick Gareon Conley? Technically, second-round pick Obi Melifonwu could be in the mix as well for this, but he projects more as a safety at the next level.

Carrie is the proven veteran in the Raiders secondary, having spent the last three years in the Bay Area after being seventh-round pick out of Ohio. Conley is yet another former Ohio State Buckeyes defensive standout under Urban Meyer. Off-field controversy nearly sabotaged his NFL Draft stock, but the Raiders still took him in the first-round. Could he be the piece the Raiders secondary is missing to get over the top?