Fansided

5 best training camp battles for Raiders in 2019

By Brad Weiss

CHESTNUT HILL, MA - NOVEMBER 10: Clemson Tigers wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (13) during a game between the Boson College Eagles and the Clemson University Tigers on. November 10, 2018, at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHESTNUT HILL, MA - NOVEMBER 10: Clemson Tigers wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (13) during a game between the Boson College Eagles and the Clemson University Tigers on. November 10, 2018, at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
CINCINNATI, OH – DECEMBER 16: Karl Joseph #42 of the Oakland Raiders and Tahir Whitehead #59 combine to tackle Joe Mixon #28 of the Cincinnati Bengals during the second quarter at Paul Brown Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by John Grieshop/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – DECEMBER 16: Karl Joseph #42 of the Oakland Raiders and Tahir Whitehead #59 combine to tackle Joe Mixon #28 of the Cincinnati Bengals during the second quarter at Paul Brown Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by John Grieshop/Getty Images) /

Safety

Last season, the safety combination of Erik Harris and Karl Joseph really started to pick up their play in the second half, and they both should play a big role in this defense in 2019. While the Raiders did bring in former Los Angeles Rams safety Lamarcus Joyner this offseason, he is more expected to play slot corner, so that leaves a hole next to Joseph in this secondary this summer.

Outside of Harris, who was such a pleasant surprise last season, the Raiders do have some good talent to fill in as the No. 2 safety. Jordan Richards and Dallin Leavitt will  get their opportunity to make a mark, much like Harris did last summer,  but it should be a first round rookie that gets the job after all.

During his time at Mississippi State, Johnathan Abram established himself as a punishing safety, much like Joseph did during his time at West Virginia. In Abram, the Raiders could have a safety that has a tremendous impact in year one at the position, which we have seen all around the league over the past couple of seasons.

Next. 5 best training camp battles for Browns in 2019. dark

The bottom line is, this Raiders secondary will be much-improved over last season, as they finally ave the depth they need to make Guenther’s defense work. There is a new defensive backs coach in 2019, so that is something to keep an eye on, but needless to say, under the bright lights of HBO’s Hard Knocks, this is a Raiders team that will have a ton of interesting stories this summer.

Home/NFL