Coming as a result of a busy few months in improving the overall talent level on the roster, the Oakland Raiders’ offseason workouts are full of intriguing position battles.
Although some players will certainly stay in their current spots on the depth chart throughout the season, there are already several on the rise.
This includes both players looking to earn more prominent roles than they held last season, as well as rookies new to the team already making their presence felt.
Here are five players, all on the offensive side of the ball, already climbing Oakland's depth chart this offseason.Begin Slideshow
By now it should be pretty clear that no matter how much Oakland A's fans clamor for a "big" trade, it won't happen. Instead, expect an under-the-radar player to be acquired, if any at all.
The A's have a knack for doing it. Just this season, they traded for Kyle Blanks. Blanks was a top prospect when first drafted, but never quite lived up to the hype. Now as a platoon first baseman for Oakland, he's doing everything expected.
That's the kind of guy you'll get.
First and foremost, an "under-the-radar" player means they aren't a big name. Sure, it'd be an under-the-radar ...
The Oakland Raiders began their final organized team activities before minicamp on June 9.
What's the latest on wide receiver James Jones' health at OTAs? How is the position battle for the No. 2 receiver job shaking out in the early going?
Watch as Adam Lefkoe and CSN Bay Area's Scott Bair discuss the Raiders WR corps in the video above.Read more Oakland Raiders news on BleacherReport.com
The Oakland Raiders haven’t had a winning season since 2002. One big reason for that painful truth has been the team’s inability to find a franchise quarterback since the retirement of Rich Gannon.
No matter how improved the defense or offensive line is in 2014, the play of the team's starting quarterback is going to dictate how the Raiders perform. If the Raiders get bad play from their starting quarterback, they may be looking at their 12th consecutive losing season and significant organizational changes next offseason.
If the coaches feel as though rookie second-round pick Derek Carr gives them the best chance ...
Who's ready for some Oakland Raiders football?
Even though we are still months away from the start of 2014 regular season, credit the NFL's carefully constructed offseason for keeping fans on pins and needles.
The closer we get to the start of training camp, the easier it will be to understand what's in store for the Silver and Black.
All know we now that is that head coach Dennis Allen and general manager Reggie McKenzie are going to be on the hot seat.
Despite their best efforts to infuse this team with talent, what matters most is progress. Another four-win season or worse will spell ...
The Oakland Raiders running back position will be host to one of the roster’s most heated competitions over the course of preseason action.
Veterans Maurice Jones-Drew and Darren McFadden should see the majority of the carries, but the talented, younger backs on the roster will be in the mix for snaps as well.
Ideally for the Raiders, the competition here—and throughout the rest of the roster—brings out the best in those involved.
Here is a full breakdown and depth chart analysis of the Raiders running back position heading into the 2014 season.Begin Slideshow
Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Sean Doolittle picked up his 40th, 41st and 42nd strikeouts of the season in Friday's 4-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles, thus becoming the first pitcher since 1900 to record his 40th K in a season before his second walk, per ESPN Stats & Info via Elias Sports Bureau.
Doolittle turned in a typically dominant performance Friday night, striking out Chris Davis, J.J. Hardy and Steve Pearce on just 12 pitches to earn his eighth save of the year. He hasn't given up a run since April 26, when he allowed four in an ugly appearance against ...
Player: Brett Graves
Drafted by: Oakland Athletics
Position: RHP
DOB: 1/30/1993 (Age: 21)
Height/Weight: 6'1", 190 pounds
Bats/Throws: R/R
School: Missouri
Previously Drafted: 2011, 26th round by Cardinals
Background
Missouri right-hander Brett Graves has done a fantastic job of staying under the radar leading up to the draft, at least as much as any top-100 prospect can. He was a well-known commodity when the Cardinals took him out of a Missouri high school three years ago but never drew much attention to himself after that.
He has been content to just pitch at the University of Missouri instead of being thrown around for the dog-and-pony shows that are exhibition events, and the strategy has worked masterfully.
In three ...
Player: Matt Chapman
Drafted by: Oakland Athletics
Position: 3B
DOB: 04/28/1993 (Age: 21)
Height/Weight: 6’2”, 205 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
School: Cal State Fullerton
Previous Drafted: Never Drafted
Background
Matt Chapman made a name for himself in 2012 as a true freshman, posting a solid .286/.340/.370 batting line with two home runs while playing in 53 games for Cal State Fullerton. As a sophomore the following year, Chapman showed improvement on all fronts, as he showcased more consistent power with 19 extra-base hits (five homers), tallied 37 RBI and posted a drastically improved 29-34 ratio of strikeouts to walks.
Chapman’s impressive sophomore campaign led to his selection to play for the ...
The Oakland Raiders came away from the first two rounds of the 2014 NFL draft with two of the top talents on either side of the ball in Khalil Mack and Derek Carr.
Mack and Carr, followed by a number of value picks, helped make this draft class not only one of the best of the year but also one of the franchise’s best in quite some time.
While training camp and preseason action still remain quite a few weeks away, reports out of rookie workouts and full-team OTAs give us some insight into how these players are coming along thus far.
Khalil ...