Defense will be the strength of this Raiders team and there’s a lot of returning starters. But the preseason isn’t really about entrenched starters. It’s about hopefuls and those looking to be the guy who, if called upon, would keep the group from missing a beat.
With that in mind, here are the top five positions battles to watch when the Raiders take on the Vikings on Saturday.
Adam Butler vs Byron Young
Technically speaking, these two don’t play the same position. But they are both fighting to be the next man off the bench and for more reps in the defensive interior rotation. Butler is trying to prove he is more than a situational pass rusher, and Young is just trying to prove he is worthy of playing time. Young is entering his second season since being the team’s third round pick last year.
Tyree Wilson vs Janarius Robinson
Yes, it’s come to this. The Raiders second year seventh overall pick vs former Vikings fourth round pick Janarious Robinson. Wilson has to prove he has made the leap from his rookie season and Janarius is looking to prove he is more worthy. Robinson has the added motivation of proving his former team that they made a mistake in giving up on him.
Luke Masterson vs Tommy Eichenberg
Masterson is entering his third season with the Raiders since earning a spot on the team as an undrafted free agent in 2022. Now he has some serious competition for playing time from the team’s rookie fifth round pick. Both still seem likely to make the squad and could even see the field together with Eichenberg at the MIKE and Masterson at outside LB.
DeCamerion Richardson vs MJ Devonshire
The two rookie cornerbacks have been in a heated battle to be the fourth cornerback on the depth chart. That would mean they are the next man up should one of the three starters go down. Both have shown flashes, and now we get to see them do it against another team.
Christopher Smith II vs Trey Taylor
It’s last year’s fifth round pick versus this year’s seventh round pick. Both came in with impressive college resumes. Now they battle for the fourth safety spot behind Tre’von Moehrig, Marcus Epps, and Isaiah Pola-Mao.