See our updated Depth Chart projections with guesses on where players will fall at this time.
The Raiders went into 2012 free agency with almost no bodies at CB position and came out with a number of players that will be able to vie for the starting CB spots.
The CB position will be one of the, if not the, most changed positions from last season. There are only 3 players that are returning from last year: 2nd year players Chimdi Chekwa and DeMarcus Van Dyke and RFA Bryann McCann who was tendered as a restricted free agent.
Joining those players are 3 veteran CBs, all of whom signed 1 year deals: Ronald Bartell, Shawntae Spencer and Pat Lee.
Both Bartell and Spencer have been previously discussed on this site.
Pat Lee is very much in the same mold as Spencer and Bartell. All are tall CBs with good builds (Pat Lee is 6’0″, 196 lbs). All three were 2nd round picks.
Bartell and Spencer have both been starters in the league. Lee has never started a game and would be unlikely to compete for a starting position right away but he has good measureables and if he can compete to be a nickel or dime back, that is a good start.
All said and done, the CB position is now one of the deepest on the team. There are 7 CBs that are on the roster plus a practice squad player in Terrail Lambert.
That’s a plus because the Raiders can now focus on other positions in the draft.
One of the positions most likely to be focused upon by GM Reggie McKenzie is LB. He’s referenced the need already, himself.
If all the linebackers on the roster are healthy right now, the Raiders have enough for a starting lineup, only. They have absolutely no depth unless practice squad Carl Ihenacho is activated to the regular roster.
At this time, if the Raiders do not sign some bodies before the daft in a month, the Raiders will need to heavily look at LB in the draft.
The Raiders currently have 2 draft picks and are expected to be awarded 2-3 additional compensatory picks later this week. Compensatory picks cannot be traded.
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