It’s the heart of the big break before training camp. So, let’s do some rankings! In this case we rank the players on the roster and we count it down from 25-1. For these rankings we’re going to try to stick with what we know about the players so far and not go too much on projections, so these rankings should not considered in terms of where they might be after this season. That will be for next year’s rankings.
25. QB Aidan O'Connell
Last year’s starting quarterback down the stretch sneaks onto the top 25 list. In his 10 starts last season, he showed he can throw a good ball, but doesn’t lacks mobility or elusiveness and thus didn’t create much when the play broke down. There was no real indication he is the answer moving forward. He enters year two in a battle to keep his job with newcomer Gardner Minshew.
24. DI Adam Butler
Butler is flying under the radar, but he has put together some very good seasons in his career — including being a key part of a Super Bowl team in New England. He finished last season strong and is very highly regarded among his teammates. He figures to be a rotational defensive tackle who proved he can provide much needed interior pass rush.
23. T Thayer Munford
Munford has the inside track on the right tackle job this season. He had some good games last season at left tackle and some decent play at right tackle as well. Now he will have a shot at the full time starting job. If he can keep it.
22. TE Michael Mayer
Mayer came in highly regarded out of Notre Dame. The Raiders even traded up to get him near the top of the second round. He was slow to get things going as a rookie, but seemed to be putting things together. Then the team made Brock Bowers their pick at 13 overall in this year’s draft, which would seem to suggest they may not be convinced Mayer is star caliber.
21. RB Zamir White
The former fourth round pick played sparingly for nearly two full seasons. But late last season, when Josh Jacobs was lost to injury, White stepped up and had four solid games to end the season. Thus putting himself in line to be given a shot to be the team’s feature back this season.
