Whatever the Raiders accomplish in 2016, good or bad, the team’s first-year players will play a big role.
Now that the 53-man roster has been set for the team’s regular-season opener Sunday in New Orleans vs. the Saints – at least until the next move – we know that all seven members of the 2016 draft class have made it, as have four undrafted rookie free agents.
First-round draft pick Karl Joseph, a safety, leads the drafted class, and is expected to start. Also on the roster are six other Raiders picks from this spring: guard Vadal Alexander, linebacker Shilique Calhoun, quarterback Connor Cook, linebacker Cory James, defensive lineman Jihad Ward and running back DeAndre Washington.
And, from training camp and snaps in exhibition season, it appears that Calhoun, Ward and Washington could play prominent roles.
Running back Jalen Richard, meanwhile, leads the cast of undrafted rookie free agents signed by general manager Reggie McKenzie. Also making the team are defensive lineman Darius Latham, wide receiver Johnny Holton and cornerback Antonio Hamilton.
The fact that so many rookies made the roster of a team that already was much improved over the last two seasons is a testament to their talent.
As head coach Jack Del Rio told Jimmy Durkin of the Bay Area News Group after the team’s final exhibition game, it’s an unusual scenario.
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“There are a few undrafteds that have a chance to make the roster,” Del Rio said. “If you have a really stacked roster, that’s typically not the case."
