Oakland Raiders Preseason Depth Chart Is Much Ado About Nothing

The Oakland Raiders have released their initial preseason depth chart, to the delight and angst of fans everywhere – though interesting to look at, making to much of it at this point would be folly.

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Perhaps, it’s to be expected. The combination of being deprived of football for so long combined with flat out excitement surrounding these Oakland Raiders has created a perfect storm of anticipation. So much so, that with the release of Oakland’s initial preseason depth chart, the Internet practically exploded on Monday. Everybody who’s anybody read the tea leaves, delved deep into the meaning of the placement of every name on the list, and formed a hot take or twelve on the subject.

Perhaps though, it would be best to take a step back and see it for what it is – an initial preseason depth chart. Is it completely devoid of meaning? No, probably not. But is it Moses descending from the mountain with the names of all starters and depth players chiseled into stone tablets important? No, most definitely not.

What that initial depth chart does have though, are a few interesting things that make for some good conversation pieces.

Much of Oakland’s starting lineup won’t come as much of a surprise to anybody. Is there anybody out there who really thought that Derek Carr, Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree, and Khalil Mack wouldn’t be listed at the top of the depth chart?

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Though seeing second round pick Jihad Ward listed with the first team on the defensive line is a little surprising and a lot intriguing, the real suspense is going to come in a few of the other names – primarily the guys they have listed in some of the key backup roles.

For instance, seeing UDFA James Cowser listed as the backup to Khalil Mack at defensive end came as something of a surprise. But Cowser has done a fantastic job in camp and has turned the heads of the coaching staff with his playmaking ability. He always seems to be around the ball and has flashed a lot of speed.

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In another surprising twist, running back Taiwan Jones is listed second on the depth chart to Latavius Murray. It’s surprising given the presence of fifth round pick Deandre Washington, as well as UDFA Jalen Richard, who has been showing out at camp in a big way.

The explanation of course, is not that Jones really will be the primary backup to Murray – after all, he did exactly nothing in that role last season – but that he has seniority. However, having already missed valuable time in camp with an injury, Washington has been taking most of the second team reps and has been excelling. Jones’ actual value to the team may come not out of the backfield, but on special teams.

Jones may be listed with the second team on this initial preseason depth chart, but it wouldn’t be a surprise at all when the actual depth chart is released prior to the start of the season, that he’s been passed by both Washington and Richard.

Though there are a lot of articles filled with hypotheticals, hot takes, wild speculation, and interpretation of the tea leaves, it really is much ado about nothing. There are no genuinely earth shattering surprises on this depth chart and lest we all forget, things are going to change radically as the preseason rolls along – mostly because the Raiders will have to begin trimming down the roster to get to the 53-man limit.

While it’s not entirely “meaningless,” this initial depth chart – not even compiled and published by HC Jack Del Rio, mind you – has very little actual value. The chart was compiled and released the team’s PR staff whom, the last time we checked, is not responsible for the the roster in any way, shape, or form.

The actual value of this chart is mainly as a conversation piece. Do you think Ward is ready to run with the ones? Will Cowser have enough of an impact during the preseason to hold on to that spot with the twos? Will Menelik Watson be able to hold off the challenge from Austin Howard for the starting right tackle spot? Who is going to be Ben Heeney‘s primary backup – Cory James or John Lotulelei? Will Travis Carrie hold on to the slot corner role? Will Neiko Thorpe leapfrog perennially disappointing D.J. Hayden on the depth chart?

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Lots of interesting questions can come from the release of this depth chart, but very little solid, reliable, or real information can be gleaned from it. Certainly, there are very few surprises among the players listed in the starting roles.

While it’s fun to discuss, debate and speculate when something like this is released by the team – and fans starving for a morsel of actual news and information, eat it up with a spoon – it’s not something that should be taken very seriously. Though there is a storm of hot takes and opinion pieces out there in the wake of the release, it truly is much ado about nothing.