Oakland Raiders: A few players under the biggest microscope this season

Gareon Conley

Conley and the Raiders went through a lot after the team took him twenty-fourth overall in last year’s draft. After finally being cleared of a pending sexual assault charge in late July, the Raiders were hoping to get him focused on the field as they prepped for the season.

It was a hope that never came to fruition as injuries largely derailed Conley’s rookie year, limiting him to appearances in just two games where he had seven tackles (five solo) and one pretty spectacular pass defensed.

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He played but a handful of snaps, but in those snaps, he definitely tantalized the team and fans with elite level talent.

Unfortunately for the team, Conley made bigger news off the field than on it. Whether it be for him clapping back at GM Reggie McKenzie‘s characterization of his injury as shin splints, to teammates openly wondering about his desire to play, Conley’s first season was marked with a lot of promise and potential, but also a distinct lack of maturity.

Heading into year two though, it seems as if Conley has gotten his head on straight — or is, at least, a lot closer to it — and is putting in the work necessary to be great. To be elite.

And to that end, he’s garnered a lot of praise from Gruden and the coaching staff, who expect him to step up his game and be a cornerstrone of the defense moving forward.

McKenzie and Gruden seem to want to build this secondary around Conley, and they’ll be watching closely to see if he can rise to that challenge.