Oakland Raiders: Top 3 position battles to watch in training camp

2 of 3

OAKLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 30: Gareon Conley #21 of the Oakland Raiders intercepts a pass intended for Antonio Callaway #11 of the Cleveland Browns and runs in back for a touchown at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 30, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

2. Cornerback

Gareon Conley has his spot as the number one corner on the team all but locked up, but the other starter is up in the air. Daryl Worley is pegged as the starter right now, but Trayvon Mullen has a chance to take that spot from him, especially by midseason once he gets his feet wet in the league.

Behind those three, we have Lamarcus Joyner who will man the nickel (but also playing a lot of safety most likely), rookie Isaiah Johnson, Nevin Lawson, Isaiah Langley, D.J. Killings, Nick Nelson, Keisan Nixon, and Dylan Mabin.

Johnson is pretty much a lock to make the team, but the real battle will be who ends up higher on the depth chart between him, Nelson, and Lawson. One of the other young guys may impress, but it’s more likely between these three.

Johnson is extremely raw and cornerback is a hard position to develop while Lawson, on the other hand, is a veteran, who has zero career interceptions. On top of that, Lawson has been about average-to-below-average his entire career.

Oakland Raiders Preview: Breaking down the 2019 cornerbacks. light. Related Story

Nelson wasn’t very good last year, but he was a fifth-round rookie and should be improved. Mabin, the undrafted rookie out of Fordham, is somebody to look out for in this battle as well — especially since special teams ability is important with the guys this deep on the depth chart.

The best-case scenario here is Johnson’s raw talent putting him above Lawson and Nelson, or one of the younger guys, impressing enough to warrant a spot above Lawson. This would result in him most likely not making the team, making the defense younger and giving them chances to develop.

Johnson fits defensive coordinator Paul Guenther’s defense perfectly being a press corner, while Lawson is more of nickel which is a spot already locked down. Mabin is another big press corner who played for a small school, but has more upside than Nelson and is a better fit for the defense also.

Prediction: CB1 – Gareon Conley, CB2 – Darryl Worley, Nickel – Lamarcus Joyner, CB3 – Trayvon Mullen, CB4 – Isaiah Johnson, CB5 – Dylan Mabin, Notable Cuts – Nick Nelson, Nevin Lawson

Home/Las Vegas Raiders News