The Raiders open training camp on July 21 in Costa Mesa, Calif., and fans have a lot of questions.
Here’s a sample of what arrived in this week’s mailbag:
Matt Berger (@matt_berger):I heard national media say that the Raiders have “almost secured a locker for Dak Prescott in 2025.” Do you put any stock in that?
Vincent Bonsignore:Unless Aidan O’Connell or Gardner Minshew decisively establish themselves as the Raiders’ long-term starting quarterback, it’s incumbent on the club to be looking for an upgrade after the season.
The Raiders wanted to move up in the NFL draft to secure Louisiana State quarterback Jayden Daniels, even with Minshew and O’Connell on the roster. This clearly shows they are looking to secure their long-term face of the franchise.
There’s no doubt that Prescott is a huge upgrade over Minshew and O’Connell. He’s a bona fide top-10 quarterback after a season in which he finished second in MVP voting. If he and the Cowboys can’t come to terms on a new contract and he’s available on the open market, the Raiders would likely be interested in signing him.
JGinWV (@JGinWV):Should the Raiders sign a cornerback before training camp?
Goodsignor:Jakorian Bennett and Brandon Facyson head into camp as the main contenders for a starting job over Jack Jones and Nate Hobbs. The Raiders are pleased with this battle that produced a valuable starter. That said, someone like Stephon Gilmore, for the right price, makes a lot of sense.
Kenny Nauta (@kennynautajr):It felt like Josh McDaniels’ offense could never be heard in the various plays when he was coaching the team. Does offensive coordinator Luke Getsy give his quarterbacks the freedom to change plays if they see something they don’t like from the defense?
Goodsignor: That was a bit of an exaggeration. Raiders quarterbacks have always had multiple options to turn to at the line of scrimmage depending on the defense. In terms of going off script to call an entirely new play, that only comes with experience on offense. O’Connell or Minshew will likely go to the line of scrimmage with shifts based on the initial call to better attack the defensive formation.
B2Grizzly (@brian4catlin): How confident are you that the young players on the defensive backfield are taking the next step? Can this group become an elite team or do the Raiders need to sign a veteran?
Goodsignor:This is actually just the starting perimeter work and rotational roles that are cause for slight concern. Otherwise, this secondary is made up of cornerbacks and safeties. Between Bennett and Facyson, the Raiders should have a starter and a fourth adequate cornerback. If so, this entire unit has a chance to be good.
Rick Honig (@RickHHonigII):Will the team make a change for the kickoff by replacing kicker Daniel Carlson with another player? Maybe sign a rugby player to handle the kickoff?
Goodsignor: Based on the minicamp, the Raiders will give some position players a chance to show they can handle kickoff duties to protect Carlson. As for dedicating a roster spot to a designated kicker, that seems unlikely.
Contact Vincent Bonsignore at [email protected]. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on X.
