2015 NFL Preview: Can the Raiders take a step forward?

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Oakland Raiders

Highlight of 2014

A breakout performance from Latavius Murray, highlighted by this electrifying 90-yard touchdown run, helped the Raiders to their first victory of the season in Week 12. The impressive win over the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs was the first of Oakland's three consecutive home wins to close out the 2014 campaign.

Preseason Power Ranking - #26

Slowly but surely, the Raiders are headed in the right direction. Significant progress being made in the win column may still be another year away, but this team should be far more competitive than it's been in seasons past. More ...

2015 Season Outlook

Schedule | Roster

Head Coach: Jack Del Rio
Offensive Coordinator: Bill Musgrave
Defensive Coordinator: Ken Norton Jr.

There's some considerable optimism surrounding the Raiders' chances of taking a significant step forward in 2015, as an experienced coaching staff is taking the reins of a team that now features an intriguing combination of young and veteran talent.

While Oakland may still be another year away from challenging for a playoff spot, the club could finally start to enjoy some on-field results as it enters the fourth year of what has proven to be a methodical rebuilding process.

Key Additions

• C Rodney Hudson
• DT Dan Williams
• WR Amari Cooper (1st Round)
• DE Mario Edwards Jr. (2nd Round)
• TE Clive Walford (3rd Round)
• WR Michael Crabtree
• LB Curtis Lofton
• LB Malcolm Smith
• RB Roy Helu Jr.
• S Nate Allen

Key Departures

• WR James Jones
• C Stefen Wisniewski
• RB Darren McFadden
• DT Antonio Smith
• LB Nick Roach
• CB Tarell Brown
• CB Carlos Rogers

The Raiders did well to use their abundance of salary-cap space in free agency, landing a number of talented players that should step into starting roles from day one.

General manager Reggie McKenzie then put together an impressive draft class for the second consecutive year, led by the selection of Amari Cooper with the fourth overall pick. Cooper - one of the most polished receivers to enter the NFL in recent memory - gives quarterback Derek Carr a potential No. 1 target to work with long-term.

Bold Predictions

Amari Cooper will catch 100 passes in his rookie season. The first receiver taken in this year's draft is one of the most pro-ready pass catchers to come into the league in a while. Cooper is the dynamic playmaker the Raiders have been lacking on offense. He is going to see a lot of targets in Oakland, as the team is forced to come from behind most weeks. Cooper will become the second rookie to catch 100 passes or more in NFL history, after Anquan Boldin accomplished the feat for the Cardinals in 2003. - Justin Boone

Clive Walford will surpass 500 receiving yards. The third-round pick missed a good chunk of training camp because of a hamstring injury, but has the potential to beat out Mychal Rivera for the starting job. He also has the potential to do something only 26 rookie tight ends have done before: surpass 500 receiving yards in a season. - Caitlyn Holroyd

Trent Richardson will break the 1,000 rushing yards barrier. Richardson could be considered an unmitigated disaster in stints with the Cleveland Browns and the Indianapolis Colts, but his run of mediocrity will end in Oakland. Richardson will finally live up to the potential seen in him when he was selected third overall in 2012, and will eventually become the team's lead back, fending off Latavius Murray. - Arun Srinivasan