Jason O. Watson-US PRESSWIRE

Chimdi Chekwa and many other NFLers suffered the cruelest fate of all in football. Chekwa was among the many that made the final cut only to be given their walking papers less than 24 hours later. However it wasn’t just Chekwa’s time on the Raiders’ 2012 roster that was short lived. His career in Silver and Black was pretty much over before it started too.

A 4^thround pick out of Ohio State in 2011, Chekwa got one lockout shortened camp, an injury filled rookie season and a full camp under a new regime to prove his NFL worth. Reggie McKenzie and Dennis Allen clearly weren’t impressed. Thus Chekwa was given his unceremonious exit and yet another Al Davis experiment has ended.

If you’re keeping score this would be the third player drafted by Davis in the last three years that has been sent packing by McKenzie. Both Bruce Campbell and Louis Murphy were at least traded. Chekwa now has to play the waiting game to see if another NFL team will come calling.

There is little doubt that Chekwa’s time in the 40-yard-dash was the biggest reason why he appeared on Oakland’s draft board last year. Watching Chekwa at Ohio State you knew he had talent. There was just no reason to assume he’d ever be much more than a solid nickel corner at best. Nothing wrong with that though. Especially when you’re talking about a Raider team in need of a reliable nickel corner.

Unfortunately for Allen he didn’t see enough from Chekwa to keep him in the rotation amongst the Oakland secondary. Seems the coaching staff feels more comfortable with the corners they’ve recently signed and see little of over Chekwa whom they’ve coached and observed for months now.

Chekwa’s release should also be a warning to DeMarcus Van Dyke. Given his poor play in the preseason it stands to reason this will be DVD’s last season in Silver and Black unless he shows something when the opportunity presents itself this year.

Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE

Dennis Allen needs a breakout season from one of his two second year cornerbacks. Both DeMarcus Van Dyke and Chimdi Chekwa have a lot to prove during their sophomore seasons in Silver and Black. To be sure both men showed some promise as rookies yet neither established themselves as reliable enough for an expanded role. Chekwa was eventually shutdown due to injury while DVD never found a rhythm in his first lap around the league.

That could be changing for at least one of Allen’s two talented and young cover corners.

Through the first two days of practice Van Dyke has been turning heads with his improved play. Making the most of Ron Bartell’s absence from practice thus far DVD is running with the first team defense and if things keep up he could be staying with that unit.

As a rookie DVD showed real potential. His fluid movements combined with natural cover skills gave hope that the Raiders might have starting corner in the near future. One year later and that could very well be a reality.

While Bartell recovers from a hamstring injury DVD is busy making his way into the forefront of the camp battle amongst the cornerbacks. Few positions are as wide open as the cornerbacks in Oakland with the coaching staff just waiting for someone to put their name on the starting spots.

Van Dyke’s first day featured two passes defended as he started opposite Shawntae Spencer. Today Vittorio Tafur Tweeted the continued praise of DVD’s play. If things keep up Van Dyke’s promise of a better tomorrow could come today. Of course that could all change once the veteran Bartell is healthy enough to go. But we’ll just have to wait and see how that shapes up. For now, it would appear that it’s Van Dyke’s job to lose.

Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE

Raider Nation didn’t see much of Chimdi Chekwa as a rookie. He was initially pegged as another Al Davis stopwatch special when selected in the 4^th round after a 4.4-40 showing at the combine. Chekwa dealt with injury issues before his pro career began, then at start of his first NFL training camp and that continued into his first season with a hamstring issue that finally ended his rookie campaign.

When he was healthy enough to play in the preseason you saw some talent but also some serious room for growth. At one point the Raiders tried him out as a safety where he looked completely lost.

Of the four games he appeared in, Chekwa’s most memorable outing was his lone start against Tom Brady and the high powered Patriots passing game. There were some hit or miss moments as you’d expect but overall Chekwa looked fluid in coverage showing real potential.

Now the question is how big a step forward will he take in year two?

Reggie McKenzie’s roster overhaul seemingly unfolds with each passing week. Chekwa could be getting his last audition as a Raider. The secondary is a work in progress with the position of cornerback being one of the areas of greatest need for the team. Chekwa has a chance to get an expanded role coming out of camp as nothing is written in ink at this point. Aside from Tyvon Branch every position in the secondary is up for grabs.

Becoming a starter might be a real reach for Chekwa but challenging for a role as a nickel corner is realistic possibility.