Most of these men will only be in camp long enough to have a cup of coffee and perhaps see some limited action in preseason contests. But using Rod Streater as an example you never know when a hidden gem will sparkle once offseason workouts begin.

The Oakland Raiders have signed 14 undrafted rookie free agents, General Manager Reggie McKenzie announced Monday.

Billy Boyko (6-2, 240) LB – Lehigh: Played four years at Lehigh, playing in 41 games. He played in 11 games with 10 starts as a senior, leading the team with 104 tackles (53 solo).

Adrian Bushell (5-10, 190) DB – Louisville: Played two years at Louisville after also playing at Cedar Valley Community College and Florida. He posted 62 tackles (45 solo) and one interception as a senior at Louisville.

Bobby Cowan (6-4, 220) P – Idaho: Played four years at Idaho, becoming the Vandals’ all-time leading punter with an average of 44.7 yards. He punted 70 times as a senior, averaging 43.1 yards per attempt.

Deveric Gallington (6-3, 315) C – Texas Tech: Finished collegiate career making 38 consecutive starts on the offensive line. He started all 13 games as a senior and helped the team rush for 1,674 yards, the most for Texas Tech since 1998.

Shelton Johnson (6-0, 197) S – Wisconsin: Saw action in 46 games with 23 starts in four years at Wisconsin. He played in 11 games with 10 starts as a senior in 2012, and recorded four interceptions as a junior in 2011.

Brian Leonhardt (6-5, 255) TE – Bemidji State: Played four years at Bemidji State. He ranked third on the team with 25 receptions for 343 yards and three touchdowns as a senior.

Lamar Mady (6-2, 315) G – Youngstown State: Played two years at Youngstown State after transferring from Butler County Community College. He started all 11 games as a senior in 2012.

Sam McGuffie (5-10, 200) WR – Rice: Played three years at Rice after transferring from Michigan. He became the first Rice player with 1,000 career yards in both rushing and receiving. As a senior, he totaled 54 receptions for 603 yards and five touchdowns.

Kyle Padron (6-3, 225) QB – Eastern Washington: Played one season at Eastern Washington after transferring from SMU. He played in 11 games as a senior, completing 175-of-296 passes for 2,491 yards and 17 touchdowns. He posted a 12-9 record in 21 starts at SMU.

Adam Steiner (6-2, 240) LS – Akron: Saw action as Akron’s long-snapper for four years. His father, Charles, played in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills.

Kurt Taufa’asau (6-2, 300) DT – Wyoming: Played two years at Wyoming after transferring from New Mexico Military College. He played in seven games as a senior, totaling 22 tackles (13 solo) and 1½ tackles for loss.

Conner Vernon (6-0, 192) WR – Duke: Played four years at Duke, totaling 198 receptions for 2,675 yards and 13 touchdowns. A two-time All-ACC selection, he became the only player in conference history to register multiple seasons with 70 or more receptions.

John Wetzel (6-7, 315) T – Boston College: Saw action in 38 games in four years at Boston College. He started all 12 games as a senior in 2012, for an offense that averaged 259.3 passing yards per game.

Deonte Williams (5-10, 213) RB – Cal Poly: Played two years at Cal Poly after transferring from Sierra College. An Oakland native, he rushed for 1,547 yards on 231 carries and 12 touchdowns as a senior in 2012.

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Hard to believe but less than three years ago the Oakland Raiders were in playoff contention late in the season. Even more difficult to digest are the memories of those playoff hopes fading in the Florida sunset on the afternoon of December 12^th, 2010.

You’ll recall the Raiders were 6-7 under the helm of Tom Cable and needed a win over the 8-5 Jacksonville Jaguars to take one big step towards their first postseason in nearly a decade.

You’ll also recall Darren McFadden having one of the best performances of his career as he ran all over the Jags pulling off moves only seen in video games.

Unfortunately you might also remember the Raiders blowing a big lead in the second half before ultimately falling 38-31 to the Jags as they went on to complete the first of two consecutive .500 seasons.

What sticks out in my mind is a 74-yard TD run by Rashad Jennings that might just have been the moment that broke the will of the Raiders that awful afternoon. Both Jennings and Maurice Jones-Drew would go on to eclipse the 100-yard barrier that day with Jennings needing only 5 touches to do his damage.

If guess if you can’t beat ‘em then sign ‘em.

Reggie McKenzie has taken a man that was once a Raider killer and put him in Silver and Black in hopes he can be to the team what Michael Bush once was. Jennings’ arrival in Oakland awakens bad memories of what he’s done but good thoughts of what he can do.

Yet another value found by McKenzie as he continues one of the most difficult rebuilds in the history of the NFL.

Andrew Weber-US Presswire

Two weeks ago Terrelle Pryor had to feel good about getting a crack at the starting job with Carson Palmer on the way out. Then Matt Flynn was in and Pryor’s camp battle was officially underway. Now it looks like there could be a chance Pryor will be competing just to make the roster as the Raiders are reported to be exploring more options at quarterback.

No doubt competition for jobs is exactly what Reggie McKenzie’s cap cleansing has created. So the position of quarterback shouldn’t be any different.

Reports surfaced today as the Raiders brought in former Kansas City Chief Tyler Thigpen and are said to have one-time Seattle Seahawk and Sacramento native Seneca Wallace making a stop in the East Bay tomorrow.

Neither man could be a threat to Pryor who has plenty of upside and figures to have a role of some sort this coming season. Then again with the way McKenzie has been purging the Al Davis projects it could be curtains if Pryor can’t earn the backup job coming out of camp must less challenge Flynn as the starter.

Then again, this could just be due diligence by McKenzie as he knows nothing is decided in April. Kicking the tires on any man that can help make this team better even if that just means keeping the fire lit under guys like Pryor is a good thing. When it’s all said and done the 53 men that make that final roster will have earned their keep instead of being handed a scholarship. Those days are over.