Aug 2, 2015; Napa, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie (left) and owner Mark Davis at training camp at the Napa Valley Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Five weeks into the 2015 NFL season, the Oakland Raiders own a record of 2-3, and have surprised many in the national media with their quality of play.
The week one loss to the Cincinnati Bengals was awful, but since then, the Raiders have a positive point differential (+3) and a positive turnover differential (+3).
Those numbers might not jump off the page, but it’s a big improvement for a team that took ten weeks to win it’s first game last season. It’s also proof that the team is trending in the right direction.
A mixture of draft picks – led by Khalil Mack, Derek Carr and Amari Cooper – as well as free agent signings such as Donald Penn, Dan Williams and Aldon Smith, have helped bolster the roster during Reggie McKenzie’s tenure. But the roster still needs a good amount of work before the team can become legitimately competitive.
Here are the biggest needs on the roster:
Next: Roster Need #1: Right Tackle