Ranking the Oakland Raiders Training Camp Roster: 50-41

Dec 24, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders running back Taiwan Jones (22) warms up before the game against the San Diego Chargers at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 24, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders running back Taiwan Jones (22) warms up before the game against the San Diego Chargers at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 26, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; LSU Tigers offensive lineman Vadal Alexander participates in workout drills during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; LSU Tigers offensive lineman Vadal Alexander participates in workout drills during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

50. Vadal Alexander

Vadal Alexander enters his first training camp with the Oakland Raiders as the team’s only offensive lineman taken in the 2016 NFL Draft. The LSU product going in the seventh round to the Silver and Black to develop under guards Kelechi Osemele and Gabe Jackson.

Alexander was the 11th ranked offensive lineman coming out of high school and was an instant contributor for the Tigers despite going to a major program in the SEC. Starting in all four seasons for head coach Les Miles on the Tigers offensive line.

Thanks to playing for four years, Alexander’s biggest asset is his experience as he knows what it is like to play against the best prospects in the nation for the past four years. Alexander can also play a bit of tackle after playing at right tackle in his senior season, which helped make him a more well-rounded player.

As mentioned with the rest of the rookie offensive lineman, earning a spot on the roster is going to be difficult with so many returning names coming back to the team and the addition of Osemele. A seventh-round pick, Alexander’s odds of sitting a year on the practice squad or sitting on the sidelines as the last backup on the depth are high even if Alexander has been a starter everywhere he has went thus far in his career.

– Chase Ruttig