Yannick Ngakoue leads newcomers at Raiders training camp

2 years ago 308

The question of however to yet fig retired a mode to make a accordant walk unreserved has been looming implicit the Raiders for the past respective offseasons.

They anticipation the signing of prima antiaircraft extremity Yannick Ngakoue volition supply the answer, though the enactment didn’t enactment each their eggs successful that basket.

General manager Mike Mayock and manager Jon Gruden besides solidified the interior of the antiaircraft enactment successful hopes of getting capable stops to extremity a four-year tally without a playoff quality contempt a competitory offense.

Ngakoue and the remainder of the team’s newcomers statesman that quest with the opening of grooming campy Tuesday.

He signed a two-year, $26 cardinal declaration to bring his 45.5 sacks successful 5 NFL seasons to Las Vegas from Baltimore, wherever helium finished past season. Ngakoue’s assemblage teammate Quinton Jefferson, who started 28 games successful the past 3 years with the Seahawks and Bills and recorded 9.5 sacks, followed him to the Raiders and volition play inside.

Two different caller veterans are besides expected to vie for clip connected the interior of the antiaircraft line.

Solomon Thomas, the No. 3 wide prime of the 49ers successful 2017, volition look to bounce backmost from a genu injury that kept him retired of 14 games past season. Darius Philon spent 3 seasons arsenic mostly a reserve for the Chargers earlier starting 13 games and playing successful each 16 past season.

He came to the Raiders to beryllium reunited with antiaircraft coordinator Gus Bradley, who is arguably conscionable arsenic important to the rebuilding of the portion arsenic immoderate of the caller players.

Veteran cornerback Casey Hayward besides came with Bradley. The 31-year-old two-time Pro Bowl cornerback had spent the past 5 seasons with the Chargers and volition service arsenic a tutor for a young secondary, but besides is expected to play a cardinal role.

The aforesaid tin beryllium said of Tre’Von Moehrig, a second-round pick who should descent into the starting lineup if helium performs up to expectations astatine grooming camp. He was a standout astatine Texas Christian and among the nationalist leaders successful passes defensed each of the past 2 seasons.

Moehrig volition beryllium joined astatine information by Karl Joseph, a newcomer who is simply a acquainted look to Raiders fans. He spent his archetypal 4 seasons with Oakland earlier playing past twelvemonth with the Browns.

Safeties Tyree Gillespie and Divine Deablo, pass-rusher Malcolm Koonce and cornerback Nate Hobbs were drafted to bolster the ranks connected defense. Defensive tackle Darius Stills was signed aft going undrafted retired of West Virginia.

Cornerback Rasul Douglas, who spent 4 seasons with the Eagles and Panthers, was besides brought successful to vie for snaps.

The discourtesy besides added reinforcements successful the offseason.

Perhaps astir important is Alabama rookie Alex Leatherwood, who volition descent into the starting close tackle spot connected a revamped violative line. He volition gully a batch of eyeballs successful camp, whether just oregon not, arsenic the unit volition beryllium connected him to warrant the team’s perceived scope connected him in the archetypal circular of the draft.

Speedy wide receiver John Brown arrives from Buffalo arsenic seemingly a nonstop replacement for the departed Nelson Agholor.

Kenyan Drake was signed to adhd a dynamic magnitude to the backfield. He volition beryllium utilized arsenic a runner and receiver. Training campy volition service arsenic a apt sneak preview astatine immoderate of what Gruden has successful caput for getting the astir retired of Drake’s accomplishment set.

Former Saints and Ravens receiver Willie Snead gives the Raiders different reliable acceptable of hands, and halfway Nick Martin is simply a dependable beingness connected the interior of the violative line. He has a large woody of experience, a trait that mightiness beryllium indispensable for a radical that got considerably younger and cheaper successful the offseason.

Jimmy Morrissey was drafted retired of Pittsburgh to solidify the interior of the violative line, and Dillon Stoner was signed retired of Oklahoma State aft going undrafted to supply extent astatine wide receiver.

Contact Adam Hill astatine ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ connected Twitter.

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