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Karl Joseph Oakland Raiders
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Winning a Super Bowl isn't going to be easy, but the Oakland Raiders stand a much better chance of doing so if these five youngsters enjoy breakout seasons.
We all already know about the Oakland Raiders' star players. You can't go to a game without seeing at least a dozen Derek Carr/Khalil Mack/Amari Cooper jerseys in the crowd. What you probably won't see, though, is a Shilique Calhoun or Mario Edwards Jr. jersey.
That's because those players haven't had their breakout seasons yet. Luckily for them, though, I foresee quite a bit of breaking out in their futures. Them, and the three other young Raiders on this list who all boast some serious talent.
Considering how awful this team was for so long, it's crazy to think about how talented this roster is now. A few excellent draft classes and some key free agent signings can do that for you, though. As some of the prospects general manager Reggie McKenzie has acquired continue to get more opportunities, we're bound to see a few of them start to shine.
That's what this list is all about. I'm here today to highlight a few young risers who are destined to break out for the Raiders in 2017. Whether due to overwhelming talent or golden opportunities, these guys are going to be known all around the league before the season is over.
With that in mind, here are the five Raiders I believe are headed for breakout campaigns. Write them down or bookmark this link, because you'll be wondering where you heard it first when it's all said and done.
Neiron Ball Oakland Raiders
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
5. Neiron Ball, ILB/OLB
Much of the talk surrounding the Oakland defense right now is concerning the inside linebacker position. The team currently has a glaring hole in the middle, something they simply can't ignore as the 2017 regular season creeps closer and closer.
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At this moment, Cory James is sitting atop the depth chart as training camp lingers about a month away. Other names like Ben Heeney and Marquel Lee could enter the mix as well in the next few months. However, I believe it'll be Neiron Ball who eventually steals the starting job and doesn't let go.
Ball's career has gotten off to a rough start. The 2015 fifth-round pick showed promise as a rookie, earning some starts at inside linebacker early in the year. However, a knee injury brought his first NFL campaign to an early end and led him to miss his entire sophomore season. Now healthy, though, I wouldn't be surprised if he returned to form.
Ball is a superb athlete who shines in coverage and as a pass rusher. Although his abilities against the run still need some work, I believe he offers the most upside of all of the candidates to fill the inside linebacker role.
It may not happen right away, but Ball will start at some point this season. When that happens, he'll turn heads and enjoy a breakout campaign of sorts.
Shilique Calhoun Oakland Raiders
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
4. Shilique Calhoun, OLB
Following the 2016 NFL Draft, I was very confident that the Raiders would get more out of Shilique Calhoun than they would out of Jihad Ward. Calhoun may have been drafted later, but it was obvious to me that he was the superior NFL talent.
Fast forward to today, and I'm still holding tight to that belief. While neither really stood out as a rookie, Ward was a train wreck. As for Calhoun, he showed some pass-rushing chops and appears to have the brighter future in Oakland/Las Vegas. That's why he's one of the guys I'm predicting will break out in 2017.
During his college days, Calhoun was seen as a freak athlete along the defensive line. Although he was extremely raw, the size, quickness and power were all there. Even though he's since transitioned to outside linebacker, there's little reason to believe he isn't capable of making a big-time impact for this Raiders defense.
It helps that he's apparently put on some extra muscle this offseason:
Team website said he put on 20. He wanted to, ran it by Del Rio https://t.co/wfJ3nm2XGg
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) May 22, 2017
With the added bulk on his frame, Calhoun seems primed for a big sophomore season. Especially if Aldon Smith doesn't return to the Raiders, look for the former Michigan State standout to shine bright and earn some serious snaps alongside Mack and Bruce Irvin.
Vadal Alexander Oakland Raiders
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
3. Vadal Alexander, G/OT
Right now, the Raiders also have a glaring hole at right tackle. With starter Austin Howard still recovering from an offseason shoulder surgery, Oakland has turned to essentially the rest of their backup offensive line to see if someone can prove themselves worthy of a starting gig.
Marshall Newhouse, Vadal Alexander and David Sharpe have all taken snaps at right tackle during OTAs. While Newhouse was given the first shot, he's an underwhelming veteran option who is best served on the bench. Alexander, however, started a couple of games last season and showed some real promise. Sharpe is a raw rookie, and likely needs more time to develop.
That's why I'm predicting Alexander will win the job. Not only will he outshine Newhouse during training camp, but he may even show enough to keep Howard at bay when he returns. Either way, it's looking like this could be a breakout season for the 2016 seventh-round pick.
Alexander is a massive man who was drafted as a guard. After starting at right tackle as a rookie, though, it's clear he's got the talent to be a bookend for the Oakland offense. If he can unlock the potential he showed at LSU, Alexander could easily emerge as the final piece to the Raiders' elite offensive line.
Mario Edwards Oakland Raiders
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
2. Mario Edwards Jr., DE
After his 2015 rookie season, it looked like Mario Edwards was on the fast track to stardom. Okay, maybe not stardom, but definitely somewhere along the lines of "quality starter." Then, a hip injury limited him to only two appearances in 2016.
With Edwards back in the mix, though, this Oakland defensive front figures to improve significantly. As a rookie, the former second-round pick showed everything you want in a young defensive end. Although he wasn't a true force as a pass rusher, he played the run exceptionally well and did a great job of disrupting opposing backfields.
That's going to be huge for the Raiders this season. Their defensive line needs a boost after a lackluster showing in 2016. Edwards' return should upgrade the run defense considerably while also giving them a solid bookend across from Khalil Mack. The emergence of a capable interior rusher would also help (I'm talking to you, Eddie Vanderdoes).
Edwards was seen as a boom-or-bust prospect when the Raiders originally drafted him. Based on what we saw from him as a rookie, though, it's clear he's leaning towards achieving "boom" status. That is, if he can get healthy and stay there.
We'll see what happens this season, but hopes are very high that Edwards will deliver some exciting plays in 2017.
Karl Joseph Oakland Raiders
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
1. Karl Joseph, SS
I don't often consider first-round picks as breakout candidates unless they're at least a few years into their careers. However, in this instance, I'm willing to make an exception for Karl Joseph. Why? Well let me tell you the two reasons why he's the perfect candidate.
First, Joseph came into this league nursing a torn ACL. I know that's not a rare thing these days, but it's also not common for those players to go No. 14 overall. And yet, that's exactly what happened with the Raiders' young safety. Having that type of injury put him at a disadvantage in a number of ways, including forcing him to miss time during OTAs and training camp.
Second, he underwhelmed as a rookie. While there were some promising moments from Joseph, he was routinely hobbled by injury and struggled to earn snaps through the first few games. When he did finally step into the starting role, he hit his fair share of bumps in the road.
A full offseason to get healthy and get on the field, though, should allow him to right the ship. Joseph flashed glimpses of playmaking ability as a rookie, showing relatively well in coverage and displaying exceptional physicality. Chances are we see even more exciting play from the young defensive back in 2017.
That's why I get the feeling we could finally see this budding NFL star blossom. Head coach Jack Del Rio already claimed he's expecting a "big step forward" from Joseph (via CSN Bay Area), and I have little reason to disagree with him. It's only his sophomore season, but he'll quiet any critics before the 2017 campaign is in the books.
