Close Article Return to stream X
NFL •

5 Oakland Raiders Facing Make-or-Break Seasons In 2015

+Read full article

5 Oakland Raiders Facing Make-or-Break Seasons

Oakland Raiders Training Camp
Kirby Lee – USA TODAY Sports

The Oakland Raiders have performed poorly consistently over the past decade. The team has not been able to find impact players on offense or defense, and as a result, they have struggled. However, the team’s outlook is now much better thanks to second-year quarterback Derek Carr, but they are still weeding out some of the players who should be deemed busts. Here’s a look at some of the players facing make-or-break 2015 seasons.

5. Christian Ponder

Christian Ponder Oakland Raiders
Kirby Lee – USA TODAY Sports

5. Christian Ponder

Christian Ponder Oakland Raiders
Kirby Lee – USA TODAY Sports

The former Minnesota Viking signed as a free agent to back up Derek Carr, but Ponder needs to prove that he can win a backup job. Ponder has a record of 2-7-1 over 10 starts in the last two years, and he only had one good professional season in 2012. If he can’t beat out Matt McGloin and rookie Cody Fajardo for the backup job, then his career as an NFL quarterback will effectively be over.

4. Malcolm Smith

Malcolm Smith Oakland Raiders
Kirby Lee – USA TODAY Sports

4. Malcolm Smith

Malcolm Smith Oakland Raiders
Kirby Lee – USA TODAY Sports

Malcolm Smith was the Super Bowl MVP in 2013, but he has never been a consistently good player. The Seahawks let him walk away this offseason, and he’ll be battling for a backup position with the Raiders. Smith is up against some tough competition, including rookies Neiron Ball and Ben Heeney, so it may be hard for him to get on the field. This will hurt Smith’s chances of making the team, and he may end up being expendable.

3. D.J. Hayden

D.J. Hayden Oakland Raiders
Kelly L. Cox – USA TODAY Sports

3. D.J. Hayden

D.J. Hayden Oakland Raiders
Kelly L. Cox – USA TODAY Sports

D.J. Hayden is a great story, as the cornerback came back from a near fatal injury at a college practice to play in the NFL, but he just hasn’t been a first-round talent. Hayden has only started 10 games, and he has missed 14 games total in his career. He is injury prone and isn’t a No. 1 cornerback. He needs to improve this season, or the Raiders will start looking to replace him in the upcoming year.

2. Michael Crabtree

Michael Crabtree Oakland Raiders
Kirby Lee – USA TODAY Sports

2. Michael Crabtree

Michael Crabtree Oakland Raiders
Kirby Lee – USA TODAY Sports

Last year, Michael Crabtree looked very bad. He didn’t have any sort of chemistry with Colin Kaepernick, and at times it looked like he quit on the 49ers. Crabtree has been known for being a head case during his pro career, and if he can’t change that in Oakland, then not many teams will want him around. Crabtree also must create chemistry with Derek Carr to have a chance at staying in Oakland beyond his one-year deal.

1. Trent Richardson

Trent Richardson Oakland Raiders
Kirby Lee – USA TODAY Sports

1. Trent Richardson

Trent Richardson Oakland Raiders
Kirby Lee – USA TODAY Sports

Trent Richardson has been one of the biggest busts in recent memory. Richardson was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, but he has not lived up to that billing. He has averaged a woeful 3.3 yards per carry during his career, and I wouldn’t expect that to change in Oakland. The team is giving him one more shot, but Richardson simply will not be able to display the talent he did when he was at Alabama.

Your Favorites