Oakland Raiders: 53-Man roster projections after minicamp
Quarterbacks: Derek Carr, EJ Manuel, Connor Cook (3)
It’s the status quo for the Raiders quarterback room. Christian Hackenberg made a short cameo appearance at team headquarters, but head coach Jon Gruden cited the collective bargaining agreement guidelines as the reason for waiving the 23-year old after three weeks.
In reality, Hackenberg’s chances looked slim against the three signal-callers listed ahead of him on the depth chart even if he remained on the roster through the summer.
Of course, Derek Carr leads the group as the $125 million franchise quarterback. He’s expected to look closer to his 2016 form when he generated league MVP buzz under former play-caller Bill Musgrave.
Gruden, as an offensive mind, and the supporting cast at wide receiver should elevate the aerial attack. The Silver and Black also have multiple threats who can catch out of the backfield.
EJ Manuel should continue to hold the primary backup spot over Connor Cook. The third-year signal-caller didn’t look too impressive during some practices:
Rough couple plays for offense here:
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) June 13, 2018
-Jalen Richard fumble returned for TD by Leon Hall
-Mo Hurst bats down Connor Cook pass at line of scrimmage
-Erik Harris picks off Cook down left sideline
-Wide-open Seth Roberts drops ball from Cook
Gruden wasn’t as critical of Connor Cook as I was. “Still some rough edges,” Gruden said, adding backup QB competition is “wide open.”
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) June 13, 2018
Furthermore, he hasn’t thrown a pass since his playoff appearance after the 2016 campaign.
If all goes well, neither Manuel nor Cook should see the field in the upcoming season unless the Raiders lock up an early playoff spot.