Oakland Raiders Rumors: Coaching staff not sold on Gareon Conley?

Oakland Raiders cornerback Gareon Conley put together a solid 2018 campaign. Does he have a firm standing as a starter going into the 2019 season?

The Oakland Raiders will prepare for training camp in the coming week. Rookies will report July 23, and the veterans join them July 26 in Napa.

Typically, younger talents have a lot to gain and aging veterans could lose a starting job or a roster spot. Some guys fall into a middle category with uncertainties. As head coach Jon Gruden continues to mold his roster, we may see notable players cut, traded or even take a step back in their workloads.

According to Vic Tafur of The Athletic, cornerback Gareon Conley isn’t a sure-fire starter for the 2019 season.

"“His tackling has also gotten better and is no longer awful. But — brace yourself — like Ellis, Conley is not a lock to start.The coaching staff won’t say this out loud but they are not totally sold on him, and the drafting of Trayvon Mullen in the second round impacts Conley as much as it does Daryl Worley, the Raiders’ other top cornerback.”"

Tafur’s word on Conley pops up as a bit of a surprise. Despite the coaching staff benching him in Week 6 against the Seattle Seahawks in London last year, he took a big leap forward, registering three interceptions and a team-high 15 pass breakups.

Apparently, Conley hasn’t established himself as a clear-cut starter. The Raiders selected Trayvon Mullen in the second round of this year’s draft. Many thought he would pose a direct threat to Daryl Worley’s playing time, but the rookie could also push Coney Island off its mark.

Keep in mind, the Raiders also have cornerback Nick Nelson going into his sophomore campaign and signed cover man Nevin Lawson to a one-year, $3.05 million deal.

Based on last year’s production, Conley seemed like the best cornerback in the Raiders secondary. Opposing quarterbacks logged a 72.6 passer rating when targeting him and a 111.9 rating against Worley last year, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Conley is still a developing player who must prove his worth, but he should be on the field more than any other Raiders cornerback. After a solid 2018 campaign, the Ohio State product can take another big step toward stardom. The 24-year old possesses Pro Bowl potential, but he has to build on his performances from the second half of the last season.