For a team that is coming off of a 5-11 season, the amount of position battles are very few.
Raiders beat writer Jerry McDonald has written about the competition at the full back position, but there's another trio of players vying for playing time at receiver.
Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jacoby Ford, and Nick Miller are all of similar stature. All are under 6'0" and weigh around 180 pounds. They are all fighting for playing time at the slot receiver position, and to be the main return man on punts and kicks.
It's possible that all of them will be on the roster this season, but due to their similar value, I predict one of them won't be on the final roster when the season begins.
Who's Safe?
Of the three, Jacoby Ford has the greatest upside. He's small, but has the speed the Raiders love. A track star at Clemson, Ford ran a 6.52 60-meter dash in the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships and a 4.28 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.
Ford is no stranger to special teams and has the potential to be an all purpose player with the explosiveness to score whenever he has the ball. He's still a raw route runner and has average hands, but the Raiders should keep him around to see how he develops.
On The Bubble
Both Miller and Higgins have something to prove as they overcome big obstacles to retain a roster spot.
Higgins was expected to have a solid season last year after scoring seven touchdowns (three punt returns and four receiving touchdowns) in 2008. It didn't turn out well in 2009 after Higgins took a devastating hit from Eric Weddle during the first game of the season. He hasn't been the same since.
Higgins has the most experience of the three, which gives him the inside track for the slot position. He will at least need to show he's still productive during pun...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Oakland Raiders
