Along with 21 other teams, the Las Vegas Raiders will begin organized team activities (OTAs) on Monday, which also marks the beginning of Phase Three of the offseason program.
Phase Three lasts four weeks and will see 10 sessions of OTAs. The Raiders are allowed to hold 7-on-7, 9-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills, but contact is strictly prohibited. Even without the contract, these session will more closely mirror practices than anything the Raiders have done so far this offseason.
Included in OTAs is mandatory minicamp, which runs from June 11-13 for Las Vegas. Once that wraps up, the Raiders will then look ahead to training camp in late July, when positional battles will really begin in earnest.
While training camp is the most important step in determining who makes the roster and who wins starting jobs, that process begins during the spring and at OTAs over the next four weeks.
Here's a look at seven positional battles to keep an eye on as we go through the next phase of the NFL offseason.
Raiders position battles to watch
Quarterback
This will be THE battle to watch all spring and summer, as free-agent signing Gardner Minshew and incumbent Aidan O'Connell compete for the right to start under center in Week 1.
Minshew has the experience, but O'Connell is a wild card because we simply don't know how big of a leap he'll take in Year 2 after an up-and-down rookie campaign that saw him finish strong.
Head coach Antonio Pierce has said that O'Connell will get the first snap in the competition with Minshew, but it's going to take more than that for the Tulane product to win the job. Minshew should be considered the favorite, but not by much.
Running back
Alexander Mattison enters this season off a disappointing campaign in which he failed to show he can be an effective, reliable starter in Minnesota. Zamir White, on the other hand, had a strong finish to last season, although he lacks sample size to know whether or not he's the answer.
It's very possible this isn't a competition at all and offensive coordinator Luke Getsy will utilize an almost even split with his two backs, but we expect someone to take control over the next three-plus months.
Wide receiver
The Raiders are set atop the depth chart with Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers, but the No. 3 role is up for grabs between Tre Tucker, Jalen Guyton and Michael Gallup.
After a few lackluster years in a row for both Guyton and Gallup, the veterans will be looking to resurrect their careers in Las Vegas. Tucker is on an opposite trajectory after showing some flashes last season, but he's hardly proven.
Tight end
The Raiders are going to use Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer in plenty of two tight-end sets this season, but who takes the field when Las Vegas only needs one? Bowers has the higher ceiling in terms of pass-catching, but blocking will be a factor, also, and Mayer has the advantage there.
Right tackle
After the Raiders didn't use one of their early draft picks to take a right tackle, Thayer Munford should be considered the favorite to secure the starting role at right tackle.
Rookie DJ Glaze will have an opportunity to win the job in his first season, but it remains to be seen if he'll be ready. Dalton Wagner should also be in the mix, and it wouldn't be shocking to see veteran free-agent signing Andrus Peat get some reps at the position if the Raiders aren't impressed with their younger options.
Right and left guard
The Raiders gave rookie Jackson Powers-Johnson reps at left guard during rookie minicamp, which led many to believe that the team is considering moving Dylan Parham to the right side.
While the expectation is that the Raiders will go with some combination of the two for their guard positions, the additions of Peat and Cody Whitehair make things a bit more intriguing.
Las Vegas would almost certainly prefer both of their younger options to win the job, but neither Peat nor Whitehair can be ruled out completely.
Cornerback
The Raiders are solid with Jack Jones at one boundary spot and Nate Hobbs in the slot, but who starts opposite Jones remains a mystery.
Las Vegas waited until the fourth round of the draft to grab a cornerback in Decamerion Richardson, but it's anyone's guess if he'll be ready to take on a starting role in Year 1, if ever.
Despite coming off a brutal rookie campaign, Jakorian Bennett is someone to watch, also, as it's possible he can make a jump in Year 2. Then you have guys like seventh-round pick M.J. Devonshire and undrafted free agent Ja'Quan Sheppard, who we chose as a UDFA who could make the Raiders' roster. Brandon Facyson is another candidate.
