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          Las Vegas Raiders' 53-man roster projection sees a re-imagined offensive line and defense

          The Raiders raised eyebrows when they picked Alabama tackle Alex Leatherwood in the first round after trading away three of their starting OL from last season. John Locher/AP
          • Paul Gutierrez, ESPN Staff WriterJul 28, 2021, 06:00 AM ET
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              Paul Gutierrez joined NFL Nation in 2013 and serves as its Las Vegas Raiders reporter. He has a multi-platform role - writing on ESPN.com, television appearances on NFL Live and SportsCenter, and podcast and radio appearances. Before coming to ESPN, Gutierrez spent three years at CSN Bay Area as a multi-platform reporter, covering the Raiders and Oakland Athletics as well as anchoring the SportsNet Central cable news show. Gutierrez votes for the Baseball Hall of Fame and is also a member of the Professional Football Writers of America and currently serves as the PFWA's Las Vegas chapter president. He is also a member of the California Chicano News Media Association and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Gutierrez has authored three books: Tommy Davis' Tales from the Dodgers Dugout, 100 Things Raiders Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die and If These Walls Could Talk: Stories from the Raiders Sideline, Locker Room and Press Box with Lincoln Kennedy. You can follow Paul on Twitter @PGutierrezESPN
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          The Las Vegas Raiders open training camp on July 28 at the Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center in Henderson, Nevada. The Raiders finished the 2020 season 8-8, good for second place in the AFC West. They have reached the playoffs once since the 2002 season, in 2016, and return 18 starters from last season's team as well as fourth-year head coach Jon Gruden and coordinators Greg Olson (offense) and Rich Bisaccia (special teams).

          Here's a 53-man roster projection:

          QUARTERBACK (3): Derek Carr, Marcus Mariota, Nathan Peterman

          The more things change, the more they stay the same, right? Carr returns for his eighth season despite being rumored as trade bait for the likes of Deshaun Watson, Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers this offseason. Mariota did flash in his lone appearance last season in relief of an injured Carr, and the Raiders could find another roster spot here by parting ways with Peterman.