If Walker is not ready, or even limited, Drew Carter, a less expensive free agent from Carolina, could make a play for an increased role.

Carter has been a regular during the Raiders offseason and according to Kiffin, was the first new receiver to develop chemistry with Russell.

DRAFT CHOICES SIGNED

--RB Darren McFadden (1/4): $60M/6 yrs, $19.6M guaranteed.

--DB Tyvon Branch (4/100): terms unknown.

--WR Chaz Schilens (7/226): Terms unknown.

DRAFT CHOICES UNSIGNED

--WR Arman Shields (4/125).

--DE Trevor Scott (6/169).

UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS

QUARTERBACK: Starter - JaMarcus Russell. Backups - Andrew Walter, Marques Tuiasosopo, Sam Keller.

Russell didn't sign until the regular-season started and was babied through his first season. He was atrocious in Week 16 against Jacksonville and mildly encouraging in his season-finale against the Chargers _ both losses. The last above-average play the Raiders got at quarterback was from Kerry Collins, the last stellar play from Rich Gannon. Russell will learn as he goes, handing the ball off as much as possible and operating a lot of rollouts and half-rolls -- plays he actually executes fairly well. Unless the Raiders find a veteran backup, the current leader at that spot is Walter, even though he is more of a classic, drop-back passer. Tuiasosopo is a much better fit for the offense, but has yet to seize opportunities in a previous stint with the Raiders and with the New York Jets. Keller's best hope is probably to be a practice squad quarterback.

RUNNING BACKS: Starters - RB Justin Fargas, FB Justin Griffith. Backups - RB Darren McFadden, RB Michael Bush, RB Adimchinobe Echemandu, RB Louis Rankin, RB LaMont Jordan, FB Oren O'Neal.

Fargas' hard-running style brought 1,009 yards even though he didn't start until Week 7 and missed the last two games with a knee strain. He will get his share of carries, but gradually give way more and more to McFadden, who best-case scenario becomes a bigger, faster version of the Charlie Garner who was nearly a 1,000-1,000 rushing receiving back in 2002. Bush has intriguing running and receiving skills and his first role could be in short-yardage. Jordan was essentially uninvited to minicamp and the Raiders hope to trade him. Echemandu made the roster last season with as strong camp. Griffth, a smallish fullback who can execute a cut-block, will gradually give way to O'Neal, a promising power blocker. O'Neal has shown a propensity for muscle pulls, however, and it could slow his ascent.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters - FL Javon Walker, SE Ronald Curry. Backups - WR Drew Carter, WR Johnnie Lee Higgins, WR Arman Shields, WR Chaz Schilens, WR Todd Watkins, WR Will Buchanon, WR Jonathan Orr, WR Chris McFoy, WR Marcel Reece, WR Drisan James.

The Raiders insist Walker will be back to the receiver he was in good years with Denver and Green Bay, despite scoring zero touchdowns last season while battling knee injuries and then being beaten and robbed while partying in Las Vegas. The Raiders essentially guaranteed him $16 million to replace Jerry Porter. Curry had surgery to remove a bone spur, was the Raiders top receiver for the last two years, and is remains their best third-down threat _ even though his hands deserted him at times in 2007. Carter opened a lot of eyes during a strong offseason and related well with Russell. Higgins was hit and miss in the offseason, making some plays but dropping too many passes. Watkins is an impressive physical specimen as a jump-and-catch, downfield receiver, with draft picks Shields and Schilens in the same mold. Reece, an undrafted free agent, could be a practice squad player if he impresses. Blocking will be important in the roster makeup as the Raiders expect to be primarily a running team.

TIGHT ENDS: Starter - Zach Miller. Backups - Tony Jackson, John Madsen, Darrell Strong, Chris Wagner.

Miller led all NFL rookies with 44 catches for 444 yards last season and showed a knack for hooking up with Russell in the final two games of the season, catching 11 passes in the last two games. Although not overly fast, he has a knack for finding open areas and drew praise from Kiffin for his development as a blocker. If healthy, he could hold the position for the next decade. Jackson was strictly a blocker last season, failing to catch a pass, and a special teams player. Madsen, on the other hand, is a converted wide receiver who may never have the requisite blocking skills to be an every down player. When he plays, it's most often on a short split or out of the slot. Strong and Wagner have had their moments as middle-field receivers during minicamps and OTAs.

OFFENSIVE LINE: Starters - LT Kwame Harris, LG Robert Gallery, C John Wade, RG Cooper Carlisle, RT Cornell Green. Backups - C/G Chris Morris, T Mario Henderson, C-G Paul McQuistan, C-G Jake Grove, T Seth Wand, T Mark Wilson, G Brandon Robb.

As a group, it has potential as a zone-blocking line in the running game. As far as the passing game goes, Russell needs to perfect the art of getting rid of the ball. Oakland released veteran Barry Sims and opted to go with Harris as the starting left tackle, with coach Tom Cable seeing Harris as the sort of angular, agile player who can reach the second level in the zone blocking system. Harris had tremendous difficulties as a pass blocker with the 49ers. Gallery erased the "bust" label with a solid year as a guard, although it is an organizational disappointment he won't be the left tackle they paid for with the No. 2 overall pick in 2004. Wade is the favorite to start at center, but has been pushed by Morris and could be pushed by Grove, who is recovering from knee surgery. Morris was given a long look in the offseason. Carlisle, with zone blocking experience in Denver, was Oakland's best lineman last season, with few penalties and very few errors. Green goes into camp as the starting left tackle, but he is a journeyman at best and the hope is Henderson can seize the job in his second year. Henderson struggled in the offseason, however and may not be ready. McQuistan played capably at tackle after Green hurt his knee last season, but is being shuttled between guard and center and doesn't seem to be in the plans as a starter. Wand has experience as a zone blocking tackle and could stick as a reserve. Wilson was a practice squad players who was elevated to the roster following the season to assess his progress.

DEFENSIVE LINE: Starters - LE Derrick Burgess, DT Tommy Kelly, NT Terdell Sands, RE Jay Richardson. Backups - RE Kalimba Edwards, DT Gerard Warren, DT-DE William Joseph, DE Greg Spires, DE Trevor Scott, DT Josh Shaw, DE Grant Irons, DE Fred Wakefield.

Burgess elects to show up only to mandatory workouts, but looked as fast as ever this offseason. He is the least of their worries. Kelly and Sands need to play well enough to justify their massive contracts and slow the opponent's running game, a problem for the Raiders since 2002. Richardson was strong at the point of attack but needs to add pass rushing skills to his arsenal in Year 2. Warren played in Oakland as he did in Cleveland and Denver _ great one game, invisible the next. Edwards, ideally, would become a nickel rusher and someone to complement Burgess. The idea in bringing in Spires was to wring one more year out of his 34-year-old body and bring his intensity to a unit that needs a spark. Scott is a raw rookie and converted tight end who the Raiders hope can be a pass rusher. Joseph, a former first-round pick, is a classic Raiders pickup _ someone who has never played up to his talent who they got at a bargain price. Wakefield has been both a tight end and an offensive lineman.

LINEBACKERS: Starters - WLB Thomas Howard, MLB Kirk Morrison, SLB William Thomas. Backups - SLB Sam Williams, MLB Edgerton Hartwell, LB Ricky Brown, LB Isaiah Ekejiuba, WLB Jon Alston, LB Malik Jackson.

Howard and Morrison combined for nine interceptions and may be the best duo of pass defending linebackers in the NFL. Howard ran back two for touchdowns and is one of the fleetest players in the league at his position. Both men, however, aren't particularly stout against the run and had problems getting off blocks. Thomas, who probably would be best as a reserve who can play in all three spots, became the starter because Williams (stinger) simply can't stay healthy. Hartwell is hoping to rejuvenate his career with the Raiders in the middle. If he plays well enough, he could conceivably kick Morrison outside and provide some run defense, but he would have to play awfully well for that to happen. Brown and Ekejiuba are primarily special teams players. Ekejiuba, in particular, is a powerful wedge-buster. The Raiders love Alston's speed. He played in some positions defending tight ends, but was victimized on more than one occasion. Jackson is an intriguing undrafted free agent who has a chance to stick if he shows up during contract drills.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters - LCB Nnamdi Asomugha, RCB DeAngelo Hall, SS Gibril Wilson, FS Michael Huff. Backups - CB Stanford Routt, CB Chris Johnson, CB John Bowie, CB Michael Waddell, S Tyvon Branch, S Jarrod Cooper, S Rashad Baker.

Asomugha and Hall have Raiders faithful remembering to the days of Lester Hayes and Mike Haynes, with Hall being the brash, playmaking Hayes and Asomugha being the tall, technical lockdown corner in Haynes. Asomugha may be a late arrival, however, as the franchise free agent who is seeking a long-term deal. He will start when he arrives. Routt is ticketed as the slot corner, which could be an issue. Routt has never been comfortable inside amongst the traffic, doing his best workout outside. Johnson's speed is mostly utilized on special teams. Bowie, taken with the Randy Moss pick last season, gets a chance to be something other than a trivia question this training camp, although he may be too raw to make an impact. Wilson's arrival as a physical strong safety could help Oakland with its problems stopping the run. In a perfect world, he would play the same role with the Raiders Bob Sanders does with the Colts. Even better, Wilson's presence lets Oakland put the slender Huff at free safety, where the hope is he can make some plays after two years of being little more than a coverage tight end. That isn't exactly what the Raiders had in mind for the No. 7 overall pick in 2006, Branch, a college corner, will be moved to safety because of his prowess as a hitter. He struggled in coverage during minicamps. Cooper is a special teams mainstay provided he stay away from substance abuse or steroid suspensions. Baker was signed off waivers from New England last year and could be a backup safety.

SPECIAL TEAMS: PK Sebastian Janikowski, P Shane Lechler, LS Jon Condo, PR Johnnie Lee Higgins, KR Tyvon Branch.

Janikowski remains the same as he always was _ fairly accurate form 39 yards and in, but an inconsistent kicker from 40 and beyond. He always has plenty of distance, but can't put it between the uprights often enough. Lechler is the NFL's best punter coming off his best season. He remains the pride and joy of Al Davis. Condo was flawless in his first season as long snapper, replacing Adam Treu, and as a college linebacker, can get downfield and make plays on punts. The return jobs are wide open with the departure of Chris Carr to Tennessee as a restricted free agent. Kiffin is on record as saying he wants Higgins to return punts, letting high-priced DeAngelo Hall stick to being a cornerback. Branch's straight-ahead speed made him an excellent kickoff return man in college at UConn.

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