Keith

McGill

McGill came into the league as a corner, but he has struggled to climb the depth chart, playing just 165 defensive snaps in two years. He played safety most of his college career, and the depth chart is a little more open there than at corner. He could carve out a rotational role behind starters Reggie Nelson and Karl Joseph, but his main contributions will continue to come on special teams.

McGill was a one-year starter at Utah after missing the entire 2012 season to injury. At 6-3/211, he offers Brandon Browner-like size and 33 1/4-inch arms. McGill, 25, is a project despite his advanced age and could struggle to see playing time as a rookie. He played mostly off-zone in college, but profiles as a press corner with Oakland.

McGill (6-foot-3, 211) made only 13 career starts for the Utes, missing all of 2012 with a major shoulder injury. He didn’t play football in 2008, before taking it back up in JUCO for the 2009-2010 seasons. McGill is already 25, but was a draftnik favorite for his upside as a press corner with Brandon Browner-like size and 33 1/4-inch arms. McGill is still learning how to play press, of course, after being used as a safety and off-zone corner in college. 25-year-old projects don’t typically end well in the NFL, but perhaps McGill will beat the odds.

2014 fourth-round pick Keith McGill worked with the first team ahead of Hayden. Hayden played just 18 games in his first two seasons as he battled a litany of injuries, but his demotion this offseason has nothing to do with health. Perhaps the Raiders’ new coaching staff is simply trying light a fire under the former No. 12 overall pick, but it appears there is a real chance Hayden opens the season on the bench.

Nate Allen was expected to start opposite Reggie Nelson, but McGill seized starting duties with a strong summer. He was all over the field in Sunday’s win over the Saints. McGill is being backed up by first-rounder Karl Joseph. McGill entered 2016 with only one career start. He was drafted as a corner in 2014, and just made the transition to safety in the offseason.

He’ll undergo surgery and miss extensive time. Losing McGill is a blow to Oakland’s secondary depth.

2014 fourth-round CB Keith McGill will likely man the outside in sub packages with Carrie kicking into the slot. A 2014 seventh-round pick, Carrie held his own across 13 appearances including four starts. If Hayden can stay healthy, Oakland should field an improved secondary this season.

Carrie was opposite D.J. Hayden, with Keith McGill playing in nickel. A 2014 seventh-round pick, Carrie is the Raiders’ top corner entering 2015.