Training Camp Thursday - UB Updates from around the NFL

Oakland Raiders:

If you thought Khalil Mack was a scary pass rusher last year then look out because Oakland is building their defense around the third year linebacker this season.

The Raiders Help Khalil Mack - Today's Pigskin
With the possible exception of Von Miller, the Oakland Raiders possess the ultimate outside pass-rushing weapon… but with a twist. Whereas Miller played alongside a slew of capable complementary pursuers in Denver, Khalil Mack spent 2015 without a steady sidekick. Oakland’s offseason overhaul was a macro effort: Reinforcements at guard, corner and safety joined the fold in the attempt to make the Raiders a serious playoff threat. However, the main area the Raiders targeted in their effort to upgrade was their pass rush. It remains to be seen if Mack’s new array of cohorts can even be mentioned in the same breath as DeMarcus Ware, Malik Jackson and Derek Wolfe. That said, no one can accuse the Silver and Black of not trying to equip Mack with ample assistance in his third season.

San Diego:

Oliver is slated to be the third back for the chargers but an injury to Melvin Gordon may mean more playing time this preseason for BO. Or the Bolts might go out and sign another back.

GM likes Arian Foster for Bolts as Gordon insurance | SanDiegoUnionTribune.com
How the Chargers act toward free-agent running back Arian Foster, said a former Tampa Bay Bucs general manager turned ESPN pundit, "will tell us the truth on Melvin Gordon" in his comeback from microfracture knee surgery.

Behind Gordon, the Chargers have Danny Woodhead, Branden Oliver, Dreamius Smith and undrafted rookie Kenneth Farrow.

Also in San Diego is Matt Weiser. The Bolts have a lot of tight ends so he will have to impress early if he wants a shot at a roster or practice squad spot.

Post-Draft Depth Chart Projection - SD Bolt Report
Now that the draft is in the rearview mirror, the depth chart is pretty much set as the Chargers embark on their offseason program. Although some things may change based on health, competition, etc., we have a good idea what the 2016 roster will look like.

Below is our first look at the team’s 2016 depth chart. The players listed in blue are the ones we believe will make the 53-man roster; the ones in green are the frontrunners for the practice squad; and the ones in red are likely to meet the Turk come August.

TE: Antonio Gates, Hunter Henry, Jeff Cumberland, Sean McGrath, Asante Cleveland, Tim Semisch, Matt Weiser

Seattle Seahawks

Seattle is still trying to figure out to do with Kristjan Sokoli. The impressive athlete is something like a piece of furniture that is way too nice to discard but does not really fit in any room.

Justin Britt Moves To Center, And An "It's So Early" Look At The Seahawks Offensive Line From Coach Pete Carroll | Seattle Seahawks
So, as it stands right now, the "it's so early" offenisve line look Carroll mentioned includes Gilliam at left tackle, last year's fourth-round pick Mark Glowinski at left guard, the Britt/Lewis/Hunt/Sokoli/Pericak competition at center, 2016 first-round pick Germain Ifedi at right guard, and free-agent addition J'Marcus Webb at right tackle.

Dallas Cowboys

Josh Thomas entering his second preseason with the Cowboys. The first was back in 2011 when he was drafted and then released by Dallas. This year he is going to try to force that fate on Purdue's Anthony Brown.

Determining Roles & Potential Roster Spots For The Late-Round Draft Picks | Dallas Cowboys
Anthony Brown - 6th Round, CB, Purdue
Like all late-round picks, he’ll have to prove his worth in that regard to earn a roster spot. On the defensive side of the ball, he’ll compete with the likes of Terrance Mitchell, Deji Olatoye, Josh Thomas and Brandon McGee to find a place on the cornerback depth chart.

Green Bay Packers

James Starks had his most productive season last year. Unfortunately towards the end of the season, he had a slight ball control issue and that gave many people the idea that he might not be around this year. Both he and Eddie Lacy have a lot to prove in the minds of some Green Bay fans.

Looking At The Packers Running Back Spot - TPS
Behind Lacy, of course, there is Starks. The Packers still could have used a back to catch passes out of the backfield. Instead of selecting one in the draft, perhaps they believe in last year’s undrafted free agent John Crockett. Crockett did a lot of things in the passing game during his time at North Dakota State.

Chicago Bears

John Kling is in rookie camp along with two other offensive linemen. There is also a draft pick and another UDFA that Kling will have to beat out.

Bears announce signings of seven draftees, 10 more rookie free agents
The Bears announced that offensive lineman Cody Whitehair, linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski, defensive back Deon Bush, defensive back Deiondre’ Hall, running back Jordan Howard, defensive back DeAndre Houston-Carson and wide receiver Daniel Braverman all signed Monday, leaving just first-round pick Leonard Floyd (linebacker) and third-round pick Jonathan Bullard (defensive tackle) unsigned.

In addition to the seven draft picks, the Bears announced the signings of the following 10 undrafted free agents:

— Ben Braunecker, TE, Harvard — Dan Buchholz, OL, Duquesne — Taveze Calhoun, DB, Mississippi State — Don Cherry, LB, Villanova — Derek Keaton, WR, Georgia Southern — John Kling, OL, Buffalo — Darrin Peterson, WR, Liberty — Kevin Peterson, CB, Oklahoma State — Roy Robertson-Harris, LB, UTEP — Joseph Sommers, TE, Wisconsin-Oshkos

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

After taking the job from an entrenched starter last year, Jake Schum is in a serious battle against Bruan Anger. Tampa has already sunk a lot of money into the punter.

Ten position battles ahead for Bucs' final roster | Tampa Bay Times
10. PUNTER: The money given to free-agent signee Bryan Anger ($1-million salary and $750,000 roster bonus) makes him a strong favorite over returning starter Jake Schum. Anger had good averages in four years with the Jaguars, but they opted to move on -- Schum would have to truly outperform the new arrival in training camp to keep his job for 2016.

Also trying out for a spot is Marqus Baker

List of tryout players for Bucs rookie minicamp growing | Tampa Bay Times
Marqus Baker, CB, Buffalo: Played at Tampa's Robinson High, emerged as starter as senior with 71 tackles and 12 pass breakups. Only one career interception, but participated in Bucs' local predraft workout.

Philadelphia Eagles

Steven Means is trying to secure a spot with the Eagles. He looked good last year in Baltimore's preseason camp but was hurt late in the summer

Philadelphia Eagles: DC Jim Schwartz's scheme scrambles depth chart - NFC East- ESPN
Defensive ends (9): Connor Barwin, Brandon Graham, Vinny Curry, Marcus Smith, Alex McCalister, Bryan Braman, Mike Martin, Travis Long, Steven Means.

Most of these guys were outside linebackers under Chip Kelly. Some have experience as defensive ends, some don’t. A few were defensive ends trying to find homes in the Eagles’ 3-4 scheme.

Buffalo Bills

News around Joe Licata has been quiet since his workout last weekend. The Bills "Project" Quarterback was a fourth-round draft choice so it's hard to see a player brought in for a tryout getting too much traction. We all saw how much of a chance Rex gave to Drew Willy back when he coached the Jets.

Bills tryout QB Licata: "It's not a dream anymore, it's reality" - Story
Jones, the fourth-round pick and project quarterback, even went on to say that he was using Licata as an example during rookie minicamp.

"Just from the one or two days I’ve been with him, already, he’s extremely smart. He’s a hard-worker, a competitor or he wouldn’t be here," Jones said. "He’s good, man. He catches on to coaching quick. A couple of things I was struggling with — and maybe it’s just his experience with being under center a lot last year in his school — but a couple of things he was doing. Coach Lee was like ‘Hey, do it like this,’ but, I was like looking at Joe at how to do it, ‘Okay, coach,’ looking at Joe."