Oakland Raiders: 5 Predictions For The 2015 NFL Season

May 8, 2015; Alameda, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders tight ends coach Bobby Johnson (right) with tight ends Terrell Pinson (44), Gabe Holmes (82) and Clive Walford (88) at rookie minicamp at the Raiders practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Expectations are growing for the young Oakland Raiders team taking shape out west. Here are five NFL predictions that should come true by the end of the 2015 season.

Derek Carr tops 4,000 yards passing

It is in the opinion of this writer that Derek Carr will ultimately emerge as the best quarterback to come out of the 2014 draft class. His combination of size, mobility, and arm strength are one thing but it’s his maturity, work ethic and enthusiasm for the game that will push him to the top. He’ll show people why this year when he uses his newfound weaponry on offense to light up the NFL for 4,000 passing yards.

D.J. Hayden makes the Pro Bowl

Last year didn’t start as planned for D.J. Hayden, having to deal with ongoing injury issues. Still, towards the end of the season he was healthy and began adjusting to the speed of the pro game. His play wasn’t consistent, which should be expected but there were flashes of why the Raiders took a chance on him in the 1st round two years ago.

Look for him to really elevate his game with help from this new coaching staff. Ken Norton Jr. saw the value of good corners in Seattle and head coach Jack Del Rio loved having them in Denver. They will be able to teach Hayden how to harness his ability and the fruits of that labor will result in a Pro Bowl nod.

Andre Holmes beats out Michael Crabtree

With Amari Cooper set to take over one of the two outside spots at wide receiver for the Oakland Raiders offense, one would assume big-name free agent acquisition Michael Crabtree would secure the other given his experience and success in San Francisco. One of the big mistakes people can make is slotting a starting job to a new player before he’s actually gotten on the field. Keep in mind Andre Holmes was the leading receiver in 2014 and already has the trust of Derek Carr. That could give him a decisive edge to keep Crabtree at bay.

Defense finishes top 10 against the run

Probably two of the most underrated additions to the Raiders roster this off-season are defensive linemen Dan Williams and Mario Edwards Jr. Williams was the starting nose tackle in Arizona last season where the Cardinals defense featured the 8th ranked run defense. Edwards Jr. on the other hand comes out of Florida State with a reputation as a big, strong defensive end known best for his ability to anchor the point of attack and not get moved off his spot. Their arrivals up front and the upgrade in defensive coaching will result in Oakland producing one of the best run defenses in 2015.

Jack Del Rio triples their win total from 2014

At the end of the day, all Oakland Raiders fans want to know is will their team be better than the 3-13 heap of garbage they were most of 2014. The answer is a simple yes. Their young talent is maturing now, they have more of it and most importantly they have a head coach in Jack Del Rio with a track record for being able to develop players quickly as he proved during his days in Jacksonville. This team will be tough, physical and play well late in games. For those reasons, plus a couple of likely breaks on the schedule that are past due, this team will post their first winning record since 2002, finishing 9-7.

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