The Oakland Raiders did it. They made the big trade to acquire a superstar receiver and automatically put them in the conversation to at least compete in the AFC West.

Then came the criticism over signing Richie Incognito and Vontaze Burfict in the offseason. This was followed by criticism for drafting defensive end Clellin Farrell with the fourth pick.

All of that was followed by Antonio Brown’s helmet saga during training camp and reported threats to retire if he wasn’t allowed to wear the same piece of equipment he had been wearing for a decade.

But with the noise seemingly dying down, Oakland appears to be focused on an important second season in Jon Gruden’s second stint with the organization despite having the “Hard Knocks” cameras around.

Oakland was in the playoffs just three seasons ago and while the moves the team has made since Gruden came into power have been strange at best, quarterback Derek Carr has at least one superstar talent to throw to, which could be what Oakland needs to get back to the postseason.

Read below for more about the Raiders heading into the 2019 season.

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2019 SCHEDULE

Week Date Time (ET) Channel Opponent 1 Sept. 9 10:20 pm ESPN Denver Broncos 2 Sept. 15 4:05 pm CBS Kansas City Chiefs 3 Sept. 22 1:00 pm FOX @ Minnesota Vikings 4 Sept. 29 1:00 pm CBS @ Indianapolis Colts 5 Oct. 6 1:00 pm FOX Chicago Bears 6 Bye 7 Oct. 20 1:00 pm CBS @ Green Bay Packers 8 Oct. 27 1:00 pm CBS @ Houston Texans 9 Nov. 3 4:05 pm FOX Detroit Lions 10 Nov. 7 8:20 pm FOX/NFL Los Angeles Chargers 11 Nov. 17 4:25 pm CBS Cincinnati Bengals 12 Nov. 24 1:00 pm CBS @ New York Jets 13 Dec. 1 1:00 pm CBS @ Kansas City Chiefs 14 Dec. 8 4:25 pm CBS Tennessee Titans 15 Dec. 15 4:05 pm CBS Jacksonville Jaguars 16 TBD TBD TBD @ Los Angeles Chargers 17 Dec. 29 4:25 pm CBS @ Denver Broncos

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PLAYERS TO WATCH

QB: Derek Carr

RB: Josh Jacobs

WR: Antonio Brown

DE: Clelin Ferrell

LB: Vontaze Burfict

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RAIDERS DRAFT PICKS

Round 1, Pick 4: Clelin Ferrell, DE

Round 1, Pick 24: Josh Jacobs, RB

Round 1, Pick 27: Johnathan Abram, S

Round 2, Pick 40: Trayvon Mullen, CB

Round 4, Pick 106: Maxx Crosby, DE

Round 4, Pick 129: Isaiah Johnson, CB

Round 4, Pick 137: Foster Moreau, TE

Round 5, Pick 149: Hunter Renfrow, WR

Round 7, Pick 230: Quinton Bell, DE

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