Raiders preview: Marshawn Lynch brings new dimension to Oakland

Training camps are still in the distance, but USA TODAY Sports is providing five things you need to know about every team in the NFL to catch you up on the offseason. Today, the Oakland Raiders ...

1. Beast Mode has been activated

The addition of Marshawn Lynch invigorates an already-potent Raiders offense. Lynch will take the place of Latavius Murray, who left Oakland for the Minnesota Vikings. Lynch, 31, is a proven commodity, but will he be the same high-volume, workhorse type of running back after coming out of retirement? The last time Lynch took the field was during the 2015 season with the Seattle Seahawks, when he rushed for 417 yards and three touchdowns in seven games, averaging 3.8 yards per carry. If Beast Mode can return to anything resembling his former self (four consecutive 1,200-yard-plus seasons from 2011 to 2014), it will open the field for quarterback Derek Carr and the Raiders’ high-powered passing game.

2. There's still room to grow

Though they weren’t able to claim the AFC title, the Raiders finished the 2016 campaign 12-4 and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2002. The organization’s success should give fans faith in the culture and system coach Jack Del Rio has installed. Had Carr not broken his fibula in Week 16 against the Indianapolis Colts, Oakland could have made for an interesting threat to the New England Patriots. A healthy team could contend for a deeper run this season.

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3. Conley's situation remains a question mark

Oakland caught flak for selecting former Ohio State cornerback Gareon Conley in the first round of this year’s draft. During the week leading up to the draft, Conley was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Cleveland in April. Projected before that to be a top-15 pick, Conley has been adamant about his innocence since the allegation was made. No decision has been made regarding possible charges.

4. The draft brought reinforcements for the defense

With young talent spread throughout the promising offense, the Raiders used six of their nine picks - including the first three - to boost the league's 26th-ranked defense. Second-round safety Obi Melifonwu drew rave reviews for his athleticism and versatility, and third-round defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes could plug a glaring hole up front. Oakland will be looking to improve on a pass rush that ranked last with 25 sacks last year, 11 of which came from reigning defensive player of the year Khalil Mack.

5. Carr should have no shortage of weapons

Fresh off signing a record five-year, $125 million contract extension, Carr (3,937 passing yards and 28 touchdown passes) has even more exciting options in his arsenal in 2017. Tight end Jared Cook joined Oaklnd this offseason on a two-year, $12.2 million contract. As if having Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree on the outside (nearly 2,200 combined receiving yards in 2016) wasn’t enough, the Raiders added another deep threat who can stretch the field. After spending the first seven years with the Tennessee Titans and St. Louis Rams, Cook caught 30 passes for 377 yards in 10 games with the Green Bay Packers last season, emerging as one of Aaron Rodgers' favorite targets down the stretch. At 30, Cook is an elder statesman at his position, but his experience can only help a young Raiders offense.

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