D.J. Hayden

Hayden played in all 16 games last season for the first time in his three-year career, recording 70 tackles and one interception. The 12th overall pick in the 2013 Draft figures to see his productivity decline this year with the signing of Sean Smith in free agency. In any case, if Hayden stays healthy, look for him to be a primary candidate at nickelback.

Hayden is entering his third season in the league after being drafted 12th overall by the Raiders in the 2013 NFL draft. After injuries plagued him throughout the first two years in which he played just 18 combined games, Hayden finally looks to be healthy entering the preseason. The 25-year old out of Houston is currently listed as the starting right cornerback and if he can find a way to stay healthy for a full season, he could hold some value as an IDP.

Less than a month after being drafted by the Raiders with the 12th overall pick in 2013, Hayden was forced to undergo surgery to remove scar tissue from his abdomen, an issue directly related to the November 2012 procedure he had to repair a torn heart vain. He was cleared to practice prior to the start of training camp, but a hamstring injury popped up in August and a groin issue ultimately cut Hayden's rookie season short after eight games. When on the field, Hayden's performance was a mixed bag, as he showed flashes -- such as his interception in Week 5 to seal a win over the Chargers -- but was also torched on several occasions. His latest health issue, a sprained right ankle, has sidelined Hayden since early in minicamp, but coach Dennis Allen doesn't expect it to limit him much in training camp. If healthy, Hayden should start on the outside opposite Carlos Rogers.

Life-saving surgery to repair a torn heart vain last fall wasn't enough to scare the Raiders away from taking Hayden with the No. 12 overall pick in April's draft. The second-guessing started almost immediately, however, as the 23-year-old had to undergo another procedure less than a month after being drafted to clean out scar tissue around his abdomen, which was a result of his prior surgery. Much to the delight of the Raiders, Hayden was cleared to practice ahead of the start of training camp, and he projects to start right away for Oakland, assuming his health holds up. Not only did Hayden show lock-down ability at the University of Houston, but he also displayed a great nose for finding the ball, creating 12 turnovers (6 interceptions, 6 forced fumbles) in his two years at the school.