After an impressive offseason of hauling in some top free agents, the Oakland Raiders are a team to watch in 2016. With one of the best offensive lines in the league, Derek Carr and company will put up a lot of points with some explosive playmakers. Defensively, they had their share of troubles in the secondary, but that has been addressed with the addition of Sean Smith as well as some additions to the pass rush to attack the opposition.

While they have made improvements, there are still some areas of concern that must be addressed in the draft this week. Here’s a look at some of the Raiders top needs to put them over the top as favorites in the AFC West.

There are two positions that need to be acknowledged in the draft by the Raiders front office and that is a running back and cornerback.

Latavius Murray is a solid one option, he has the ability to be a playmaker and break through for a big gain, however the Raiders are lacking in a suitable back-up and second option. Last season Murray had 266 carries for 1,066 yards, six touchdowns with an average of four yards per carry.

Sure, they also have Marcel Reece and Jamize Olawale who can handle carries and have had their moments, but this offense is in need of a second running back capable of taking some of the pressure off Murray and providing Carr yet another weapon to turn to on offense.

With the majority of the team’s biggest needs addressed in free agency, picking up a running back early in the draft could put the silver and black atop the AFC West while providing Carr an arsenal in both the run game as well as the passing game.

One of the biggest concerns for this team heading into the offseason was the secondary. They greatly struggled in the backfield and with Charles Woodson retiring, they had big shoes to fill not only playing wise, but leadership wise as well.

Reggie McKenzie was able to bring aboard Reggie Nelson as well as one of the top corners on the free agent market in Smith as he immediately improves this defense. Alongside him, the players who will battle it out are iffy at best.  D.J. Hayden can’t do anything right, David Amerson had a few highlights last year, but lacks in consistency, and TJ Carrie is a work in progress as well.

This is a position in need of some serious depth. Oakland hasn’t had much luck in the corner department as the long ball continues to be a threat due to poor coverage downfield. The pass defense has been addressed with the addition of Smith, but continues to need some fine tuning.

It may seem crazy, but this team is on the rise and 2016 just might be the year the Oakland Raiders end their 13-year playoff drought. After several coaching changes, and a lengthy list of quarterback trials, they have found the perfect pieces to the puzzle. Oakland is once again a destination spot for free agents and players who want to win; they see potential in  youngsters such as Carr and Khalil Mack, and they believe in head coach Jack Del Rio.

The Oakland Raiders will be a top contender this season, but addressing these two positions early in the draft, and providing depth all around on the roster is vital to any contender. The biggest needs are filled, now it’s a matter of depth and execution on the field. Love em or hate em the silver and black are back.