Ahead of 2024 Training Camp, Raiders.com is previewing each position group and evaluating the players that could make up the 53-man roster. Last, but not least, here's a look at a special group of players.

Returning players

Jacob Bobenmoyer, Daniel Carlson, AJ Cole

The trio of placekicker Daniel Carlson, punter AJ Cole and long snapper Jacob Bobenmoyer are going into their second season as a unit.

Cole is coming off an incredible 2023 season, staking his claim as arguably the best punter currently in the NFL. He set career highs in yards per punt (50.4), punt net yards (3,278) and punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line (34). He also set the single-game NFL record for highest punt average (min. four punts) with 63.6 yards per punt and broke the Raiders' longstanding franchise record for longest punt in a game (83). He was named an AP First-Team All-Pro and earned his third consecutive Pro Bowl selection.

Carlson, who's also regarded as one of the best at his position, made nearly 87 percent of his field goal attempts in 2023. This year, he'll take on the task of adjusting to the new hybrid kickoff rule which include the introduction of a landing zone. However, according to special teams coordinator Tom McMahon, the adjustment has been a welcome challenge for the All-Pro kicker.

"He loves it. He's competitive. He wants to beat the returners every single day," McMahon said. "I'm going to go out there and I want to be 10-for-10 if we have 10 kickoffs. I don't want them to touch the ball, I want it to go into the end zone and I want to get a 20-yard line drive start, or I want them to have to come up and it hits and rolls and we're going as the balls on the ground to give that kickoff team an advantage. But he loves the challenge."

Bobenmoyer, who played in all 17 games last year, will be entering his fourth season with McMahon as his special teams coordinator after spending two seasons together at the Denver Broncos prior to arriving in Las Vegas.

As for kick and punt return duties, the competition is wide open. In OTAs and minicamp, multiple players including Jack Jones, Nate Hobbs and Tre Tucker saw reps at returner. Two rookies who could be candidates for the role are M.J. Devonshire and Dylan Laube as both thrived as returners during their collegiate careers. One thing for certain is that a player's speed and instincts will be even more appreciated with the new kickoff rule.