Oakland Raiders: 5 Key Veterans That Need To Step Up

December 21, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive end Justin Tuck (91) during the first quarter against the Buffalo Bills at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Bills 26-24. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

5. DE Justin Tuck

This is both an easy and an obvious choice for a multitude of reasons. The Raiders can look at Tuck’s career and see the multiple championships to know he has been on teams that were very successful. They can also look at him as a source of leadership for the defensive front seven, as several expected key contributors like Khalil Mack and Mario Edwards Jr. will need his mentorship if and when they struggle at certain points.

Tuck is the kind of player that knows adversity; he has played multiple seasons with injuries that could have forced him to injured reserve or at least to the bench for several games. In 2011, he appeared on the injury report half of the season but still contributed to a Super Bowl title for the New York Giants. Last year for the Raiders, Tuck led the team with 5.0 sacks. His leadership and experience will be needed in 2015 as well.

Next: The offensive line needs this player to lead