Oakland Raiders: 5 Training camp standouts for 2018
By Randy Gurzi
5. Arden Key, EDGE
A guy who a lot of teams passed on could make them all regret it. That’s at least the way Ian Rapoport explained things when he was talking up the way Arden Key out of LSU has looked for the Oakland Raiders so far.
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Key was a top-10 talent early in his collegiate career, but then off-field and conditioning questions started to creep in. It was enough to push him down many draft boards and Oakland ended up with him as a third-round pick. So far, he’s come in ready to work.
Rapoport also reported that he’s “attached” himself to Bruce Irvin, who the Raiders have moved from linebacker to defensive end full time. Irvin is the team’s leading edge rusher right now with Khalil Mack holding out and Key is soaking up all he can and taking the extra reps happily.
After their questionable early picks, the Raiders may have really hit some home runs. Key looks to be working out fine as a pass rusher and they also gambled on fifth-round pick Maurice Hurst.
The Michigan defensive tackle was routinely mocked in Round 1 before a heart condition devastated his stock. Should he stay healthy, he and Key could become huge stars for a team needing defenders to step up.