Oakland Raiders: 3 Things to watch for in Preseason Week 1

3. How will the rookie defensive linemen look?

The first couple picks in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Raiders were highly criticized. They really seemed to reach with the No. 15 overall pick by choosing UCLA offensive tackle Kolton Miller. It wasn’t the strongest class for tackles but still seemed as though Miller would have been there much later.

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A similar feeling came when they took P.J. Hall at No. 57 overall. He has a lot of upside as a nose tackle but again seemed to go early considering the talent level he played against at Sam Houston State.

While checking them out will be interesting, all eyes will actually be on their third and fifth-round picks — defensive end Arden Key and defensive tackle Maurice Hurst. While Miller and Parker were reached for, Key and Hurst could be incredible steals.

Both were considered first-round talents, but questions pushed them back. For Key, it was off-field and character questions including personal conditioning. For Hurst, it was a bad checkup at the NFL Scouting Combine. A heart condition sent him home from the workout and subsequently led to his fall.

If those two players pan out, the Raiders could have a dominant defensive line with a great interior and edge rusher. One preseason game won’t define their careers, but it will be worth seeing how both are holding up against NFL talent.