Oakland Raiders have shot at No. 1 overall pick, Nick Bosa in 2019 NFL Draft

Battle of the Bay turned into a bloodbath for the Oakland Raiders who lost 34-3 to the San Francisco 49ers Thursday. Where’s the silver lining?

Typically, there are silver linings to extract from losses, but there’s nothing positive to highlight from the Oakland Raiders‘ 34-3 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

Despite scoring three points on the opening drive, the Raiders came out flat, re-emerged from the locker room at halftime without pep in their step and left Levi Stadium without much of a fight against their Bay Area rivals.

Offensive tackle Kolton Miller and left guard Kelechi Osemele reaggravated knee injuries. Rookie third-rounder Brandon Parker experienced a rough night at right tackle. The 49ers sacked quarterback Derek Carr seven times, matching the Raiders’ season total in sacks. In the fourth quarter, AJ McCarron came in for Carr and took a sack as well.

Quarterback Nick Mullens, a 2017 undrafted free agent out of Southern Mississippi, carved through Oakland’s defense, completing 16 of 22 pass attempts for 262 yards and three touchdowns. The Raiders also allowed 140-plus rushing yards in their third consecutive outing. Overall, the 49ers averaged 7.5 yards per play.

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The Raiders’ latest meltdown goes down as the most embarrassing since losing to the then-St. Louis Rams 52-0 during the 2014 campaign. This one stings since it’s the last time the Silver and Black will square off against the 49ers while they remain in Oakland. Secondly, offensive guru Jon Gruden couldn’t lead his team to more than three points against the league’s 28th scoring defense leading into the matchup.

Oakland has officially hit rock bottom. Gruden had words with defensive coordinator Paul Guenther during the debacle. At 1-7, this team looks well on their way to a top draft pick in 2019. So, what’s the consolation prize?

Nick Bosa in Sight?

It’s no secret teams will covet defensive end Nick Bosa, who decided to withdraw from Ohio State to prepare for the upcoming draft. He’ll come into the league with a strong collegiate resume, logging 29 tackles for a loss and 17.5 sacks in 29 games.

If the Raiders trade quarterback Derek Carr, Gruden can also take a look at the quarterbacks. Right now, the 27-year old has eight games to prove he’s the man to lead the offense. So, we’ll take a look at the possibility of taking an elite collegiate talent to bolster the pass rush.

With Khalil Mack in Chicago and Bruce Irvin going ghost as a pass-rushing defensive end, the Raiders have some ammunition to strengthen their defense. Oakland holds three picks to load up on talent for play-caller Paul Guenther, but the first selection of the three seems to be the most crucial.

Looking at the current draft order, the Raiders would have alternative options to Bosa, including Houston’s Ed Oliver and Clelin Ferrell out of Clemson. Ferrell played more collegiate games than Bosa, resulting in a more impressive resume looking at pure numbers. At 6-3, 292 pounds, Oliver profiles as an interior defensive lineman who’d line up on the inside.

Oakland’s defensive line has been nothing more than a sieve without any sort of pocket pressure on the ends. Gruden and co. must choose the best pure talent. Based on his pedigree, with his brother Joey playing for the Los Angeles Chargers, most would say Bosa is the clear-cut answer.

Oliver can disrupt plays on the interior. He has 13.5 sacks in three collegiate seasons. Ferrell’s experience should put him on the fast track to contribute in the league.

Regardless of the Raiders’ choice with a likely top-three selection, Gruden can’t afford to miss—not after trading an elite talent in the offseason. Other than the current rookies on the roster, no one’s spot is safe, especially after Thursday’s performance or looking at the film through eight weeks.