Ranking the Oakland Raiders 5 crucial roster needs for 2019 offseason
1. Defensive End
No surprise here. The Raiders traded Khalil Mack, and Bruce Irvin was supposed to emerge as the defensive leader on and off the field, but he didn’t have an inspiring showing through eight games with the Silver and Black. Oakland released him in November, which tells you how far the 31-year old’s production dropped last season.
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
Rookie third-rounder Arden Key led the team in quarterback hits (11) but only finished with one sack. The LSU product displayed a great motor; it’s the 300-plus pound offensive linemen who managed to keep him at bay and minimize his impact as a pass-rusher.
Key will grow physically and as a technical pass-rusher, but he requires significant development going into his sophomore campaign. Perhaps a consistent role in obvious pass situations and nickel packages allow him to establish himself with a narrow focus on the quarterback.
Frostee Rucker and Kony Ealy will become unrestricted free agents. Shilique Calhoun seems to show flashes during the preseason, but he hasn’t left an impact on the regular season through three years, logging just seven quarterback hits and a half-sack in 26 games.
Oakland should keep a close eye on franchise tag situations concerning the top pass-rushers on expiring deals. If one of them lands on the open market, Mayock and Gruden should have that player or those players scheduled for meetings.
Among the top defensive ends likely to hit the market, Ezekiel Ansah, Trey Flowers and Dante Fowler Jr. are the premier names to watch in March.