Ranking the Oakland Raiders’ best picks of the 2019 NFL Draft

1. DE Maxx Crosby (Fourth Round, No. 106)

Now in terms of overall talent, Maxx Crosby probably isn’t the best player the Raiders added to their roster this weekend. However, if you’re looking at value and potential returns on investment, I think they knocked it out of the park with the 106th overall pick.

Crosby is one of those underrated, underappreciated edge rushers who’s going to light the league on fire — someday. It may not happen right away, whether due to a lack of opportunities or a need for further development. However, at some point in the near future, Crosby is going to pay serious dividends for the Raiders.

I’ll take it one step further: when all is said and done, Crosby could very well be a better player than Clelin Ferrell. Bold, I know. And yet, it wouldn’t surprise me in the least — although that is due in large part to the fact that I think Ferrell won’t be nearly as good as his draft pedigree would suggest.

So what does Crosby bring to the table? Let’s see: elite athleticism, room to grow (physically and mentally), and impressive technique for a guy who played at Hawaii. As long as he can overcome concerns about his motor and ability to transition after dominating lesser competition in college, Crosby will emerge as a legitimate quarterback hunter for the Raiders.

Gruden and Mayock went into the 2019 NFL Draft with a plan to upgrade their pass rush. Selecting Ferrell was a good start, but the addition of Crosby could be just what they needed to get this defense back on track (eventually).