Oakland Raiders: 5 Over-under predictions for the 2019 season

Raiders: 6.5 wins

General manager Mike Mayock engineered a blockbuster trade for Brown, added help on the offensive line, signing offensive tackle Trent Brown and guard Richie Incognito, who will serve a two-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, and added several young defenders.

Will the acquisitions translate to victories? It should, but that won’t happen right away.

Offensive line coach Tom Cable still has to prove he’s able to protect the quarterback. If Carr can stay upright, the offense should be able to score 30-plus points on game days when everyone clicks on the same page.

However, the Silver and Black’s ceiling for victories drops because of a reconstructed defense with several new faces. The additions on that side of the ball may be solid individual talents, but 11 guys have to jell together before becoming a decent cohesive group in the NFL.

Guenther and his defensive assistants will need time to mold guys like Ferrell, safety Johnathan Abram, cornerback Trayvon Mullen and Crosby; the process doesn’t happen overnight, or in one season.

The Raiders will face some tough defenses from last year, going against Minnesota, Chicago, Tennessee, Jacksonville, Indianapolis and Los Angeles twice within the division — all top-10 defensive scoring units in 2018. In some of those games, the offense will struggle to hit 30 on the scoreboard, putting some pressure on a young defense.

Oakland has an improved roster, but the schedule deals some haymakers with a long five-game stretch away from home. With lingering questions about the pass rush and no All-Pro or Pro Bowl players on defense, the Silver and Black may experience another rough season before seeing significant progress.

OddsShark placed the Raiders’ over-under win total at 6.5 — take the under.

Over or Under? Under