Oakland Raiders: 5 Key roster battles to watch during 2019 preseason

Defensive End

Contenders: Josh Mauro, Maxx Crosby, Benson Mayowa, Arden Key

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Although Quinton Bell has a shot to surprise everyone and win the starting job, he’s still a long shot. Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther has labeled Arden Key a third-down pass-rusher, narrowing the strong candidates down to three.

The coaching staff will probably set the edge opposite Ferrell with a veteran. Keep an eye on Maxx Crosby, who finished his last term at Eastern Michigan weighing 240 pounds — he’s 266 pounds now. The rookie fourth-rounder has lined up with the second-team defense, but a strong preseason performance can boost his spot on the depth chart.

Josh Mauro held on to the base-end spot at training camp. He’s not a strong pass-rusher, logging three sacks in five seasons, but the Raiders seem to like his ability to stop the run, which would keep the defense out of third-and-short distances. Oakland ranked 30th against ground attack last year, so the unit needs Mauro’s run-stopping ability.

Benson Mayowa has 11 sacks since the 2016 campaign. Similar to Mauro, he’s a battle-tested veteran. At training camp, he also went up against the starters in team drills.

Nonetheless, Las Vegas Review-Journal‘s Michael Gehlken notes Mauro’s consistency with the base group and his ability to simplify Key’s pass-rushing duties on the edge:

Mauro won’t rack up a lot of sacks, but he could open the pathway for Key and Crosby to pressure the pocket with success. The three will split snaps based on down and distance, but the five-year veteran seems like the designated starter.

Prediction: Josh Mauro