Arguably, Oakland’s Biggest Need
Oakland’s defense notched an NFL-low 25 sacks last season. And of those 25,Khalil Mack(11) andBruce Irvin(7) accounted for 18 of them. Which means that the rest of the teamcombinedfor just seven sacks. And ofthoseseven,Denico AutryandStacy McGee– now in Washington – accounted for 5.5 of those.
Which means that the Raiders got a whopping 1.5 sacks from the rest of the defense.
Obviously, that’s something that needs to change. And change quickly. Specifically, the Raiders need some big bodies along the interior who can help occupy the offensive line, collapse the pocket, get a good push up the middle – and most importantly, help free Mack and Irvin up to do what they do.
GettingMario EdwardsJr. Back – hopefully healthy – is going to help that cause. He’ll garner some attention and has proven that when he’s healthy, he can be incredibly productive. Getting Autry back will help too. And ifJihad Wardcan shake off a poor rookie season and develop, that will help as well.
Next: Brutal Late Season Stretch Will Define Season
But the Raiders are going to need a little more help. With the premier guys likeJonathan AllenandMalik McDowelllikely long gone before the Raiders are on the clock, they’re going to need to identify some solid value down the board.
Given his recent problems, it’s unclear whetherCaleb Brantleywill remain on McKenzie’s board. Or whether he should. So, for the sake of argument, let’s just drop him here altogether.
Solid pick ups could be Auburn’sMontravius Adams, who at 6’3”, 308 pounds, would occupy a lot of space in the middle. Adams showed out at the Senior Bowl and can play in either a 3-4 or 4-3 defense.Jarron Jonesout of Notre Dame (6’5”, 315 pounds) could also fill that need on the interior of that defensive line. He put up decent numbers, but was far more effective for the Fighting Irish than simple stats illustrate.
The point is, the Raiders need help big time along the interior of their defensive line. And it’s there for the taking. If the premier guys happen to fall, Oakland should pounce. Otherwise, they may be able to wait until the mid-rounds to snag a big body.
Add us as a preferred source onGoogleLoading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations