Oakland Raiders: A Look At A Few Roster Needs And Potential Draft Fits

The Oakland Raiders have some holes to fill on their roster if they hope to compete in 2018, so let’s take a look at a few potential Draft Day solutions.

It’s almost insane to think that the Oakland Raiders enter the 2018 offseason with roughly the same needs as the 2017 offseason – the definition of insanity, being of course, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result every time.

The Raiders, led by GM Reggie McKenzie did little to nothing to address the needs of this team prior to the start of last season. And we can only hope that with a new coaching staff in place, one that has a little more input into the evaluation and draft process, those needs can start to be fulfilled.

Arguably, Oakland’s number one and number two needs are at linebacker and cornerback. The needs are so great in fact, we can probably just call them one and one-A.

Now, part of the problem was the scheme being run by then-defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. – given that the defense performed remarkably better under John Pagano once Norton was finally fired – but the larger part of that equation is that McKenzie didn’t do enough to stock the cupboards with actual talent.

Over the past two seasons, with a glaring need at linebacker, McKenzie drafted Cory James (sixth round) and Marquel Lee (fifth round). Both are projects and neither have yet to show they can be an asset in pass coverage – which is an area this linebackers group absolutely must improve in.

Given the poor season they just completed, the Raiders will pick either ninth or tenth in the upcoming Draft (depending upon the results of a coin flip with the San Francisco 49ers) and can begin addressing some of their deficiencies.

With that in mind, let’s look at Oakland’s areas of need and some potential Draft Day fits…