Oakland Raiders: Three most important offseason additions
P.J. Hall, DT
The 2017 Oakland Raiders were a strange team. They possessed one of the weaker defensive lines in the league, while simultaneously having one of the best defensive ends, Khalil Mack, in the league.
This contradiction was caused by the talent around Mack, specifically on the inside of the line. The talent on the opposite end from Mack was not terrible, but improved with the addition of Arden Key and Bruce Irvin’s position change.
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The defensive tackle position on the other hand, was extremely weak. It is impossible to have a truly great defensive line without a strong interior, and to have a player such as Khalil Mack on your line and not have the unit be among the league’s best in inexcusable.
This is why the addition of the defensive tackle the team took in the second round of the draft, P.J. Hall, is such a great move. Hall should be able to come in and help aid the teams interior line deficiency immediately.
Another player who could have had this spot on the list is defensive tackle Maurice Hurst. Hurst was a lock to be taken in the first round of the draft before being sent home from the NFL Combine with heart issues.
These heart issues caused Hurst to fall to the fifth round, where the Oakland Raiders took a chance on him. If his health turns out to not be an issue then he along with fellow draft picks Hall and Key may have the Oakland Raiders defensive line among the best in the league in 2018.