Oakland Raiders: 3 players poised to break out in 2019

1. Gareon Conley — CB

One could argue that Gareon Conley has already broken out at this point. After missing nearly his entire rookie season due to a lingering shin injury, Conley returned in 2018 and showed the NFL world why he had been a first-round pick just a year prior.

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Conley recorded the first three interceptions of his career and solidified himself as one of the better cover corners in the league as the year when on. However, the first portion of the season wasn’t all too kind to him.

The Ohio State product was more of a liability earlier in the season and was even controversy benched — albeit temporarily — in October. But Conley was able to completely turn his season around and put forth some incredible efforts later in the year.

Weeks 13 and 14 particularly stand out where Conley was able to shut down two of the top receivers in the NFL in Tyreek Hill and now-teammate Antonio Brown. Hill was held to just one catch for 13 yards while Brown hauled in just three passes for a measly 35 yards the following week.

That’s the version of Conley that we need to see more of — and it’s especially encouraging that he had his best showings in the latter portion of the season. If he continues on his current trajectory, a true breakout season in 2019 is certainly in order.

In 2018, Conley burst on to the scene and established himself as one of the best young, up-and-coming corners in the league. But in 2019, it’s time for him to truly arrive.