Oakland Raiders: Five Thoughts from Week 10

Mario Edwards is legit

September 20, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive end Mario Jr. Edwards (97) during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Ravens 37-33. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

When Mario Edwards Jr. was drafted towards the top of the 2nd round, many (including myself) were critical of the selection. Edwards’ final year at Florida State was underwhelming to say the least. He was a highly regarded recruit that never met expectations, and there were several other really good players left on the board. But it looks like Reggie McKenzie knew what he was doing. Edwards has been coming on strong for several weeks now, getting more snaps and making more plays each week. Against the Vikings, Edwards had a breakthrough performance. He totaled 11 tackles (8 solo), 1 sack, 1 TFL and 2 QB hits, and was disruptive all game long. Per PFF, Edwards graded as the 6th best player at his position for the week. For his efforts, he was nominated as Pepsi’s defensive rookie of the week.

This is from the Pittsburgh game, but it shows how strong Mario is. He’s turned into quite a player, and the fanbase should be excited about his future.

Next: Week 10: Thought #3