Oakland Raiders 2018 NFL Draft, Week 13: 5 first-round targets
By John Buhler
One player in the SEC that has obvious NFL talent that many teams would want in round one is LSU Tigers edge player Arden Key. From an athletic and production standpoint, Key should be a top-five pick. However, he has had his issues with staying in school and being on the field for the Bayou Bengals.
No doubt he will go pro after his junior year. In 31 career games at LSU, Key has 129 total tackles (58 solo, 71 assists), 24.5 tackles for a loss of yardage, 20.0 quarterback sacks, four passes defended, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
His best season at LSU was his sophomore campaign in 2016. Key had 55 total tackles (23 solo, 32 assists), 12.5 tackles for a loss of yardage, 11.o quarterback sacks, three passes defended, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
At 6-foot-6, 265 pounds, Key could be a completely dominant edge player for the Raiders. The only issues are consistency with this guy. His talent is off the charts, but he feels to be one of those players that may not fully tap into his NFL potential for whatever reason. Then again, if he’s playing alongside Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin, Key may rise to the occasion and be a superstar.