Most Underrated
In order for a team to have success, they need to get contributions from everybody on the roster, no matter what their role is. On the Raiders there are some players who are very underrated, and they are located on both sides of the ball.
Here are a few players who are underrated on the Raiders roster, and who should get a lot more love.
Jose Sanchez: Marcus Gilchrist
I have constantly stressed all offseason that safety Marcus Gilchrist is the most underrated acquisition. He’s not elite, but he’s the epitome of versatility. He can play every spot well which makes depth not an issue. Having a player like Gilchrist is what every defensive coordinator dreams of because there is so many plays you can call. Overall Gilchrist has a good nose for the ball, so he’ll be able to sniff it out once the play is in motion.
Thomas Wheaton: Tahir Whitehead
Although he has yet to take the field for the Raiders, I already feel like Whitehead is undervalued. He is going to bring so much stability to the linebacker position, something that has been lacking for many years. His versatility allows him to play all of the linebacker positions, and his veteran presence should be calming for some of the younger guys.
Jordan Alexis: Gabe Jackson
Jackson has been a consistent and reliable presence on the offensive line from the moment he was drafted. He’s a guard so he’ll probably never get big recognition, but I’m here to give him his due.
Brad Weiss: Gabe Jackson
I agree with Jordan here. Gabe and Kelechi Osemele are the best guard tandem in the NFL, and in 2018, Jackson is finally going to get the love of the rest of the NFL. Look for him to make his first Pro Bowl, as he and Osemele clear lanes for Marshawn Lynch and Doug Martin all season long.