Rookie class is paying dividends so far
The Kolton Miller pick was almost unanimously disagreed with by fans, but so far, Miller is showing exactly why the Raiders wanted him so badly. He has been very solid, especially as a rookie, and is showing improvement in his pass protection (his weakness from college). His athleticism is elite, and he is showing that he has what it takes to play at the pro level.
In addition, Maurice Hurst has been solid on the defensive line and flashed against Miami, earning a holding call that negated a big play for the Dolphins. PJ Hall also looked good in Week 1, but has missed the last two games due to an ankle sprain.
Arden Key has been solid as well, but definitely has some holes in his game. He is very quick off the edge, which sometimes works against him as he overshoots his target. However, Key has a very bright future in the league and looks to be a third-round steal.
Nick Nelson showed a lot in preseason and seems like a future nickel corner for the team, but he has yet to make his pro debut due to injury. If you throw in Gareon Conley as well (because he didn’t really play last season) the young crop of Raiders looks promising. These players will be vital moving forward, and are a glimmer of hope that Jon Gruden can find some gems in the next couple drafts.