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Oakland Raiders: 12 steps towards fixing the team’s biggest problems

By Brad Weiss

CARSON, CA - OCTOBER 07: Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden walks out to the field ahead of the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at StubHub Center on October 7, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
CARSON, CA - OCTOBER 07: Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden walks out to the field ahead of the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at StubHub Center on October 7, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 01: Trevon Diggs #7 of the Alabama Crimson Tide and Deionte Thompson #14 react in the second half fo the AllState Sugar Bowl against the Clemson Tigers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 01: Trevon Diggs #7 of the Alabama Crimson Tide and Deionte Thompson #14 react in the second half fo the AllState Sugar Bowl against the Clemson Tigers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Draft a safety with the second first round pick

Thanks to the trade they made with the Chicago Bears for Khalil Mack, the Raiders will have two picks in the first round in 2019, that is if they do not trade it away. While they should definitely look to upgrade the edge rusher spot with the earlier pick, the Bears pick has to be used on the secondary.

In 2016, the Raiders drafted safety Karl Joseph in the first round, but it is clear that Jon Gruden has no use for him. With their second first round pick next April, they should look to upgrade the position with some elite college talent, and there are some players out there who should be called in the first round for sure.

Guys like Deionte Thompson from Alabama and Washington’s Taylor Rapp are two players who are elite playmakers from the safety position, and both would fill a huge hole on this Raiders roster. Oakland has to get better in their third level if they want to compete against guys like Philip Rivers and Patrick Mahomes twice a season, so this needs to be a priority heading into year two under Gruden.

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