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Oakland Raiders: Holiday Wish List heading into 2019

By Brad Weiss

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 18: Head coach Jon Gruden of the Oakland Raiders looks on prior to the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on November 18, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 18: Head coach Jon Gruden of the Oakland Raiders looks on prior to the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on November 18, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – DECEMBER 09: Arden Key #99 of the Oakland Raiders puts the pass pressure on quarterback Joshua Dobbs #5 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the third quarter of their NFL football game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 9, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – DECEMBER 09: Arden Key #99 of the Oakland Raiders puts the pass pressure on quarterback Joshua Dobbs #5 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the third quarter of their NFL football game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 9, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Help on the edge

The Oakland Raiders came into the 2018 NFL season after a shocking trade of their best player, as they sent former Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears. During his time with the Raiders, Mack established himself as one of the best defensive players in the NFL, and has helped lead the Bears to the NFC North title in 2018.

For the Raiders, the loss of Mack left a huge hole in their pass rush, and they have been historically bad at getting after the quarterback this season. With the No. 2 overall pick in next year’s NFL Draft, they will likely target an edge rusher, and guys like Nick Bosa, Clelin Ferrell, and Josh Allen are all good candidates for that pick.

Arden Key was selected in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft, and he has shown flashes of the player that became one of the dominant edge rushers in college football during his time at LSU. He should be a guy that can get double-digit sacks per season during his career, but this team needs more than just Key if they are going to start getting pressure up front in 2019 and beyond.

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