7 New Year’s resolutions for the Oakland Raiders in 2019

OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 28: Head coach Jon Gruden of the Oakland Raiders reacts after a Derek Carr #4 one-yard touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts during their NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 28, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 28: Head coach Jon Gruden of the Oakland Raiders reacts after a Derek Carr #4 one-yard touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts during their NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 28, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images)
2 of 8
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)

Get pressure off the edge

The Raiders were historically bad at getting after the quarterback this season, and that is definitely a place they will look to improve the roster this offseason. Prior to the start of the regular season, the team traded away star Khalil Mack, and the pass rush went with him to Chicago.

Arden Key was drafted in the third round of the 2018 NFL to supplement both Mack, and Bruce Irvin on the edge, but was forced into a starting role early on. Irvin was supposed to step up and be a leader on this defense, but he played poorly, and by mid-season, he was released by the team before signing on with Atlanta.

All in all, the pass rush was an absolute joke, and while Key should be a good one down the line, they need to bring in another elite guy for next season. Maybe they roll the dice with the No. 4 overall pick on a guy like Josh Allen from Kentucky, or Clelin Ferrell from Clemson, but whether it is via the draft, or free agency, this has to be priority No. 1.

Schedule