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Oakland Raiders: Final grades for the rookies of 2018

By Brad Weiss

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: A video board displays the text "THE PICK IS IN" for the Oakland Raiders during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: A video board displays the text "THE PICK IS IN" for the Oakland Raiders during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/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) /

28. . Edge. LSU. Arden Key. 87. player

The second of two third round draft picks for the Raiders came in the form of Arden Key, an explosive edge rusher from LSU. At the time Key was drafted, it seemed like a perfect scenario for the rookie, as he would get to learn behind two Pro Bowl players in Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin.

Well, Mack was traded prior to the season, and Irvin was released during it, making Key the main pass rusher for the Raiders in year one. The unit as a whole struggled mightily to get to the quarterback, racking up a league-low 13 sacks, but Key showed flashes that he could be a dominant figure moving forward.

This offseason, Oakland will definitely look to add depth to the edges, and that is only going to continue to help Key develop. He has all the raw talent to be a double-digit sack guy at the NFL level, and the Raiders are going to give him every opportunity to succeed.

Grade: B-

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