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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 – NOVEMBER 11: Johnny Townsend #5 of the Oakland Raiders runs a fake punt against the Los Angeles Chargers during their NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on November 11, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – NOVEMBER 11: Johnny Townsend #5 of the Oakland Raiders runs a fake punt against the Los Angeles Chargers during their NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on November 11, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

173. player. 28. . Punter. Florida. Johnny Townsend

It is not often that you see a punter get selected in the NFL Draft, but the Raiders did just that with their second of two fifth round picks. Oakland selected Johnny Townsend from Florida, who was the best punter in the nation heading into the draft, but really struggled as a rookie.

Townsend replaced Pro Bowl punter Marquette King, and the hope was he could be a guy to really help out with the field possession game. Instead, he continuously put the Raiders in tough situations defensively, and will definitely need to improve on his showing this past season if he is going to be a long-term answer at the punter spot.

It will be interesting to see if the Raiders bring in some punters to challenge him this offseason, as he will need a solid Summer to retain his job. Punting is an extremely important part of the game, and in Townsend, the Raiders had a liability in 2018.

Grade: D-

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