Add depth at safety
There is no doubt that safety Karl Joseph stepped up in 2018, as he finally looked like a first round talent. He seems to be taking a liking to defensive coordinator Paul Guenther’s scheme, and should only get better in year two now that they have some stability at the DC position.
Three of the Raiders four safeties from last season are free agents, and Erik Harris is likely the only one that is going to be back. The Raiders need to add depth at this position group moving forward, and that means either spending money on the spot in free agency, or using one of their plethora of early picks in the next two drafts.
Joseph is going to be a standout player moving forward, but he is going to need some help moving forward. The Raiders were able to piecemeal the position in Gruden’s first year back, bringing in guys like Marcus Gilchrist and hanging on to veteran Reggie Nelson, but this group needs an overhaul if they are going to be competitive in the AFC West in 2019 and beyond.