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Oakland Raiders: 4 things we learned from Jon Gruden Thursday

By Brad Weiss

ALAMEDA, CA - JANUARY 09: Oakland Raiders new head coach Jon Gruden speaks during a news conference at Oakland Raiders headquarters on January 9, 2018 in Alameda, California. Jon Gruden has returned to the Oakland Raiders after leaving the team in 2001. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
ALAMEDA, CA - JANUARY 09: Oakland Raiders new head coach Jon Gruden speaks during a news conference at Oakland Raiders headquarters on January 9, 2018 in Alameda, California. Jon Gruden has returned to the Oakland Raiders after leaving the team in 2001. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 17: Karl Joseph No. 42 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates after sacking the quarterback and recovering a fumble against the New York Jets during the fourth quarter of their NFL football game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 17, 2017 in Oakland, California. The Raiders won the game 45-20. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 17: Karl Joseph No. 42 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates after sacking the quarterback and recovering a fumble against the New York Jets during the fourth quarter of their NFL football game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 17, 2017 in Oakland, California. The Raiders won the game 45-20. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Likely bringing back Karl Joseph in 2020

During the 2018 NFL season, the Raiders got a surprisingly great effort from Karl Joseph, the team’s 2016 first round selection. Throughout the year, Joseph developed into a leader within the Raiders secondary, and Gruden spoke glowingly of him on Thursday.

Not only did Gruden say that he expected the team will pick up the fifth-year option on Joseph in 2020, but that he expects him, and 2017 first rounder Gareon Conley to be leaders on the team moving forward. Joseph has always been known as a thumper, but he took his game to the next level in 2018, and will be counted on in a big way in 2019.

Oakland will need to address the safety position group as a whole in 2019, as three of their four current players at the position are entering free agency. The hope is that the team will bring back Erik Harris, who also came into his own in 2018, and has incredible athleticism for someone his size.

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