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.