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Oakland Raiders 2019 rookie class is ready to make an impact

By Pete Hernandez III

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 25: Josh Jacobs of Alabama reacts after being chosen #24 overall by the Oakland Raiders during the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 25: Josh Jacobs of Alabama reacts after being chosen #24 overall by the Oakland Raiders during the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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STARKVILLE, MS – OCTOBER 06: Johnathan Abram #38 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs celebrates during the second half against the Auburn Tigers at Davis Wade Stadium on October 6, 2018 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
STARKVILLE, MS – OCTOBER 06: Johnathan Abram #38 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs celebrates during the second half against the Auburn Tigers at Davis Wade Stadium on October 6, 2018 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Defense

By selecting Clelin Ferrell with the fourth overall selection, many outsiders thought the Oakland Raiders were reaching. Yet Oakland knew who they wanted and from the looks so far, Ferrell, alongside Jonathan Abram and Trayvon Mullen, has proven the Raiders right by drafting them. For Ferell in particular, he’s not letting the title of “top-five draft pick” get to his head.

All three of the aforementioned rookies have garnered praise for their maturity early on in camp, looking to get to work and learn as opposed to coming off as new or inexperienced. That’s great to hear as each will get plenty of opportunities to boost an improving defense.

For Ferrell, he has the opportunity to step in right away, boosting a defensive line that reached the quarterback just 13 times a year ago, dead last in the league.

The impact doesn’t stop at the defensive line, as Jonathan Abram has garnered similar praise from veterans like Vontaze Burfict. Burfict reiterated, “Jonathan Abram is so aggressive, sometimes I have to tell him, Hey, you’ve got to hold it back a little more. We’re on a team.” Abram has been taken under the wing of Lamarcus Joyner and has a great path ahead to headline a revamped secondary.

Next. Raiders may have found a star in Jonathan Abram. dark

Though currently nursing a wrist injury, Trayvon Mullen has also battled in camp, not shying away from matching up against Oakland’s high profile receiver in Antonio Brown. With Gareon Conley looking like a rising star cornerback, Mullen can provide the depth to make the secondary a strength as opposed to a weakness for Oakland.

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