5 observations from the Oakland Raiders unofficial depth chart

Hankins and Ellis get the nod over Hurst

It is not surprising that Johnathan Hankins and Justin Ellis are listed as the starting two starting defensive ends, and the rotation will see Hurst in the game often, so it does not matter too much, but it is worth acknowledging.

Maurice Hurst impressed last season, leading the team in sacks. As a young, promising player, many would expect to see Hurst in the starting unit, but the experience of Hankins and Jelly gives them the nod over Hurst.

Johnathan Hankins has shown that he can be a solid player on the front line of the defense through his career, recording over 200 tackles and 12 sacks in his NFL career.

Justin Ellis was not on the field much last season, but he did show promise in 2017. One thing that Hurst does much better than Ellis is get to the quarterback, something the Raiders need to improve on more than anything. Ellis has recorded just half a sack in his NFL career, as Hurst recorded four in his rookie season.