4 reasons why the Oakland Raiders will contend in the AFC West

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 1: Quarterback Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders looks to pass under pressure by inside linebacker Brandon Marshall #54 of the Denver Broncos in the first half of a game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on October 1, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 1: Quarterback Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders looks to pass under pressure by inside linebacker Brandon Marshall #54 of the Denver Broncos in the first half of a game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on October 1, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – AUGUST 24: Arden Key #99 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates after he sacked the quarterback against the Green Bay Packers during the second quarter of an NFL preseason football game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on August 24, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – AUGUST 24: Arden Key #99 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates after he sacked the quarterback against the Green Bay Packers during the second quarter of an NFL preseason football game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on August 24, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Pass rush will be improved

The Raiders had the worst pass rush in the NFL last season, and in a division with some of the best pass rushers in the league, you cannot compete without it.

The Raiders needed players that could get to players like Patrick Mahomes and Philip Rivers, and they may have added one in Clelin Ferrell. Ferrell was taken by the Raiders in the first round, and although they took some criticism for that, Ferrell is looking like he could be the guy to get the job done.

Besides Ferrell, Arden Key has made massive improvements in not only his game, but his size and strength. Going against tackles such as Mitchell Schwartz could cause problems for these two, but as long as the pass rush is much improved from last season, they will win more games.

There is no question that the pass rush has improved across the board, with Key and Hurst in their second season, along with drafting Ferrell, Crosby, and picking up Mayowa. Even the slightest bit of a pass rush could cause quarterbacks to make mistakes, and the Raiders play a lot of quarterbacks who make mistakes often, such as Joe Flacco, Marcus Mariota, Andy Dalton, Sam Darnold, Andrew Luck, and Matthew Stafford.

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There are a couple of good quarterbacks on that list, but they do turn the ball over when they are pressured, and although the Raiders do not have the best pass rush by any means, they have improved a ton in that category, and it will help them win more games.