Oakland Raiders getting big contributions from 2019 rookie class

The Raiders 2019 draft class is crucial for their future success as they head to Las Vegas. So through the first six games how have they stacked up in year one?

The Oakland Raiders were the only team to draft a running back in the first-round when they selected Josh Jacobs with the No.24 overall pick. Many league experts looked at the pick as a reach with the thinking philosophy of waiting to draft a running back later on would be the best way to maximize their value.

Well, Jacobs has proved through the first six weeks of play that he strongly deserved the draft selection of a first-round pick.

Jacobs is arguably the front-runner for offensive rookie of the year — recording 554 rushing yards and four touchdowns. The Raiders rookie running back averages 92.3 yards per game, which ranks fifth in the NFL. His draft selection looks to be a slam dunk pick that Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock hit on in a big way.

Maxx Crosby is another rookie that’s played a significant amount of snaps in year one, just as Jacobs has. Crosby, a mid-round pick who at the beginning of training camp looked to be a rotational pass rusher, has stacked some solid performances together dating back to week 4.

In Crosby’s last three games he’s recorded two sacks, one fumble, two passes defended, three quarterback hits, two tackles for loss and four total tackles. Crosby who came out of Eastern Michigan wasn’t among the top of many draft boards, but the Raiders may have found lightening in a bottle with their fourth-round pick.

Foster Moreau who the Raiders also found in the fourth-round has been a pleasant surprise to many. He looked to be brought aboard for the blocking role that Lee Smith was utilized in last season, but Moreau has brought some extra qualities. His athleticism has brought an extra dimension to the offensive attack — being able to block and pass catch downfield at an efficient level.

Moreau stacks up through his first six NFL games with 121 yards on 12 receptions and two touchdowns. Hitting on mid-round picks is a pivotal piece to building a roster from the ground up, and Oakland has found two solid fourth rounders after six weeks of play.

The Raiders selected Hunter Renfrow in the fifth-round as their future slot receiver. Renfrow isn’t lighting up the stat sheet, although, he does fit the mold of a reliable receiving option for Derek Carr.

Among Raiders wide receivers, Hunter Renfrow’s 115 yards rank second on the team. He doesn’t project as a future number one pass catcher, but he does look to be a sure-handed wideout that can be heavily depended on in third down situations.