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Two linebackers the Las Vegas Raiders should target at No. 19

By Evan Groat

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - AUGUST 15: Head coach Jon Gruden talks with general manager Mike Mayock of the Oakland Raiders before the NFL preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on August 15, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - AUGUST 15: Head coach Jon Gruden talks with general manager Mike Mayock of the Oakland Raiders before the NFL preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on August 15, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TX – DECEMBER 07: Kenneth Murray #9 of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrates after stopping the Baylor Bears offense in the first quarter of the Big 12 Football Championship at AT&T Stadium on December 7, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – DECEMBER 07: Kenneth Murray #9 of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrates after stopping the Baylor Bears offense in the first quarter of the Big 12 Football Championship at AT&T Stadium on December 7, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) /

The Las Vegas Raiders need to bring in an impact linebacker at pick No. 19, and here are two legitimate options this April.

Last season there was a revolving door of replacement pieces at linebacker for the Las Vegas Raiders. Vontaze Burfict was brought in to be the quarterback of Paul Guenther’s defense.  But that experiment was short lived when the linebacker who is notorious for dirty play was slapped with a 12-game suspension for a questionable hit on Colts tight end, Jack Doyle.

Marquel Lee entered the 2019 campaign after a strong finish in the previous year but dealt with a variety of injuries that derailed his season that ended with a trip to injured reserve.

That left Tahir Whitehead and Nicholas Morrow to hold down the fort.  Morrow is nothing more than a reserve for most teams but played in 70 percent of the defensive snaps for the Raiders.

After the suspension to Burfict, Whitehead was thrust into the starting Mike linebacker role.  Whitehead was exposed in coverage time and time again.

Then there was the addition of free agents Dakota Allen, Justin Phillips, Brandon Marshall, and Will Compton just to name a few.  Compton was the only one to stick with the team.

Just this week the Raiders announced they had released Tahir Whitehead, saving $6 million in cap space. That leaves only one linebacker currently under contract. To state the obvious the defense is desperate for a linebacker.

If the need is not addressed through free agency the second (19th overall) of their two first round picks would be a nice spot to pick up one of the two top linebackers not named Isaiah Simmons.

Kenneth Murray of Oklahoma and Patrick Queen of LSU are considered to be the next two linebackers to hear their names called after Simmons.

There is a lot to like about both of these prospects who fit the mold of the modern day NFL linebacker.

So the question is, if you were the one calling the shots for the Raiders, which linebacker are you selecting with the 19th overall pick?

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