Five Las Vegas Raiders who are in make-or-break years
By Nick Ellis
Defense
Lamarcus Joyner, Safety
Lamarcus Joyner was brought in last season to make a big impact on the defense, but unfortunately for the Raiders, he failed to do that. The team has not found the right way to use Joyner yet, and if they cannot in 2020, they likely will not give it another chance in 2021.
Joyner was brought in on a big contract considering how well he produced with the Los Angeles Rams, but that kind of success did not transfer over once he put on the Silver and Black. Hopefully Joyner can get back on track for the Raiders in Las Vegas, as their secondary is going to be crucial if they want to do anything of substance in 2020.
Arden Key, Defensive End
Arden Key had a lackluster rookie season in 2018, but he showed a ton of promise, and was expected to be a key player for this defense for years to come. Key only recorded one sack in his rookie campaign, but he got to the quarterback often, and if he could find a way to finish his rush, the thought was he could end up being a great player for the Raiders.
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Unfortunately for Key, injury cut his season short in 2019 after he started to show some improvement, and at the time, the coaching staff was already stating that they needed to get more from him. The Raiders have started to develop a young, strong pass rush, and if Key does not prove himself in 2020, he may not be a part of the solution moving forward.