Las Vegas Raiders: Defensive X-factor we can’t ignore in 2020

Expectations in Year 2

This week, Vic Tafur from the Athletic tweeted out that Ferrell had spent the last 18 weeks putting on a bunch of muscle, and that makes him a very dangerous weapon for the Silver and Black this season. There is a reason the Raiders took him with the fourth overall pick last April, and when you combine his leadership and work ethic with his new physique, that is a scary proposition for any quarterback who drops back to pass against this team in 2020.

The bottom line is, Ferrell is going to be the key on this Raiders defensive line in 2020, and that is going to send shock-waves through the rest of the defense. If he can key a pass rush that continuously puts pressure on the opposition, along with the Raiders getting better coverage linebackers this offseason, this defense has the talent to be very opportunistic.

Like our offensive x-factor, Lynn Bowden Jr., Ferrell is going to find a way to impact the game in a positive light every time he steps on the field in 2020. With the additions on defense at all three levels, this Raiders defense has the chance to be a lot better than advertised, and if Ferrell can match Crosby’s production, the team is set on the edge for the foreseeable future.