Remaining players from 2018 draft class key for Las Vegas Raiders in 2020

The Las Vegas Raiders 2018 draft class has yielded few positive results, but those remaining on the roster are key for the franchise in 2020.

The 2020 offseason has not been kind to the Las Vegas Raiders 2018 NFL Draft class, as P.J. Hall was shown the door after showing up to camp out of shape. He has since landed on his feet in Houston with the Texans, but overall, his release is a microcosm of the entire draft class from that year.

Looking at the nine players selected in the 2018 NFL Draft by the then-Oakland Raiders, only two have really done anything worth while over the past two seasons. Sixth-round pick Victor Azeem did not make the team out of camp that year, and Johnny Townsend lasted only one year in the Silver and Black.

Outside of those two players, Brandon Parker has yet to show he can play at the NFL level, and Nick Nelson is currently on the PUP list. Marcell Ateman has played sparingly and Arden Key has not been healthy enough to show what he can do, leaving only Kolton Miller and Maurice Hurst as players from that class who have helped the Raiders since being drafted.

Miller becoming a legitimate franchise left tackle

Miller had a rough rookie season, as he was thrown into the fire as the team’s starting left tackle as a rookie and really struggled with the NFL game. He battled through the entire 16 game slate in 2018, struggled with injuries, and ended up allowing more sacks than any other player in the league as a rookie.

Last season, Miller took a major step forward, cutting down on the sacks allowed and looking like a legitimate franchise left tackle. The addition of Trent Brown helped in his development, and entering Year No. 3, he is crucial to this Raiders offensive line remaining one of the best in the game.