As we stated earlier, the Raiders have used multiple assets on improving the pass rush, including that selection of Clelin Ferrell at No. 4 overall back in 2019. While Ferrell has not been the pass rusher the team was hoping he would be, he did improve in his second season in the league, so the jury is not out on him yet.
Fellow 2019 draft pick, Maxx Crosby, already has 17 sacks to his count during his two-year career, so there is no problem there in terms of getting after the quarterback. However, he needs help, and with the selection of Patrick Jones II in the third round, they get an electric edge rusher who has a knack for knocking down quarterbacks.
Jones is a guy who is being mocked all over the place, as some have him as high as the first round, and others as a Day 2 pick. In our simulator, he was available to the Raiders in the third round, and if he is still on the board come the 2021 NFL Draft, he is a player that has to be on Mayock’s radar, as he checks so many boxes in terms of need for this defense.