Las Vegas Raiders vs. Baltimore Ravens: 3 players to watch in Week 1
By Alex Perl
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Baltimore Ravens: 3 players to watch in Week 1
Yannick Ngakoue
Yannick Ngakoue will hopefully be the piece that the Raiders have been needing since the departure of All-Pro Khalil Mack. The Raiders defense has been void of sacks since the departure of Mack via trade to the Chicago Bears, racking up only 21 sacks as a team last season.
The Raiders have added a pass-rushing specialist in Maxx Crosby, who in two seasons thus far, already has 17 sacks, but he has not gotten much help. Enter Yannick Ngakoue, the star of the Raiders free agency haul, and someone who is going to be expected to help take this defense to the next level.
The defensive end has 45 career sacks and is only 26-year-old, and his ability to cause constant pressure on the quarterback will be key to a Raiders victory. He will be the catalyst for this defense, and for the Raiders to have any chance of victory, the newly minted team captain will have to get after star quarterback Lamar Jackson early and often.