Even with Jon Gruden being introduced as the Raiders’ next head coach Tuesday, Oakland still has a football team needing improvement.
Through Sunday, we’ll count down the Raiders’ top five positional needs for 2018.
Here are No. 5, No. 4 and No. 3.
Let’s get to No. 2.
EDGE RUSHER
I know what you’re thinking … “But the Raiders have Khalil Mack!”
Imagine if they had someone on the other side who could consistently be just half of No. 52.
Bruce Irvin and Denico Autry came on strong under John Pagano in the final six games, but Oakland can do better. In 10 games under Ken Norton Jr., the Raiders were tied for last in the NFL in sacks with 14. They finished the season tied for 24th with 31 sacks. That’s 17 in the final six games. Mack had more than a third of those (10.5). He recorded at least a sack in each game from Week 11 to Week 15.
Irvin only recorded a full sack in five separate games. Autry only had three such games. Mack had eight.
And the Raiders’ actual starting defensive end opposite Mack? Even when healthy, Mario Edwards Jr. is hardly a menacing force to the quarterback. He’s a better run-stopper than pass-rusher anyway, but then again you have to be healthy to be effective at either.
Edwards had two sacks through the first two games, but he only tallied 1.5 for the rest of the season.
Autry is probably the Raiders’ best bet as a No. 2 edge rusher, but he’s entering unrestricted free agency and it remains to be seen whether Gruden wants him back.
With the Raiders holding either the No. 9 or 10 pick in the draft, North Carolina State defensive end Bradley Chubb would be a solid pick. So too would LSU linebacker Arden Key. Do the Raiders spend their top pick on one off them or go for secondary help since that’s probably a more pressing need?
Mack would love the Raiders to upgrade opposite him. It might – might – spare him only occasionally of double- and triple-teams if offensive lines have someone else to actually worry about.
Until then, Mack will continue doing yeoman’s work to put up numbers that sometimes don’t get as much respect as they should.
If the Raiders get him help, however, Oakland’s pass rush would be something to behold in 2018.
