NFL: Pro Bowl-Team Irvin Practice
Jan 23, 2015; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; ESPN broadcaster and Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders former coach Jon Gruden at Team Irvin practice at Scottsdale Community College in advance of the 2015 Pro Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Home » Blog » 5 players Raiders need to step up in 2019

5 players Raiders need to step up in 2019

Matt Verderame NFL

5. Maurice Hurst

Hurst fell to the third day of the NFL Draft in 2018 due to concerns about his health, but he showed flashes of why many saw him as a first-round talent. As a rookie, Hurst totaled four sacks and looked like a quality interior presence. Oakland will need him to build upon that early success if the Raiders hope to have some push in the center of the pocket.

4. Arden Key

The Raiders ranked dead last in sacks last season with 13. If Oakland is going to see real improvement in the front seven, it starts with Key. The former LSU Tigers star was drafted with the belief that he could cause havoc off the edge. Instead, Key notched a single sack in 10 starts and 16 games as a rookie. With Bruce Irvin and Khalil Mack things of the past, Key must step up.

3. Offensive line

This isn’t one player, but rather an entire unit. Last season, Derek Carr was under siege early and often. If that happens again, it’s hard to see Oakland getting significantly better on that side of the ball. General manager Mike Mayock spent huge money to sign right tackle Trent Brown, who comes in for four years and $66 million. Offensive line coach Tom Cable has been much-maligned through the years, but he’ll need to prove Oakland with a better output or likely be looking for work elsewhere in 2020.

2. Gareon Conley

The Raiders selected Conley a year ago in the first round with hopes of him becoming a shutdown corner. While injuries derailed much of his rookie season, Conley is now healthy and should be starting from the get-go. While it’s understandable if the former Ohio State star isn’t perfect immediately, he’ll need to be excellent. Looking at the depth chart, Conley is going to be drawing top assignments, including Emmanuel Sanders, Keenan Allen and Tyreek Hill. And that’s only talking about the division.

1. Derek Carr

This was an easy call for the top spot. Carr struggled mightily last year, to the point many pundits believed he might be traded this offseason. Instead, Mock went out and loaded up on offensive weapons to help Carr, adding wide receiver Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams along with first-round running back Josh Jacobs. If Carr can’t take a step forward and return to his 2016 form, it’s hard to see the Raiders hanging in with the Chiefs and Chargers in the tough AFC West.

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