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The Raiders have a roster that is in transition as they look to rebuild the depth and overall talent under Dave Ziegler. They lack a lot of depth at some key positions (defensive tackle, linebacker, cornerback), but they do have several superstars that they can build around going into the future.
Davante Adams and Maxx Crosby are among the best players at their respective positions and are bonafide superstars. The Raiders also have one of the best left tackles in the game in Kolton Miller, who has improved in every season.
In a recent article by Pro Football Focus, they ranked every team’s top three players and building blocks going into the season. The Raiders graded out especially high on the list with Adams, Crosby, and Miller. Here is a snippet of what PFF had to say about the trio going into the year:
The Raiders are in a weird spot, given the lack of clarity about the short or long-term vision. But, fortunately, they do have a handful of elite building blocks to work around. Maxx Crosby has the most total pressures and defensive stops in the NFL over the past two years among edge rushers, and he leads both categories by double digits.
He’s a complete defensive end who never comes off the field, always a good foundation to build around on defense. And if first-round pick Tyree Wilson can grow next to him, the two could create a scary tandem.
The site also mentioned the additions of Tyree Wilson and Michael Mayer, who provide young talent at two key positions for the Raiders. If both players hit, the Raiders could have a really solid core to build around for the next several years.
While they might not be ready to contend for the AFC West right now, the Raiders are building their roster the right way to be a contender in the near future.
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