3. Raiders
Top positions: Running back, Guard, Center
Stars: RB Josh Jacobs, TE Darren Waller, T Trent Brown, G Richie Incognito, C Rodney Hudson, DI Maliek Collins, EDGE Maxx Crosby, LB Cory Littleton
As of now, the strongest part of the Raiders is their offensive line. Overall, it’s the best in the division, and one of the best in the NFL. Josh Jacobs is one of the league’s top running backs and he thoroughly enjoys having these big fellas blocking for him.
Their offense is middle of the road as a whole. And, of course, how much they are able to improve depends on whether Derek Carr can show abilities he hasn’t shown since 2016. If he can’t; enter Marcus Mariota.
Jacobs and Darren Waller are far and away the top talents on offense. The glaring need area was at wide receiver, where they used their top pick on Henry Ruggs III and their pick at No. 81 on Bryan Edwards. They also get a healthy Tyrell Williams after he played through a nagging plantar fascia injury all season.
The defense as a whole struggled last season. And has for a few years now. They struck gold with Maxx Crosby in the 2019 draft and this year added interior defensive linemen Maliek Collins and linebacker Cory Littleton. They added some depth and competition to a beleaguered secondary, but the best they can hope for is second-year leaps by 2019 draft picks Johnathan Abram and Trayvon Mullen.
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