When Raiders general manager Mike Mayock joined the club in 2019, one of his biggest free-agent acquisitions, literally and figuratively, was offensive tackle Trent Brown, who earned the most lucrative contract ever for an offensive lineman at the time.
Brown, who measures 6-foot-8 and 380 pounds, paid immediate dividends, earning a Pro Bowl birth in 2019. His play was stellar, and he knows what it takes to be a champion, having won the Super Bowl with the Patriots in 2018.
The big man is excited about the Raiders’ chances in 2020, especially on offense. He told The Fresno Bee’s Anthony Galaviz he thinks Mayock’s offseason moves made the team better, and he expects to build on its 7-9 record in 2019.
Brown followed up by reiterating his support for the front office as the franchise attempts to win its fourth Lombardi trophy, and he predicted some magic on offense in the Raiders’ first year in Las Vegas.
Even with the additions last year, me being one of them, you can look at those guys and trust the organization … to put the right players in place for us to win some games and win championships. With Henry Ruggs, and we still got one of the best backs in the league and we got the best offensive line in the league. I mean, it’s about to be scary.
I’m excited. I definitely think it’s going to be special times in silver and black for years to come.
Mayock and coach Jon Gruden’s focus on the offensive line could be the foundation for a special run. The unit has all five starters returning after helping the offense gain the 11th most yards in the NFL a year ago at a rate of 5.9 yards per play.
The offense was productive in 2019 without playmakers on the outside, with wide receiver Tyrell Williams suffering a plantar fasciitis injury early in the campaign. Mayock addressed that need in the first round of the draft with WR Henry Ruggs III, as Brown mentioned.
Plus, Williams is healthy and set to return in 2020. It should also be noted that tight end Darren Waller had a tremendous breakout campaign last year and will look to duplicate or improve on his 90 catches and 1,145 yards, and the Raiders drafted two other playmakers in the draft, Lynn Bowden Jr. and Bryan Edwards.
And running back Josh Jacobs, who Brown alluded to, proved he’s one of the league’s best in 2019. With quarterback Derek Carr entering his third year under Gruden with a host of weapons, the offense could indeed become scary for some defenses.
But if it’s all to culminate in a championship, as Brown suggests, the franchise’s culture change has to solidify as the personnel improves. With an abundance of young talent and a brand new city and stadium, the opportunity is there, especially with elite players like Brown who know how to win it all.
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