Quote
ThreeTwo Linebackers: Yes, three. Make it two if Perry Riley re-signs, but the Raiders absolutely have to retool their linebacking corps, which was horrific this past season. This definitely has to be a priority for the Raiders this sping. Signed Jelani Jenkins
Bruce Irvin played quite well and was one of essentially two players to reliably pressure the QB (the other being Mack). We're terrible at covering the short middle of the field and get torn up by TEs. Safeties are forced to help LBs in coverage, meaning CBs are left on an island. ILB has been a big need for the past few seasons; while OLB is still a concern we're in a position where we can hold it together with duct tape and bubble gum, with a rotation of our other LBs and Mack playing some snaps at OLB.
Quote
Defensive Tackle: Oakland's greatest need outside of addressing the linebacker position is bolstering the interior of the defense. The team's defensive tackles struggled all year, so the team is in need of a major upgrade at the position. Perhaps second-rounder Jihad Ward will improve, and maybe nose tackle Dan Williams will bounce back from an off year, but as it stands now, the Raiders definitely need help at defensive tackle.
I'm...really not sure why we let Dan Williams walk. DT is a big need for a lot of teams and right now we have 2 DTs on the roster, let alone starters. Ellis should hopefully win a starting job again, so we need a starter and another rotational body.
Quote
Running Back: Latavius Murray is an impending free agent, but it doesn't matter because he was one of the worst starting running backs in the NFL. An early draft choice could be used to remedy this issue.
RB is not a concern. We ran well out of the committee last season, especially considering we couldn't take snaps under center for half of the year. If we stumble into a good RB day 2 I wouldn't complain, but it shouldn't be a pressing need.
Quote
Right Tackle: Oakland possessed one of the top offensive lines in the NFL this past year, but the one liability up front happened to be at right tackle, where neither Austin Howard nor Menelik Watson cut it. Signed Marshall Newhouse
RT is a weakness. We should attempt to address it at some point.
Quote
Wide Receiver: The Raiders have two excellent wideouts in Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree, but that's about it. Their third receiver, Seth Roberts, dropped almost everything thrown to him. Derek Carr could use a deep threat. Signed Cordarrelle Patterson
The only reason WR even becomes an afterthought is because we lost Andre Holmes to FA, who was a reliable tertiary target. With Cook on the roster this is a smaller need, but getting some flash in the pan from Patterson would be nice. Seth Robers was incredibly hit or miss...think Ruben Randal with more upside. To give you an idea of how thin the WR position is right now, I don't even know any of the other guys on the roster right now.
Quote
Tight End: Oakland has a bunch of middling talents at tight end. I'm sure Carr wouldn't mind a better intermediate option to throw to. Signed Jared Cook
Taken care of.
Quote
Backup Quarterback: Matt McGloin is an impending free agent, but the Raiders needed a better veteran No. 2 anyway.
McGloin was horrible. Cook was awful. E.J. Manuel will be enough.
Quote
Interior Offensive Line Depth: As mentioned, the Raiders had a terrific offensive line, but they have very little depth on the interior.
Alexander Vadal is enough to add *some* depth to the line, and worst comes to worst we can rotate one of our tackles in to cover for injury or to spell.
Frankly, given how completely and utterly fucked we were in the secondary last season I'm surprised to not see any DBs listed in needs. Could be a scheme issue, could be an issue with weak LBs. But with a draft class like this, you'd like to see at least a thought put towards DBs.
Quote (Terps @ Apr 21 2017 01:14pm)
These options suck lol. Hopefully the Raiders trade up for Jarrad Davis or one of the RTs in this situation.
YOU ARE TELLING ME HOLY SHIT THIS HAD BETTER NOT BE HOW THE REAL DRAFT GOES.
Besides Ross are any of these guys even round 1 talent?