With their victory against the San Diego Chargers this past weekend, the Oakland Raiders clinched the AFC Playoffs for the first time since 2002. It was an incredible win for the Raiders and their fan base, who have had to deal with so many years of bad football. This Raiders team is legit, and they should be a playoff team for the foreseeable future.
Quarterback Derek Carr is an MVP candidate this season, and they are finally getting some production out of Latavius Murray. The offense is pretty much loaded, as the team went out and spent a ton of money to bolster their offensive line. One area where they need help is in the secondary, where they just allow too many big plays.
David Amerson had a wonderful season in 2015, and they added Sean Smith in the offseason. However, both players have been burnt on numerous occasions this season, and the team needs to add depth to the cornerback position. Iowa’s Desmond King is arguably the most NFL-ready of all the corners in this draft, and his skills set and attitude would play perfectly in the Black Hole next season. Look for Oakland to continue to stockpile young talent, and they turn around a once proud franchise.