5 bold predictions for the Oakland Raiders in 2018

ALAMEDA, CA - JANUARY 09: Oakland Raiders new head coach Jon Gruden (L) talks with Raiders owner Mark Davis during a news conference at Oakland Raiders headquarters on January 9, 2018 in Alameda, California. Jon Gruden has returned to the Oakland Raiders after leaving the team in 2001. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) /

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 04: Louisiana State defensive lineman Arden Key (DL38) participates in a drill during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March , 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

4. Arden Key will have more sacks than Mario Edwards

Edwards entered the NFL with really high expectations after leaving Florida State. Unfortunately, he’s only managed to notch 5.5 sacks in his three NFL seasons. He’s teetering very close to becoming a significant bust for the Raiders.

Oakland selected Arden Key in the third round of this year’s draft after a somewhat disappointing final season at LSU. The former Tiger had one of the stranger pre-draft processes in recent memory. For whatever reason, the productive SEC pass rusher slipped all the way to the No. 87 selection.

The Raiders coaching staff doesn’t need to concern themselves about what happened to Key last year at LSU. They simply need to get him headed back on the right track. He flashed tremendous ability to rush the passer in the toughest conference in America. The Raiders should be able to get him back to that level without a ton of difficulty.

In all honesty, Key doesn’t need to be an every down player to secure more sacks than Edwards. He only needs to be productive as a pass-rushing specialist. Look for Key to finish with six or seven sacks on the season. That should be enough to comfortably beat Edwards’ total.

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