5 bold predictions for Raiders in 2019

NFL DFS: MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 26: Head Coach Jon Gruden of the Oakland Raiders of the North Team during the 2019 Reese's Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 26, 2019 in Mobile, Alabama. The North defeated the South 34 to 24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
NFL DFS: MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 26: Head Coach Jon Gruden of the Oakland Raiders of the North Team during the 2019 Reese's Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 26, 2019 in Mobile, Alabama. The North defeated the South 34 to 24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – NOVEMBER 18: Oakland Raiders defensive end Arden Key (99) warms up before the NFL football game between the Oakland Raiders and the Arizona Cardinals on November 18, 2018 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – NOVEMBER 18: Oakland Raiders defensive end Arden Key (99) warms up before the NFL football game between the Oakland Raiders and the Arizona Cardinals on November 18, 2018 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. Arden Key will outperform Clelin Ferrell

The Raiders defense finished last in the NFL in sacks by a wide margin in 2018. Predictably, they spent their highest draft pick on an edge rusher. Clein Ferrell wasn’t the highest-rated defensive end of many people’s draft boards, but the Raiders front office clearly loved him.

The former Clemson star will be expected to serve as Oakland’s pass rushing focal point this season. He has what it takes to be an above average player in his rookie season. Ferrell isn’t the flashiest guy around, but he plays with really good balance and technique. In other words, he has a really high floor as a starter.

Last year’s third round pick, Arden Key, is a much different player. He struggled mightily last season and only finished the year with a single sack. Key, perhaps more than anyone else on the Raiders roster, struggled to find his feet without quality players around him. He was overwhelmed at times when opponents exercised the luxury to engulf him with double teams.

This season, Ferrell is going to get all of the attention from opposing offensive coordinators. Key will be the forgotten man. That’s why he will be the more productive player in 2019. That doesn’t necessarily mean that Key is better than Ferrell, although he might be. What it does mean is that Key is going to have a breakout campaign due to Ferrell’s presence on the field.