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Power ranking the NFL defenses for 2019

By Russell S. Baxter

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 05: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks is sacked by Demarcus Lawrence #90 of the Dallas Cowboys in the first half during the Wild Card Round at AT&T Stadium on January 05, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 05: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks is sacked by Demarcus Lawrence #90 of the Dallas Cowboys in the first half during the Wild Card Round at AT&T Stadium on January 05, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – NOVEMBER 18: Gareon Conley #21 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates an interception with Maurice Hurst #73 in the first half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on November 18, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – NOVEMBER 18: Gareon Conley #21 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates an interception with Maurice Hurst #73 in the first half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on November 18, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

29. Oakland Raiders

2018 Review: The biggest news when it came to this unit was the departure of the 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. The franchise traded Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears before the start of the season. Minus his services, the Raiders finished with a paltry 13 sacks. Put that in perspective: the Patriots and Giants were tied for next-to-last in the NFL in this department with 30 QB traps. So it’s little wonder that Oakland allowed league highs in terms of points (467) and touchdown passes (36). Linebacker Tahir Whitehead led the team with 126 stops.

2019 Key Additions: The Raiders used two of their three first-round selections on this side of the ball, adding defensive lineman Clelin Ferrell (1-Clemson) and defensive back Johnathan Abram (1c-Mississippi State). In fact, the club added three defensive linemen in the draft for the second straight year. As for the veteran additions, there’s linebackers Vontaze Burfict and Brandon Marshall as well as rangy free safety Lamarcus Joyner.

Analysis: Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther has a lot of new faces in regards to this unit. The team is counting on youth up front (Ferrell, Arden Key, P.J. Hall, Maurice Hurst, etc.) to resurrect the pass rush. Burfict and Marshall bring a lot of savvy and should help a team that allowed the third-most rushing yards in the league. And Joyner could aid a club that has just 31 takeaways (19 interceptions) in its last 32 contests dating back to ’17.

Next: No. 28

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