5 reasons Raiders can win the Super Bowl this year

3. Maxx Crosby

If not for the performance of San Francisco 49ers rookie edge rusher Nick Bosa in 2019, the Raiders may have had the award winner with their fourth-round selection Maxx Crosby from Eastern Michigan.

Relatively unknown and unheralded, Crosby was outstanding for the club in their continued efforts to replace former All-Pro edge rusher Khalil Mack. Of course, the second-year pro has not reach Mack-level of play, but his 10 sacks, four passes defensed and four forced fumbles in 2019 were an outstanding start.

Crosby is going to continue ascending as a pass rusher as he continues to refine his skills, add new tools to the toolbox, and improve as a run defender. He’s also likely to get stronger and faster with full-time NFL training, which will obviously aide in that development, too.

Las Vegas also needs Crosby to begin to develop as a leader for its relatively young defensive unit. This is a group that has lacked that leadership for years, and perhaps was the biggest downfall for Mack when he was on the squad. Crosby needs to invest in being the face of the defense and needs the rest of the group to buy in strongly, as he’s certainly got the most talent of the known assets on that side of the ball.

If the Raiders are going to win the Super Bowl, it is going to be on the heels of a defense that makes huge plays when they are most important. Crosby has the playmaking ability to do that, and if he takes the next step to not only lead the unit but also come through in the clutch, the Raiders could find themselves playing late into January with a shot at Super Bowl glory.