Five Moves That Can Lead The Raiders Towards Contention In 2019

The Oakland Raiders' off-season will be one of most highly anticipated in all of football. The team will have three first rounders to work with in the 2019 NFL Draft, as well as over $75 million in cap space. After bringing in Mike Mayock as General Manager, fans are expecting sweeping changes in the organization. With the rise of the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers, the AFC West is going to be an extremely contentious division for years to come. While 2019 might not be the year the Raiders break through, they certainly should able to make strides towards the top. Owner Mark Davis has committed both time and money to Head Coach Jon Gruden, and Jon Gruden has committed his effort to rebuilding the Oakland Raiders. While it isn't a necessarily playoff or bust season in 2019, fans will grow more frustrated at the $100 million man if progress isn't shown. With draft capital and cap space to spend, Gruden and the Raiders should be one of the more active teams this off-season. As they begin to shape their plan of attack, these five moves should be some of the first they consider.

Sign RB Le'Veon Bell

Adding the best free agent running back may not be the most bold of claims. However, Bell's presence would completely change how the Raiders function on offense. Oakland was one of the worst running teams in the NFL during the 2018 season. Their 1,628 rushing yards ranked 25th in the NFL while their 4.2 yards per attempt clip ranked 23rd. The Raiders measly nine rushing touchdowns was tied for 27th in the league. It's clear that the Raiders need some offensive firepower in the backfield. The trio of Marshawn Lynch, Doug Martin and Jalen Richard are all likely gone in 2019. Adding an explosive running back is key. Enter Bell. While his refusal to play during the 2018 season certainly raised some eyebrows, there is no doubting his talent when on the field. Over his five years in the NFL, Bell has rushed 1,229 times for 5,336 yards and 35 touchdowns. He's also caught 312 passes for 2,660 yards and seven scores. He's been voted to three Pro Bowls and has earned two All-Pro nods. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0emCJcdoKZk In his last season with the Steelers, Bell rushed 321 times for 1,291 yards and nine touchdowns. He also caught 85 passes for 655 yards and two scores. Bell's rushing numbers are almost double of what the Raiders' leading rusher - (Martin, 723) - put up in 2018. His receiving numbers would've put him third on the team behind just Jared Cook and Jordy Nelson. It's no secret that Gruden liked throwing to the running back out of the back field, as Jalen Richard caught 68 passes for 607 yards. Adding Bell gives the team a much more explosive play maker to exploit opposing defenses. The team has also spent a lot of assets on their offensive line, adding Rodney Hudson, Kelechi Osemele, signing Gabe Jackson to an extension and drafting Kolton Miller in the first round. If they're able to bounce back and form a strong unit in 2019, in combination with Bell's vision and patience, the Raiders could have one of the strongest run games in the league. The Oakland Raiders' offense needs much more than just one running back to become a true threat. However, Bell is a special talent who could go a long way to changing the team's offensive culture. He'll likely be one of the priciest free agents on the market. However, if Bell is focused and committed to playing football, he would give the Raiders arguably the best running back in all of football. 

Fire OL Coach Tom Cable

The Oakland Raiders offensive line was a banged up unit in 2018. Rookie Brandon Parker was forced into a starting role due to Donald Penn's injury. Gabe Jackson was placed on Injured Reserve with an elbow injury. Kelechi Osemele appeared in just 11 games and while first-round rookie Kolton Miller appeared in all 16, he suffered multiple knee injuries throughout the year. That being said, there is no reason the Raiders' line can't be one of the best in the NFL. Heading into the season, Pro Football Focus ranked the Raiders as having the seventh best offensive line in the league. Miller, despite his struggles, was ranked as the second best tackle in the draft by new GM Mike Mayock. Osemele is a two-time Pro Bowler, one-time All-Pro and one-time Super Bowl Champion. Rodney Hudson was just named second-team All-PFF. Jackson has allowed just 10 sacks in his five year career. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUratdGwmYU Overall, the Raiders line should be one of the most feared in the league. They have more than enough talent to keep quarterback Derek Carr upright. Yet, in 2018 they allowed Carr to be sacked 51 times, tied third in the NFL. While some of the blame could be placed on the injuries, Offensive Line coach Tom Cable should shoulder some of that responsibility as well. Carr took 20 sacks in 2017 and saw that number almost triple under Cable's first year back as the OL coach. He was unable to get the most out of both Miller and Parker. With the Raiders investing first and fourth round picks on those two players, Cable's first priority should've been having them game ready each week. But Cable's struggles don't stem from the 2018 season. As the Seahawks' OL coach from 2011-2017, Cable's units allowed the second, 12th, third, sixth, third, second and fourth most sacks in the league. While one could argue personnel, Cable clearly wasn't able to coach his lines up to standard in pass blocking. Furthermore, Seattle ranked 23rd in total rushing yards during the 2017 season. In 2018, they jolted all the way up to first. Again, one can argue personnel, but overall the offensive line stayed the same, showing Cable's ineptitude. Offensive line, outside of maybe right tackle, should be the least of Oakland's priorities in 2019. However, if they don't fire Cable, who has proven time and time again to be unsuccessful, there is a chance they won't reach their full potential.

Draft DE Clelin Ferrell with their First Pick

*This suggestion comes with the caveat that both Nick Bosa and Josh Allen are off the board. If either of them are available, they should be the pick. That being said, whether the Raiders keep the fourth overall draft pick, or trade down with a quarterback needy team as CBS Sports suggests, Clemson defensive end Clelin Ferrell should be the pick. Oakland is in desperate need of a pass rush. The Raiders mustered a league worst 13 sacks in 2018. Every other team in the league had at least 30. As Sports Information Solutions points out, the Raiders had the least amount of points saved via their pass rush.

Adding someone to rush the passer off the edge is vital. Arden Key showed strides during his rookie season and looks like he could man the right side of the line for years to come. However, he mustered just one sack and 11 QB hits on the season. Adding an explosive weapon opposite of Key could open up stronger lanes for the former LSU Tiger to rush the passer. That player should be Clemson's Ferrell. In his four years at Clemson, Ferrell amassed 27 sacks and 49 tackles for a loss. He has named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2018 with 11.5 sacks and 18.5 tackles for a loss. He has proven during his time at Clemson that he has a knack for getting to the quarterback, exactly what the Raiders need. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgS8SP27JtU In his evaluation of Ferrell, The Draft Network's Joe Marino writes:

Listed at 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds, Ferrell brings a dynamic athletic skill set to the table to pair with his ideal physical traits. Blessed with length and quickness, Ferrell knows how to use his gifts on the field and make plays.

There is a chance Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams is available at the Raiders pick. While he might be looked at as a strong talent, it remains key for Oakland to take a pass rusher, especially one with Ferrell's talents. The team already used draft picks on P.J. Hall and Maurice Hurst in 2017. Hurst especially looks like the real deal and could be a fixture on the line going forward. The Raiders should give Hall a chance to start in 2018 while letting Hurst continue to develop. A defensive line of Ferrell, Hall, Hurst and Key makes more sense than Frostee Rucker, Hurst, Williams and Key. Adding to their non-existent pass rush should be one of Gruden and Mayock's top priority. If Allen and Bosa are off the board, they should look to Clelin Ferrell and his explosiveness off the line to attack the quarterback in 2019 and beyond.

Sign OLB Dee Ford

Again, with this move pass rush is key for the Raiders. Outside linebacker Dee Ford is coming off a 2018 season in which he amassed 13 sacks, 29 QB hits and seven forced fumbles. He tied for the most forced fumbles and the eight most sacks in the entire league. He was voted to the Pro Bowl for the first team. For his career, Ford has 30.5 sacks, 69 QB and nine forced fumbles over 67 games and 41 starts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8neMRLMOOnE Ford led the league in quarterback pressures with 77 in 2018. He has excellent speed off the edge and is a force when he gets into the backfield. Ford would give the Raiders an excellent pass rusher after their dreadful 2017. At just 28, he is entering his prime and would be a player to build around for the future. As for the team's current outside linebackers, Tahir Whitehead earned an average 56.6 grade from PFF while Nicholas Morrow earned a below average 51.5. Both combined for just one sack. It's important to note that Whitehead did show strides throughout the year, amassing 126 tackles. There's a chance he continues to start heading into next year. Ford would give the Oakland a proven pass rusher off the edge. He had the same sack total himself that the entire Raiders team had combined. It doesn't hurt that signing him would also take him away from the division rival Kansas City Chiefs. Adding Ford, along with Ferrell would begin to give the Raiders a formidable front seven. With young pieces in Ferrell, Key, Hall and Hurst, as well as a leader in Ford, the team should see their sack numbers rise drastically going into 2019. Bottom line, the Raiders need a pass rush and Ford is one of the best available in the market. He would completely change the outlook of Oakland's defense. Ford's 2018 has put him squarely on the map and will likely make him one of the most coveted outside linebackers available. With his value on the rise, there is a good chance he is franchise tagged by the Chiefs. However, if Kansas City deems the tag to be too pricey, the Raiders should be all over the former first round pick.

Draft TE Noah Fant with the 28th Overall Pick

First round tight ends are usually looked at as glamorous pick and one that shouldn't be made by a team with so many holes. However, an athletic tight end like Fant could be an intriguing and volatile weapon for years to come. It was no secret that Gruden and Carr liked throwing to the tight end in 2018. Jared Cook was able to have a career year, catching 68 passes for 896 yards and six touchdowns. All three were career highs. Cook's big season is likely to result into a big payday and he is arguably the best tight end available in free agency. Rather than bring him back on a bloated contract, the Raiders should try to recreate his magic with a younger, cheaper and more athletic tight end in Fant. Fant spent three years at Iowa, catching 78 passes for 1,082 yards and seven touchdowns. He is viewed by many as the number one tight end in the 2019 NFL Draft. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHldtUF3Bko A lot of Fant's hype is due to his athleticism. He reportedly has a 42 inch vertical. That number would've topped any number set by a tight end in the past seven years at the NFL combine, and would've been tops of any player at the 2017 NBA combine. Furthermore, as Chad Leistkow points out, he has set three Kirk Ferentz-era records for tight ends in the pro agility drill, the 10-yard dash and of course the vertical jump. Fant also comes from Iowa who has a history of developing great tight ends, from Dallas Clark to more recently George Kittle. The Draft Network's Kyle Crabbs writes in his scouting report:

Noah Fant is of the most freakish athletes in all of college football. Reported 42.5” vertical from spring camp, which would be a top score out of the 2018 NFL Combine. Has unbelievable blend of size and speed, graceful in the open field and will be a mismatch nightmare for safeties and linebackers across the league. Has big play ability as a receiver, averaging 16.5 yards per catch and tallying 11 touchdowns on just 30 overall receptions as a first-time starter in 2017.

The bottom line, is that Fant is incredibly athlete who would provide the Raiders with a great size/speed combination. Not many linebackers would be able to keep up with that skill set. If Cook was able to put up career numbers in this Raiders' offense, Fant could have a huge rookie season. It's no secret that one of Oakland's biggest needs is receiver. However, outside of Ole Miss' D.J. Metcalf, it's currently unclear if any wide receivers are worth a first round pick. In what should be a deep wide receiver draft, it could be worth it to take the top tight end available then take a dice roll on a receiver. Oakland and Gruden love the tight end position. Fant would give the team a dynamic weapon to build around going forward. He should test well at the combine and hopefully the Raiders are watching. Fant could be the next big thing in the NFL.