SI

● By Lorenz Leinweber
It's three seasons into head coach Jon Gruden’s 10-year contract and the Raiders have not made the playoffs despite fielding solid teams, especially on the offensive side of the ball in the past two seasons. A large part of the problem has been the inability of Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock to hit on their draft picks, especially on the defensive side. Despite selecting multiple defensive backs and pass rushers in the past drafts, both remain positions of need. The offensive line is getting old and expensive with Richie Incognito and Trent Brown already having departed. Protecting quarterback Derek Carr and retaining the physical identity of the team will be another area to address in the draft.