Oakland Raiders
Top Pick: Karl Joseph, S, West Virginia
The secondary was an utter mess for the Raiders last season and a good part of this season. That was why the team made such a concerted effort to improve it. One of their key moves was grabbing Karl Joseph. When healthy this young safety showed two-way ability. It’s showing at times this year. Not only does he have 36 tackles but also an interception and three pass deflections. Improvement has been steady, and should increase with time and experience.
Grade: B
Hidden Gem: DeAndre Washington, RB, Texas Tech
Every offense loves to have that short, shifty running back who is a great change of pace to the starter. It seems the Raiders found their guys with DeAndre Washington. He’s become a nice compliment to Latavius Murray. So far he’s averaging 5.1 yards per carry (267 yards) and has 12 catches for 72 yards. The mark of a good rotational back is being able to make the most of limited opportunities. Washington is proving adept at that.