With the top pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Oakland Raiders select…
By Joel Deering
1. DE Nick Bosa, Ohio State
Nick Bosa hasn’t been the consensus number one overall prospect in this draft class, but he has been consistently considered as one of the two best players. We’ll get to the guy competing with him shortly.
Bosa’s older brother, Joey Bosa, is already playing in the NFL and has established himself as one of the best pass rushers in the league. What are people saying about Nick? In short, that he’s better than his older brother.
A pass rusher with potential to be better than one of the NFL’s best pass rushers? Sounds like it fits perfectly into what the Oakland Raiders need. Through eight games this season, the Raiders have tallied 7.0 sacks, good enough for dead last in the NFL.
Jon Gruden has said, “It’s hard to find a great one. It’s hard to find a good one. It’s hard to find one.” I’m still not sure why Gruden traded away his best pass rusher if he knew he needed one, but at least he knows he needs one.
Gruden has the opportunity to get a potential elite pass rusher in Nick Bosa. If what we hear about Bosa is true, talents like him don’t come around every day. If that’s true, Gruden has to target Bosa in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Bosa has totaled 17.5 sacks in his three year college career with Ohio State. 5.0 sacks came in 2016 and 8.5 in 2017. Having played in just three games this season, Bosa has tallied 4.0 sacks. Not only has Nick Bosa been productive, he’s been consistent.
Would a player like Nick Bosa instantly fix every problem the Raiders have defensively? No, but it’d be a great start. Keep an eye on Nick Bosa being the target for the Raiders with the first overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.