2019 NFL Mock Draft: Projected first round after college football season

The Khalil Mack trade left the Raiders with no pass rush in 2018, which was the main impetus for their free-fall down the standings. They weren’t just dead-last in the NFL with a paltry 13 sacks (the lowest amount for a team in the last decade), they were last by a considerable margin. The second worst team, a tie between the Patriots and the Giants, tallied 30 sacks on the season.

Their leader in sacks off the edge was Bruce Irvin with three. Bruce Irvin was released by Oakland at the beginning of November.

Priority No. 1 this offseason will be for the Raiders to improve the league’s worst pass rush. That could mean double-dipping with two of their three first round picks, or potentially finding an affordable veteran in free agency to team with a rookie.

Josh Allen might be the best pure pass rusher in this class. He finished his Kentucky career on a high note with a dominant performance in the Wildcats’ Citrus Bowl win over Penn State. He tallied three sacks, bringing his total for the season up to 17. His virtuoso edge rushing this season helped Kentucky win 10 games for the first time since 1977.

Allen is still a bit raw at the position, which is likely only going to excite decision-makers at the next level. He relies heavily on his speed rush, but with proper coaching, he has the potential to turn into an elite edge rusher at the next level.

If Allen is still on the board, and that’s a big if, then this is an obvious choice. If San Francisco or New York usurp the Raiders by grabbing him, then they’d likely look at Michigan’s Rashan Gary or Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell.