A coin toss will occur to determine whether the Oakland Raiders pick at No. 9 or No. 10 in the 2018 NFL Draft. The selections wouldn’t change in this scenario, however, as the projections are at different positions for the Raiders and the San Francisco 49ers.
In Oakland’s case, nothing will matter more this offseason than improving what devolved into one of the worst defensive backfields in the NFL.
Oakland finished the 2017 regular season at No. 27 in passing yards allowed and No. 28 in yards allowed per attempt. Perhaps most importantly, the Raiders came up with a grand total of five interceptions—quite easily the lowest mark in the NFL.
By adding former Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Denzel Ward, the Raiders would add the type of speed that the defense needs in the secondary.
It’s important to look beyond the numbers, but Ward broke up 15 passes during the 2017 season—nearly twice as many as Minkah Fitzpatrick. That number is an accurate illustration of what makes Ward so intriguing: The manner in which he utilizes his athleticism to make plays on the ball.
In Jon Gruden’s first year back with the Raiders, the primary focus should be solidifying a defense that will be the backbone of his tenure.