Every season, there are a handful of players on each team that make a big jump in play. Typically, these are young athletes who are now in Year 2 or 3 of their NFL careers. These breakout players are sometimes expected, and other times they take the world by surprise.
Today, we are looking at three players who are poised to have the best year of their career in 2019. So without further ado, let’s take a look at a few candidates!
DT P.J. Hall
After the success of fellow rookie Maurice Hurst, it’s sometimes easy to forget that the Raiders took Hall in the second round.
Hall started six games for the Raiders last season, recording four quarterback hits and three tackles for a loss. As a rookie, he played 512 snaps, which should help his development in Year 2.
He is a super athletic interior defensive lineman who had to make the adjustment from Sam Houston State to the NFL. We’ve seen time and time again that small school players like Hall usually need a year or two of getting used to life in the NFL before making a significant contribution. Heading into Year 2, that jump in play could happen at any time.
Now that he has his feet under him and there is more talent across the defensive line, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Hall make a big leap in 2019. He’s clearly talented enough to do it, and many across the league believe he can be one of the best one-technique defensive tackles in the league, in time.
Hall is already one of the better run-stoppers in the league, but if he can develop any kind of pass-rush ability, watch out, NFL.
DE Arden Key
If you were to just look at his 2018 stat line, you would be disappointed. Key played in every single game for the Raiders as a rookie, starting 10 games. However, the former LSU Tiger recorded just one sack all season long.
That isn’t indicative of how well he played at times, though. Key was in the backfield a ton and demonstrated the ability to bend the edge to create pressure. He finished the season with 20 hurries and 10 quarterback hits, according to Pro Football Focus, as he was always around the quarterback. If he can just finish a few more of those plays, his sack total should rise dramatically.
Heading into Year 2, the Raiders have done an excellent job of adding talent around Key. Clelin Ferrell, Maxx Crosby, and Benson Mayowa should help alleviate some of the attention Key receives from blockers. Don’t be surprised if Key winds up recording close to double-digit sacks in 2019.
RB Chris Warren
Warren quickly became a preseason sensation in Oakland. The former Texas Longhorn led all running backs in rushing yards in the preseason, carrying the ball 58 times for 292 yards, scoring two touchdowns.
However, despite his fantastic preseason, the Raiders opted to place Warren on the injured reserve list with a “knee injury,” ending his season. With the team drafting Josh Jacobs in the first round, it appears that Warren may not be able to find the field much in his sophomore season.
But what makes Warren unique is his size and his movement skills. At 260 pounds, he has the speed to get to the edge, as well as the power to run over smaller defenders. Oakland would be wise to figure out a way to use both runners in tandem to keep them fresh throughout the season.
Warren is just too talented of a player to keep off of the field. Expect him to make some noise during the 2019 season.
