Pass-Rushers the Raiders Should Sign to Make a Postseason Run in 2020

Most of the buzz surrounding the Las Vegas Raiders is centered around the status of their franchise quarterback, Derek Carr. But even signing someone like Tom Brady in free agency wouldn't be enough to mask all the problems on this Raiders team – with the lack of a pass-rush being paramount among them.

In fact, the Raiders were tied with the Miami Dolphins for the fewest QB hits in the league in 2019 (64). That lack of a pass-rushing threat contributed to the Raiders finishing as the third-worst pass defense by Football Outsiders' DVOA metric.

If the Raiders are looking to make a postseason run in their first season in Las Vegas, they'll certainly need to address this issue. So with that in mind, here are three pass-rushers that Las Vegas should target in free agency.

1. Jadeveon Clowney

Jadeveon Clowney has 12 combined sacks over the past two seasons. / Dylan Buell/Getty Images

Let's start with the flashiest name on this list: Jadeveon Clowney. His raw production might not blow you away (just 3.0 sacks in 2019), but a deeper look at the numbers proves he's one of the best sack artists in the league. Clowney had the seventh-highest pass-rush win rate among all edge rushers, and he's capable of lining up on the interior as well. The versatility Clowney brings could make him the ideal threat to pair with emerging second-year defenders Clelin Ferrell (4.5 sacks in 2019) and Maxx Crosby (10.0).

2. Yannick Ngakoue

Yannick Ngakoue has a combined 17.5 sacks over the past two seasons. / James Gilbert/Getty Images

Another defender looking to break the bank, Yannick Ngakoue has established himself as one of the league's premier pass-rushers in just four NFL seasons. He's racked up 37.5 sacks through four years, never finishing a season with fewer than 8.0. But the turnovers are where Ngakoue really differentiates himself, as his 14 forced fumbles since entering the league are the fourth-most among all defenders during that time. Las Vegas has more than $50 million in projected cap space for 2020, so the Raiders have plenty of room to make a splashy signing.

3. Vic Beasley

Vic Beasley had 8.0 sacks in 2019. / Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Alternatively, if Las Vegas isn't looking to spend big money on edge rushers, Vic Beasley could be a fantastic low-cost, high-upside investment. The former first-round pick looked poised for stardom after a breakout 2016 campaign that saw him log 15.5 sacks in his second NFL season. While he's fallen off since, posting a combined 18.0 sacks in the three subsequent seasons, he had a great finish in 2019. Beasley recorded four sacks in his last four games, and while he'd be a bit of a gamble, that should make him a natural fit in Las Vegas.

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Max Staley is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Max Staley also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username mstaley1212. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.