Most Underrated Oakland Raiders

Derek Carr

As ridiculous as it might seem that the franchise quarterback is underrated, he really is. Much is made about the support system that Derek Carr has in place with the two star receivers and the great offensive line, the Raider Nation got a glimpse of how bad that system is without number four. Derek Carr is set to make some serious money this off-season, and regardless of how much he gets paid, he’ll deserve every single penny.

If the Oakland Raiders are going to win a Super Bowl, it’s going to be because of Derek Carr. The defense could improve, and whoever the running back is next year could be phenomenal, but at the end of the day, the Oakland Raiders are a contender because number four is under center. The Raiders haven’t had a quarterback like this since Rich Gannon almost 15 years ago.

Sean Smith

Sean Smith is one of the most unpopular players on the roster. He was brought in to play the Richard Sherman role in Oakland’s defense, but throughout the season he was hot and cold. He would give up big plays down the field, including a 98 yard bomb to Brandin Cooks in week one against the New Orleans Saints.

However, despite his struggles, the fact that the Raider Nation want him to be released is ridiculous. The reality is that Reggie Nelson is a hideous liability in coverage, and Smith had to play to his weaknesses far too often this season. He’s a big, physical corner that’s better in short space when he can press his opponent. Ken Norton Jr. had Smith playing ten yards off of receivers, and people wondered why he was getting killed. Smith is a big corner, and he should be allowed to play physical football.

Marquette King

Field position is, ironically, a wildly underrated factor in each game. If the Raiders stall around the 35, and they only punt the ball 15 yards, then the opposing offense is already at midfield. The Oakland Raiders started only 32 of their 194 drives inside their own 20 yard line. That means they only started inside their own 20 on 16% of their possessions, that’s the best percentage in the NFL.It’s true that Oakland has a solid return game, but at the end of the day, it’s their star punter that has done the best job flipping the field for the Raiders.

Marquette King has developed a reputation for his off the field antics, but on the field, he’s no slouch either. Only Pat McAfee averaged more yards per punt, and King landed 15 more punts inside the 20 than he did. The Oakland Raiders have a dreadful defense, and by booting the ball far, far away from Oakland’s endzone, who knows how many touchdowns King’s leg prevented last year.

If you enjoyed reading about the most underrated Oakland Raiders, there’s also a list about the most overrated Oakland Raiders. Be sure to give it a look.