The Oakland Raiders were known in the NFL last season for all the wrong reasons: a poor offense, a horrible defense, and trading two star players. The absence of defensive star Khalil Mack is still haunting the Raiders; their lack of a pass rush last season proved that. The Raiders were dead last in sacks, and former head coach Jack Del Rio definitely took notice.

The Raiders did get some value from trading Khalil Mack, but in doing so they gave up a once-in-a-lifetime player. This is what Jack Del Rio was trying to underscore. The Raiders also turned the Chicago Bears into a playoff team. Not only did the Bears make the playoffs, they developed the fiercest defense in the league, mostly due to Mack's presence on the team.

The Raiders might not recover — not fully — from losing Khalil Mack, but the picks they have accumulated for this season could give them some defensive help to ease the pain. Defensive lineman Ed Oliver and linebacker Josh Allen are likely on the team's radar. General manager Mike Mayock was hired at a key time, considering that the team has three first-round draft picks. His expertise could turn around the team's misfortunes. That doesn't change what Jack Del Rio said, however.

While Khalil Mack continues to be a game-wrecker for opposing defenses, the Raiders can hope that they will eventually find a player to bring them newfound defensive relevance. Mack was very close to winning a Defensive Player of the Year Award, but Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald had the final say. Donald's 20.5 sacks were nearly impossible to compete with.