Silver Mining 8/24: Raiders prep for third preseason game vs Packers Raiders NewsRaiders face Packers in third exhibition; five guys to watchChris Warren https://www.raiderslockerroom.com/authentic-derek-carr-jersey , Connor Cook and others should have your eyes on Friday night against the Packers.Green Bay to rest starters against Raiders, including QB Aaron Rodgers While the Raiders should be giving plenty of run to their starters against the Packers at the Oakland Coliseum on Friday night, the visiting team won’t be doing the same.Raiders waive 2017 round two pick Obi MelifonwuAfter weeks of Jon Gruden saying Obi Melifonwu was "still being evaluated" for a mystery injury he suffered in camp, the Raiders have now officially waived him.Doug Martin finds rhythm in Raiders' run game despite lack of preseason carriesDoug Martin has only touched the ball once in the preseason, but the Raiders still expect a lot out of the veteran running back.Arden Key saw few snaps in his first preseason action, we will see more of him vs Packers Fans in Oakland will finally get a good long look at this exciting rookie.Raiders tight end Jared Cook feels at home in Jon Gruden’s systemLet go by the Packers, a pass-catcher joins the Raiders and leads the team in receiving in his first season in Oakland.Football Outsiders ‘loves’ Raiders DT PJ Hall as a reliable run stuffer, pass rusher This week, the good folks from Football Outsiders have been answering several questions posed to them from we here at Silver and Black Pride. The first three questions dealt with the coaching staff...PFF: Raiders LB Marquel Lee is the fourth-highest graded linebackerPFF: Raiders LB Marquel Lee is the fourth-highest graded linebacker in the preseasonRaiders players and coaches frustrated with ‘grey area’ in new leading with the helmet penalties ‘at some point it is football’At some point it will no longer be football. At least not tackle football if this keeps up.AFC WestMike Williams Shows Out with Dominant Practice vs. SaintsThe second-year wide receiver stole the show at Jack Hammett Sports Complex.Chargers' Uchenna Nwosu is blocking out praise, and rookie linebacker is 'getting it'Rookie linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from USC has been one of the newcomers who, over the past three weeks or so, has emerged most vividly.Chiefs’ Tyreek Hill had the most ridiculous press conference Thursday - Arrowhead PrideHill talked kickball, the Chiefs’ Madden league and how he and Patrick Mahomes could become the best one-two punch in the league.Why the Kansas City Chiefs should make a play for Obi MelifonwuThe Oakland Raiders cut Obi Melifonwu on Thursday and the Kansas City Chiefs would be wise to make a play while they can.Denver Broncos: A Pat Bowlen Led Hall of Fame LegacyIt is a culture of winning that made Pat Bowlen that made the Denver Broncos owner an instant Hall of Famer. He is now a finalist as a contributor.Denver Broncos Von Miller grows up - Denver Broncos Blog- ESPNThe Broncos superstar might never give up his big-smiling, fan-friendly, dancing ways, but now he is ready to be Denver's veteran, vocal leader.Around the NFLDolphins’ Minkah Fitzpatrick feels natural at slot CB positionMiami Dolphins' Minkah Fitzpatrick feels natural at slot cornerback position.Denzel Ward suffers back injury during Browns' win - NFL.comCleveland Browns rookie cornerback Denzel Ward left for the locker room after suffering an undisclosed injury during the first quarter of Thursday's preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles.NFL free agents 2018: 5 players who need to be signed before Week 1 - SBNation.comNFL teams will continue making moves as the season approaches, and while most of those moves will be cuts, there are still a few players we’re hoping to see signed before the regular season begins.The All-Breakout Team: NFL players who will become stars this seasonMitch Trubinsky, Kenyan Drake and Carl Lawson are ready to dominate.NFL players got your attention with the national anthem. Now wrestle with racial inequality and social injustice.NFL players have turned their activism into action Derek Carr Jersey White , but their detractors aren’t addressing the real issues.Player tracking data is next step in NFL's analytics revolutionSome NFL teams have been slow to embrace analytics. With the deep player-tracking era now upon us, the skeptical could get quickly left behind.NFL players, coaches, refs grapple with new helmet rule - SFChronicle.comThe NFL is taking shots for the new way it’s legislating hits. This summer, pro football’s exhibition season centers on fallout surrounding a new rule banning players from lowering their helmets before contact. Vikings somehow got George Iloka to sign for the veteran minimumThe Minnesota Vikings were able to convince the free-agent safety to sign a one-year deal with the team that is reportedly worth less than $1 million.Davante Adams’ impromptu visit creates lasting memory for Packers fanThe story behind the Pro Bowl receiver’s surprise in the Lambeau Field parking lotThese three milestones are in reach for Adrian Peterson | NBC Sports WashingtonIf Adrian Peterson can catch on with the Redskins, he can accomplish a few big-time things early on in 2018. Draft season is officially upon us and Raiders fans should be excited for the 3 first round picks that HC Jon Gruden and GM Mike Mayock have at their disposal.Kicking off this series on position group superlatives is arguably the Raider’s biggest need: edge rusher.The Raiders are likely to use one of their first picks on a pass rusher to help the beleaguered pass rush that ranked dead last in the NFL in 2018.The edge rusher class is stacked and there should be players for every scheme and preference available through the first 3 rounds.Here are 6 edge players who deserve a nod for standing out for the qualities that make football players great.Body beautifulMontez Sweat, ED, Mississippi State. Sweat turned heads at the Senior Bowl weigh coming in at 6’6 252lbs.But his arm length: 35 5/8ths, wingspan 84 1/2, and hand size 10.13 inches is the body type NFL teams drool over.Sweat gained a lot of hype after a video of a bull rush that sent Alabama State OT Tytus Howard made its rounds on social media. Sweat isn’t in the top tier of edge prospects in this class but his upside as a size-speed athlete boosts his stock.He’ll likely be a first round pick and could come off the board in the late teens of the 2019 NFL draft.Most skilledNick Bosa, ED, Ohio StateBosa is widely considered the best prospect in this class.He only played in a handful of games in 2018 due to injury but that doesn’t seem to be a sticking point for most in his evaluation.When he was on the field he dominated. Against the run he easily anchored at the point of attack even against double teams. As a pass rusher he put NFL quality reps on tape in every game he played.He is a technically refined pass rusher who can diagnose blocking schemes and react on the fly.He has the full bag of tools in his repertoire to go along with great bend and savvy hand usage.StrongestAnthony Nelson, ED, IowaOkay this could be cheating a little here because Nelson projects as an interior rusher in most NFL schemes.However he played exclusively on the edge at Iowa and was able to win with his massive size and strength.He’s not the quick twitch speed rusher who can bend around the corner like others in this class but his ability to anchor against the run is one of his best attributes.Nelson consistently knocked blockers backwards and controlled the line of scrimmage in college.Scheme wise I don’t think he’s a fit for the Raiders. Defensive Coordinator Paul Guenther likes his edge rushers to have more athleticism than Nelson displays on tape. But an NFL team who likes ends to have the versatility to play on the edge on run downs and slide inside in passing situations will get a plug and play starter.Best athleteBrian Burns, ED, Florida StateBurns is a similar prospect as Arden Key coming into the NFL.Tall, lanky pass rushers who can scream off the edge.Like Key, Brian Burns is light for the position, listed at 235 while at Florida State.NFL players can add weight easier than adding speed or explosiveness and Burns has those traits in spades.Burns as a rookie will likely be a situational pass rusher until he can prove to not to be a liability against the run.Run defenders come a dime a dozen however, players with the elite athletic traits of Burns come at a much higher premium.Expect the Florida State rusher to blow up the combine athletic testing and garner interest in the top half of the first round.Highest upsideJosh Allen Womens Bo Jackson Jersey , OLB, KentuckyAllen shot up draft boards this season with an impressive performance, helping Kentucky to finish in the top 15 in the FBS.Allen is an all around defender as a rush linebacker for the Wildcats.His sack production came albeit being often used in coverage to defend the quick RPO game that is taking over college football.But he’s an edge rusher first and foremost but with enough versatility and athleticism to be used in a variety of ways.Allen’s blend of elite size for a rush linebacker 6’4 260, and bend around the corner is enough to get high first round interest.Too add to that, being able to break up passes 30 yards down field is almost unprecedented for an edge player.He has the chance to become a premier defender in the NFL.Most underratedJaylon Ferguson, ED, Mississippi StateIt’s understandable that more people aren’t talking about Jaylon Ferguson amongst the top rated edge rushers in the 2019 draft.Jaylon Ferguson on tape doesn’t show the fluidity, strength, or burst that other players on this list have. At the same time he’s a damn good football player who set the record for career sacks in the NCAA. 67.5 tackles for a loss and 45 sacks in 4 years are eye popping stats that just don’t happen without a high skill level.People can point to playing against a lower level of competition or lack of elite athletic traits but sometimes those parts of the evaluation are just fluff when compared to actual production on the field.Ferguson will be a better football player than his combine scores will predict and a team who values skill level will get someone who is used to getting in the backfield.Honorable mentionsClelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson - Body Beautiful and StrongestChase Winovich, DE, Michigan - Most Skilled and Most UnderratedJachai Polite, DE, Florida - Best AthleteZach Allen , DE, Boston College - StrongestAustin Bryant, DE, Clemson - Body Beautiful