The Las Vegas Raiders have several players that continue to be underrated by NFL fans and the media. However, is left tackle Kolton Miller someone who is potentially overvalued? Let’s see what’s being thrown around in Raiders news.
Raiders news: Is Kolton Miller the most overvalued player on the Raiders? CBS Sports says yes.
Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports recently looked at all the AFC teams, highlighting who is the most overvalued player in his opinion. For the Raiders, Kerr went with the prized left tackle as his choice.
“The Raiders put a lot of faith in Kolton Miller’s development over the last few years — and were rewarded as Miller became one of the top tackles in the league. Are they too dependent on Miller to protect Derek Carr? They’ll need left guard John Simpson to improve to relieve the burden on Miller this year.”
It’s an interesting spin on Miller’s value to the Raiders. By all accounts, No. 74 is the best offensive lineman that the Silver and Black currently have. Much of the unit struggled mightily last year, and much to the chagrin of many folks, the group is back. As far as John Simpson playing next to him, most in Raider Nation are likely nervous. If you put value into Pro Football Focus grades, Simpson earned a 52.6 overall grade for last season off of 1,112 snaps played.
The Raiders need more than just Miller
The Raiders relying on Miller to keep Derek Carr upright isn’t really a bad thing. In fact, it’s the only surefire thing about this offensive line. Miller has quietly evolved over the past three years to become one of the best tackles in the league. It’s plausible he’ll finally start to earn more recognition in 2022; a Pro Bowl nod, perhaps?
“Miller allowed just five sacks and 32 pressures in 689 pass-blocking snaps last season, playing all 17 games and earning first team All-AFC honors. He’s the only sure thing on the left side of the offensive line for the Raiders, which needs to change if the running game is to be effective and Carr wants to be upright throughout the year.”
At first, Kerr’s statement might seem confusing or downright upsetting to some fans. Nonetheless, his point is valid regarding Miller as the only sure thing. A more potent O-line is needed if the Raiders want to make it past a playoff appearance. Right now, the group still has many question marks, and we’ll need to wait until the season commences to see how they’re coming along.
[pickup_prop id=”20228″]
*Top Photo: Official Raiders website
