Who is Raiders most surprising rookie so far?

We’ve seen a quite a bit from this year’s rookie class so far. And that’s saying a lot considering we’re just six games in. My question is an honest one; which of the players in this class has surprised you the most?

I mean that in every way possible. Both good and bad. We all have our pre-draft takes on prospects and our opinions of the picks after they are taken. And we’re all going to be wrong about some of them.

Let’s start with Clelin Ferrell. He was taken fourth overall. As a pass rusher taken that high, much is expected. And yet he has just one sack this season and few stats of any kind. He has yet to show he is a difference-maker. Are you shocked he hasn’t shown more considering how high he was drafted and how many snaps he sees?

Next was Josh Jacobs at 24. He has surpassed a great Raiders back each of the past three weeks for most rookie rushing yards to start his career and is coming off his second straight game rushing for over 100 yards. Even in your vast fanaticism, did you at all foresee these kinds of numbers right out the gates?

Johnathan Abram was looking like the Raiders best pick in camp, but he was injured in the season opener, so we’ll have to wait on our thoughts on him.

Trayvon Mullen has not seen the field much on defense, so it’s hard to know what they have in him long term either. He wasn’t expected to unseat any of the three starting corners right away.

Maxx Crosby has stepped up in a big way and looks every bit the pass rusher Arden Key was expected to be. He has sacks in consecutive games and is second on the team in QB hits (3) with a couple passes batted down as well. He has certainly far outplayed his fourth round status, especially in a league where pass rushers are at a premium.

Like Abram, Isaiah Johnson has been injured so we’ll have to wait on him.

Foster Moreau had just 52 catches for 629 yards and 6 touchdowns in his four-year career at LSU. As a senior he had 22 catches for 272 yards and 2 touchdowns. He had blocking tight end written all over him. So, his selection in the fourth round was actually seen by some as a bit high. After six games, he has shown himself to have some of the best hands on the team. He has 12 catches on 14 targets for 121 yards and two touchdowns. With no on-target drops and a couple spectacular grabs as well.

Hunter Renfrow was considered by many to be a great get in the fifth round. He has claimed the Raiders slot receiver job and has 14 catches on 26 targets for 115 yards. Honestly, even as a fifth round pick, I expected more from him when they drafted him. But that’s just me. The Raiders desperately needed a slot receiver and the overall group has been lacking, so Renfrow has had the opportunities. But some people may want to judge his production solely on his draft positions and typically not much is expected from a 5th round pick right away.

Quinton Bell was always considered a raw prospect as a former wide receiver turned edge rusher out of Prairie View. He was on the practice squad for a few weeks and was released last week. Nothing was expected of him early in his career and who knows, he may be brought back next offseason.

So, with all this said, which of these rookie has surprised you the most? Which has provided far less or far more on the field than you expected so early on?