Raiders Get Dominant Pass Rusher In 7-Round Mock Draft
Credit: raiderswire.usatoday.com
The draft this year might be one of the biggest for the raiders of all time. They will start the night with three first-round picks. This draft can set the Raiders franchise and decide whether the Raiders will be a dominant team, or stay at the bottom of the league.
Round 1
Pick 2 TRADE (From 49ers)
Nick Bosa/EDGE/Ohio State
Raiders start one of their biggest drafts of all time by trading up and drafting a franchise edge rusher. Raiders still had to give up some picks to the 49ers to get their player. Raiders No. 4 Pick, No. 27, and No. 106 Pick was sent to the 49ers. Nick Bosa is my pick for the best player in the draft. He can get off the ball so quickly and leave the offensive lineman in the dust. He’s incredibly strong and can control his body so no one can get to his chest. There’s nothing he needs to improve on. Sometimes he will get faked out on a bootleg, but that’s a very small problem. I think he can live up to his hype and become as dominant or more as his brother Joey Bosa.
Pick 24
Noah Fant/Tight End/Iowa
With tight end, Jared Cook, departing to the Saints, the Raiders will be looking for that new dominant tight end. Noah Fant is my pick for second best tight end behind Iowa teammate TJ Hockenson. He is extremely athletic and can line up on the line or out as wide receiver. He’s too fast for linebackers and too big for defensive backs. His downside is blocking. His strength hurts him a lot and causes him not to hold blocks long or well. With time in the weight room, he can be a big help in the run game.
Round 2
Pick 35
Deandre Baker/Corner Back/Georgia
While I believe the terrible pass game for the Raiders was the pass rushers fault mainly, it would be hard to pass up on Baker. Baker is a shutdown cornerback that stays with his man exceptionally well. With that QB rarely throws it his way and when it does, he has excellent ball skills to break up a pass. His strength is not impressive which means he can get pushed off at the line and get burnt and it’s hard for him to shed blocks. He is a top 3 defensive back in this draft and will shut down receivers for years.
Round 5
Pick 140
Conner McGovern/Offensive Lineman/Penn State
There are not too many names on this o-line besides Kolton Miller for the fact they traded Kelechi Osemele to the Jets. That’s where Penn State Gaurd/Center comes in. He’s excellent at opening holes for a running back and blocking people downfield because of his footwork. He could use some work on his hand technique.
Round 7
Pick 218
Khalil Hodge/EDGE/Buffalo
Khalil Hodge is one of those talents you don’t skip if he falls to the 7th round. Former Raiders edge rusher, Khalil Mack, also went to Buffalo. Hodge is an excellent sideline to sideline player that can usually make a tackle on the ball carrier. He tends to seem slow at times and also likes to avoid blocks and can take himself out of the play. Hodge is a very productive linebacker in this year’s draft and will be worth grabbing in later rounds.
Pick 235
Alexander Mattison/Running Back/Boise State
Even with new running back Isaiah Crowell the Raiders still have far from the good running back team. Alexander Mattison can help that though. He is a running back that goes straight upfield and goes through people. His elusiveness is not great nor is his agility. He won’t make people miss tackles but will break tackles.