Raiders Draft Opinion: Anxious Anticipation

     The day before the NFL Draft is similar to the week before March Madness. Many are documenting guesses that could not possibly end up correct. Everyone involved expects disappointment, but continues to tell themselves, “this year is our year.” Considering the last few years, a complete chalk draft would be ideal for Las Vegas. This year, the Raiders should see their team needs fully, or close to, met before the weekend is over.

Full Stock

     With eight picks in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Raiders have the potential to address multiple levels of their porous defense while still keeping eyes on late-round offensive talent as well.  The 17^th pick is a bit of a weird position, as Las Vegas is dependent on half of the league not making the pick they intend to. Not only that, but being seven spots behind the top 10 means it will be almost too costly for the Raiders to trade into it. Also, 17^th almost guarantees that whatever position the Raiders are looking at taking will probably have a top name or two shaved off the top before the team can do anything. But, a first-round pick is a first-round pick, and being in a weird situation is no excuse to not get the first one right.

Depth Build              

  Despite the onslaught of defensive linemen Las Vegas picked up this offseason, it would not surprise me to see Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden come together to take defensive end Kwity Paye. At the University of Michigan, Paye proved to be an absolute force and is being regarded as the safest edge rusher in this year’s draft; if there is anything Gruden and Mayock need in a first-round pick, it is safety.

Need

  More preferably, the Raiders could take care of a position less addressed in the offseason: safety. By the 17^th pick, the Raiders’ ideal guy might not be there, but if TCU safety Trevon Moehrig is still there, it would be hard to watch him pass. Despite taking a majority of his snaps as a slot safety, Moehrig also took upwards of 170 snaps at both box and deep safety. His only downside was missing 6 tackles (out of 42 potential) but it could create an impressive balance between him and Johnathan Abram.

Surprise

    It is also entirely possible the Raiders flip the script and add some more youth to their still-fresh offensive line after tearing down its longest-standing pieces this offseason, much to Derek Carr’s chagrin. Carr has had stretches of incredibly smooth sailing behind the “Carr Insurance” offensive line, and it has been painfully clear his struggles arise when his line is not at its best. In order to expedite this offensive line tune-up, the Raiders could eye Oklahoma State right tackle Teven Jenkins. Coming in at 6’6 and 320 pounds puts Jenkins as the second-tallest and second-heaviest player taken in the first round. The NFL evolves, will the Raiders? No matter which way they go, this has to be Gruden and Mayock’s best draft yet. Not asking for all that much.