There’s a strange break in the bend between the Super Bowl and the NFL’s combine. After 26 weeks of football, the season comes to an abrupt end. There’s a moment of relief, but before too long, football fans spend every Sunday longing for the fall. Fortunately, the excitement of the NFL Draft and free agency give fans something to think about. Here is the Oakland Raiders pre-combine mock draft.
Disclaimer: This was done using FanSpeak‘s mock draft engine, and was done without taking free agency into consideration. The Oakland Raiders could sign one player and render this entire mock draft obsolete.
Oakland Raiders Pre-Combine Mock Draft
Round One, Pick 24: Linebacker Jarrad Davis, Florida
Fans of the website won’t be surprised by this one. Jarrad Davis has been a rumored target of the Oakland Raiders for weeks. Davis gives the Oakland Raiders some much-needed athleticism over the middle, and could help the Silver and Black with their tight end coverage problems.
Round Two, Pick 24: Corner Jourdan Lewis, Michigan
The Oakland Raiders shouldn’t draft a corner too high, but Jourdan Lewis of Michigan just fits the team perfectly. There’s just one problem with him. In many ways, he’s identical to D.J. Hayden as a prospect coming out of the draft.
He’s not the biggest guy, weighing in at 5’10, and 188 pounds, but his excellent athleticism makes up for it. Hayden, a former first round pick expected to hit free agency, was very similar.
However, unlike Hayden, Lewis is a much more complete player. He’s got a nasty streak, has excellent ball skills, and is reliable in down-the-field coverage. Lewis is decent against the run, and has a knack for stealing the ball. He could come in immediately and play in the nickle.
Round Three, Pick 24: Tight End Gerald Everett, South Alabama
Many experts would like to see the Oakland Raiders select tight end Jake Butt here, and during the mock draft, he was available. The Raiders should take South Alabama’s Gerald Everett instead for one big reason.
Everett is a phenomenal athlete. His excellent hands, paired with exceptional speed make him a dynamic pass catcher, which isn’t a surprise as a former basketball player. However, unlike other basketball tight ends, Everett demonstrates a mean streak when running through tackles and blocking. Clive Walford and Mychal Rivera haven’t really panned out, and the Raiders need a big, physical tight end.
The biggest drawback is that he isn’t a great route runner. Everett will need to learn to cut cleaner and more advanced routes if he wants to break out in the NFL. But if he can do that, he’ll give Derek Carr a phenomenal weapon.
Round Four, Pick 24: Defensive Tackle Ryan Glasgow, Michigan
The Oakland Raiders need more big men in the front seven. Stacy McGee and Dan Williams have moments, but the reality is that they get killed by the run, and don’t generate pressure. Ryan Glasgow from Michigan is a big boy, and he could make a big impact inside.
He’s 6’3, 300 pounds, and his mean streak jumps off the tape at you. He thrashes around and doesn’t give up on plays if he gets stuffed. He made it very difficult for teams to run up the middle against Michigan. The biggest knock against Glasgow is that he needs to bulk up a little, and that he might not be a three down guy.
How good is Glasgow inside? He was able to facilitate the success of undersized linebacker, Jabrill Peppers. Imagine what he could do for Khalil Mack and Jarrad Davis?
Round Five, Pick 24: Wide Reciever, Ryan Switzer, North Carolina
If the Oakland Raiders are able to get North Carolina’s Ryan Switzer this late in the draft, it would be a gift. Besides his odd friendship with pass-rusher Bruce Irvin, Switzer would fit in with the Raiders immediately. Seth Roberts is a good, but inconsistent and unreliable slot receiver, and the speedy Switzer could make a huge impact.
He’s got blinding quickness, and is a very good route runner. Despite being a smaller receiver, Switzer is very tough, fearless runner when he gets the ball in his hands, and he doesn’t drop passes often. It’s unlikely that Switzer will fall this far, but if he does, the Raiders absolutely cannot afford to pass on him.
Round Six, Pick 24: Offensive Tackle, Justin Senior, Mississippi State
There’s no way around it, the Oakland Raiders need offensive line depth. Despite having one of the best offensive lines in football, Donald Penn isn’t getting any younger, and the right tackle position is a mess. Neither Austin Howard or Menelik Watson have consistently played well for Oakland, and a replacement is needed.
However, with defense being the priority in this draft, the Raiders might wait before going after a right tackle, and since he doesn’t have to play right away, Justin Senior is a good choice. Senior is a big, mean tackle, weighing it at 6’5, 300 pounds. He plays to the whistle and beyond, and has all the tools to be a very good right tackle.
The biggest drawback is that he’s very raw. He gets lost in space sometimes, and doesn’t always adjust cleanly. There are many things he needs to work on before he sees serious starting time on Oakland’s line, but general manager Reggie McKenzie loves a good project.
Round Seven, Pick 24: Nose Tackle Josh Tupou, Colorado
Josh Tupou is another guy that could make an immediate impact for the Oakland Raiders. Tupou is 6’3 and well over 300 pounds. He’s got the right size and strength to chew up blocks inside, freeing up the likes of Mario Edwards, Khalil Mack, Aldon Smith, and Bruce Irvin. Tupou had some off-the-field issues a couple years back, and that played a big role in his draft stock plummeting.
Not to mention, nose tackles don’t always have pretty numbers. But they’re not meant to, they’re not pass rushers. Tupou could be one of two seventh round players to make an immediate impact for the Raiders.
Round Seven, Pick 26: Edge Rusher Deatrich Wise Jr., Arkansas
If Deatrich Wise Jr. is still available when Oakland’s second pick in the final round comes along, they should absolutely jump on him. Wise was receiving first round hype before a hand injury derailed his senior season. If he can be even half as effective as he was during his junior season, where he had eight sacks, he’d be a steal with the 247th pick.
Wise is huge, coming in at around 6’5 and 270 pounds, has a great motor, and could possibly make a big impact for the Raiders. Most seventh round picks don’t even make the team, so the Raiders would lose nothing by giving the big pass rusher a shot.
