Finally, after months of waiting, draft day is upon us. Tonight, the 2017 NFL draft kicks off and 32 prospects will hear their name called by the commissioner. The Oakland Raiders made a couple of decent moves in free agency, and now they’re set to draft the best player available. Who should the Oakland Raiders target in round one?
Players the Oakland Raiders Should Target in Round One
Linebacker Zach Cunningham
One of the trendiest picks for the Raiders is linebacker Zach Cunningham from Vanderbilt. The 6’3 backer is considered one of the best coverage linebackers in this year’s draft and should be available when the silver and black pick at number 24. If the season started right now, Ben Heeney would be Oakland’s starter inside, and anyone that watched Heeney play last year knows that would be a very bad idea.
Offensive Tackle Ryan Ramczyk
Before anyone else says it, it’s true, it’s unlikely that Ryan Ramczyk will be available when the Raiders pick at 24. He’s arguably the best offensive lineman in this year’s class, and Reggie McKenzie cares about the value of draft picks far too much to trade up for him. However, if by some miracle he falls to 24, the Raiders cannot afford to pass on him.
The Oakland Raiders have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL with one exception. The right tackle position is a mess. Austin Howard has proven that he’s not a viable starter, and Marshall Newhouse struggled as a starter for the New York Giants. Vadal Alexander and Denver Kirkland may end up winning the job, but even then, Donald Penn isn’t getting any younger.
Linebacker Jarrad Davis
Assuming that Jarrad Davis falls past teams like the New York Giants, he’ll probably be Oakland’s pick. Much like Cunningham, Davis is a good cover linebacker, using exceptional athleticism to track down ball-carries and receivers alike.
Not to mention, Davis has the leadership that the Raiders covet. Instead of taking time off, he chose to play through his injuries last year for Florida. He’s exceptionally versatile and surprisingly athletic. The only real downside is that he is a little undersized, and has a history with injuries. It’ll be interesting to see if McKenzie overlooks that.
Corner Kevin King
Corner is a strange position for the silver and black. On one hand, David Amerson and Sean Smith are perfectly capable starters when being utilized correctly. On the other, the Raiders had one of the worst pass defenses in football last year. This is a deep corner draft, but the Raiders need all the defensive help they can get. It’s a tough spot for Oakland to be in.
However, if they are going to take a corner in the first, it should absolutely be Kevin King. Not only is the corner from Oakland, but he’s got the size and speed that the Raiders desire at the position. He’s still a little raw, and could benefit from playing slot corner for a couple of seasons.
