It’s been NFL mock draft season for months. And with so many people at home because of the pandemic, there have been even more mock drafts this year than usual. Consistently, the mock drafts have the Las Vegas Raiders taking a wide receiver with the 12th overall pick. It’s the right pick. It’s the smart pick. A number one wide receiver is the Raiders biggest need. But what if the consensus top three receivers (CeeDee Lamb, Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs) are gone by the time the Raiders are on the clock? PFF has all three wide receivers rated inside their top 11. Both the Jacksonville Jaguars at nine and the New York Jets at eleven could take a wide receiver. It’s also been reported that the Denver Broncos are looking to leapfrog the Raiders for one of the top receivers. Below are the most likely Oakland Raiders draft scenarios if the top wide receivers are off the board.
Oakland Raiders Draft Scenarios If Wide Receivers Are off the Board
Take the Top Defensive Player
The Raiders defense has been a disappointment for a long time. The team could use more defensive talent at all three levels. If all three receivers are gone by 12, at least two of the top five defensive players would likely be available. Both Chase Young and Jeffrey Okudah can be removed from the list as they’ll likely be long gone. Isaiah Simmons also feels like a stretch but in this scenario he’d be available. That leaves Derrick Brown, Javon Kinlaw, and the aforementioned Simmons as probable contenders for the Las Vegas Raiders first pick in 2020.
Trade Back
If Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock miss out on the top three receivers, the smart choice might be to trade back if the opportunity is there. The 2020 draft is loaded with wide receivers. While there might be a drop off after the top-tier guys, there will be starter level talent still available in the third round. It’s worth noting, the team also does not have a second round draft pick after including it in the Khalil Mack trade. If the team can’t land Jeudy, Lamb, or Ruggs, trading back and potentially picking up a second round pick would be a wise move.
Take a Quarterback
This is probably the least likely scenario, but it cannot be completely dismissed. It doesn’t appear that the team is immediately ready to move on from Derek Carr. But what if Tua Tagovailoa were to fall because of his hip injury? While it still seems unlikely that Tagovailoa would be available at 12, there is some smoke there. It is well known that Gruden doesn’t draft quarterbacks early but this might be too good of an opportunity to pass up. Tagovailoa was previously a contender for the top pick and it’s been reported that his checkups have gone well. He’s a risky pick but a player that Gruden and Mayock never thought they’d have a chance at drafting with the 12th overall pick.
Last Word
What the Raiders would do if the top wide receivers are all off the board likely depends on who is still available. Simmons and Brown seem like no brainers, but it’s been reported that the team isn’t as high on Kinlaw. If the top-tier wide receivers and Simmons and Brown are off the board, the Raiders trading back and adding picks would make the most sense.
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