Raiders 2018 7-round draft order projection offers largest draft haul in over a decade

It’s a funny thing. Last season you could easily say the Raiders didn’t let anyone go that was crucial to keep. And yet those players were swiped up by other teams and many of them earned the Raiders a compensatory draft selection. Giving them a current total projection of 11 selections in the 2018 NFL draft. That’s the most they’ve had since they drafted 11 players in the 2007 draft.

In particular it was the losses of Latavius Murray, Malcolm Smith, DJ Hayden, and Nate Allen who each are projected to earn the Raiders 6th round compensatory picks, according to Overthecap.com. Menelik Watson and Stacy McGee might have earned 5th and 5th round picks respectively, but they were offset by the acquisitions of Cordarrelle Patterson and Jared Cook. While the loss of Brynden Trawick is offset by the signing of Marshall Newhouse.

The trade to acquire Marshawn Lynch didn’t cost the Raiders a pick as far as quantity is concerned. It only slightly cost them in quality as they swapped picks, sending their 5th round pick to Seattle and receiving their 6th round pick along with Lynch.

That trade along with the comp picks gives them a whopping SIX picks in the 6th round. Not to mention their original picks in every round will be in the top ten.

Where they pick in each round will depend on a coin flip that will take place at the scouting combine in early March. Should they win the toss, they will start with the 9th overall pick. Should they lose, they will start with the 10th overall pick. They will then alternate with the 49ers in each round after that.

Here is an approximate projection of where the Raiders will pick 2018 draft.

Round 1, pick 9 (10 if lose toss)

Round 2, pick 42 (41 if lose toss)

Round 3, pick 73 (74 if lose toss)

Round 4, pick 112 (111 if lose toss)

Round 6, pick 189 (188 if lose toss)

Round 6, pick 197 (from SEA)

Round 6, pick 213 (Comp)

Round 6, pick 216 (Comp)

Round 6, pick 219 (Comp)

Round 6, pick 221 (Comp)

Round 7, pick 230 (231 if lose toss)

Having that many 6th round picks offers a lot of options to package picks and move up or in a deal for a player from another team. So it’s conceivable the Raiders may not end up with 11 picks after the completion of the draft. But that’s what they have to work with now.