Pro Football Focus ‘not a prediction’ mock draft presents option for Raiders at 10 most think is not possible

There’s an interesting disclaimer in Pro Football Focus’s mock draft that may go unnoticed by those who are expecting a mock draft to be a prediction as to what each team will select.

As always, these picks are not a prediction, but what I would do as general manager of each team.

That disclaimer from Steve Palazzolo is in italics, tucked between the opening paragraph and the start of the mock draft itself. And it basically suggests these are not really mock drafts at all, but recommendations based on PFF’s grades as to whom Palazzolo thinks the NFL teams should select based on who is on the board.

With that in mind, it gets a little bit wacky when compared to most other mock drafts out there. That’s not to say it’s wrong, because, lord knows, most mock drafts are wildly inaccurate. This suggestion mock has just as much of a chance to be right as any of them. But it also means along with some players going much higher than they are on other mocks, other players are falling to positions perhaps no other mock predictions have them falling.

Since the Raiders have the tenth overall pick, let’s just go through the top ten picks up to the Raiders.

1. Browns - Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
2. Giants - Sam Darnold, QB, USC
3. Colts - Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan
4. Browns - Derwin James, S, Florida State
5. Broncos - Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
6. Jets - Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
7. Buccaneers - Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
8. Bears - Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa
9. 49ers - Harold Landry, DE, Boston College
10. Raiders - Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State

Wait, what?? Bradley Chubb? The consensus best pass rusher in this draft? Available at 10 overall? AFTER another pass rusher? Explain, Steve.

The Raiders are still looking for a viable threat opposite Khalil Mack and Chubb offers a three-down option on the edge. He’s outstanding in the run game, where he rarely loses and finished second in the draft class with a run-stop percentage of 11.0. Chubb has continued to improve as a pass-rusher, where he has the burst to challenge tackles and pairs that with the power and hand usage to win off the edge.

Well, yeah, all that is true. But how in the world he manages to fall this far is a mystery.

But, hey, if you think that’s crazy, he had running back SaQuon Barkley available at 10 overall in his last mock draft. The consensus best player in this draft at any position goes at 7 overall in this mock. I guess he just really wants the Raiders to have some great talent on the board to choose from.