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S&BP Roundtable: Mock Draft Edition

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NFL: Oakland Raiders at Arizona Cardinals Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

With draft season fully underway, the writers at S&BP have each devised a mock draft of their own. These mocks are less predictive and more of what each writer thinks the Raiders should do. Peruse through each mock draft, vote on which mock you like the best, and post your own in the comments below.

NOTE: These mock drafts are compiled using the mock draft machine at the Draft Network website.

Cyril’s Mock

@cyrilpenn4

Round 1, Pick 12: Jerry Jeudy, Alabama WR

Round 1, Pick 19: Zack Baun, Wisconsin EDGE/LB

Round 3, Pick 80: Jordyn Brooks, Texas Tech LB

Round 3, Pick 81: Troy Pride Jr., Notre Dame CB

Round 3, Pick 91: Terrell Burgess, Utah CB/S

Round 4, Pick 111: Solomon Kindley, Georgia G

Round 5, Pick 141: Lynn Bowden Jr., Kentucky WR/KR

It’s starting to feel increasingly likely that one of the top two receivers will fall to the Raiders at No. 12, and in this mock, it was Jerry Jeudy who was available for the taking. As one of the top route runners to enter the league in the last few years, drafting Jeudy would instantly shore up a huge position of need and allow the team to focus on other positions throughout the rest of this daft.

The more I’ve thought about it, the more I want the Raiders to nab Wisconsin’s Zack Baun at No. 19. Though he primarily played on the edge in college, Baun has the coverage chops to move to an off-ball linebacker role and he proved that at Senior Bowl practices. Baun can line up at MIKE in nickel situations, SAM in base situations, and even on the edge in a pass rushing role.

Drafting Jordyn Brooks to pair with Baun as the Will linebacker helps to turn a position of great need into a potential strength (especially after Will Compton is re-signed by Cyril the ghost GM to be the third LB). The difference between Kenneth Murray and Brooks is not as big as most think, and I’d prefer to have Brooks at 80 over Murray at 19.

Troy Pride Jr. was my favorite cornerback at Senior Bowl practices by far. He’s sticky in coverage and profiles to be a great zone match corner on the outside. And with his tenacious attitude, he just feels like a Raider. Utah’s Terrell Burgess is one of my favorite hidden gems of the draft. He brings a lot of versatility on the back-end with his ability to play in the slot or in single-high. He could quickly form a tandem with Johnathan Abram at safety, or allow the Raiders to move Lamarcus Joyner from the slot to his more natural safety position.

The Raiders will be looking for a new starting guard some time soon considering that father time remains undefeated and Gabe Jackson could be over the hill. Solomon Kindley fits the profile that Tom Cable looks for in a guard and could become a starter in year 2.

To cap things off, I decided to swing for the fences with a true offensive weapon in Lynn Bowden, whose stock ranges between the third and seventh round depending on who you ask. Bowden was a receiver and dynamic kick returner at Kentucky, but was moved to quarterback due to injuries and did quite well as a run-first threat behind center. Bowden would be perfect to take over for Dwayne Harris as the Raiders all-special team guy, and has potential to be more than that down the road.

Evan’s Mock

@Egroat5

Round 1, Pick 12: CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma WR

Round 1, Pick 19: Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma LB

Round 3, Pick 80: AJ Terrell, Clemson, CB

Round 3, Pick 81: Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Ryne SS

Round 3, Pick 91: Logan Stenberg, Kentucky G

Round 4, Pick 111: Jason Strowbridge, North Carolina DT/Edge

Round 5, Pick 141: Cam Brown, Penn State LB

At this point, I’m more of a Jerry Jeudy guy, but he was selected one pick ahead of the Raiders by the Jets. Am I really going to turn my nose up at a talent like Lamb? Absolutely not. Lamb immediately fills the biggest need on the roster and he’s electric with the ball is his hands. Team him up with Darren Waller, Hunter Renfrow, Tyrell Williams, Josh Jacobs and now you are cooking with gas.

There has been some difference of opinion lately of who is the No. 2 linebacker in this class after Isaiah Simmons, but I have been high on Murray for some time now and my man crush has not wavered. Murray has sideline to sideline speed, is explosive as a blitzer, and can cover ground in pass coverage. He is an alpha who oozes leadership and fits the criteria of a high character person who loves the game.

Last year Mike Mayock hit a home run with Maxx Crosby from small school Eastern Michigan. This year that guy could be Kyle Dugger who hails from Division II Lenoir-Ryne and had an impressive week at the Senior Bowl. Dugger could be used as a hybrid safety/linebacker that Paul Guenther can move around the defense.

Although Richie Incognito was signed to a two-year extension following the season, he turns 37 in July. Incognito played at a Pro Bowl level in 2019, but at some point father time will catch up to him. Stenberg describes himself as “nasty,” And scouts say Stenberg he has vice grips for hands and has a knack for finishing blocks into the turf. He is a textbook mauler in the run game. Should the Raiders decide to move on from Gabe Jackson and his hefty salary, Stenberg would have an opportunity to compete for the right guard job.

The pass rush showed some improvement last year, but it could still use some more help. Jason Strowbridge, yet another participant at the Senior Bowl, showed off his abilities as an outside rusher in Mobile. Throughout his college career Strowbridge was used more on the interior. He showed up to the Senior Bowl a few pounds lighter and coaches used him on the edge and he looked very natural there.

After wide receiver, linebacker was arguably the weakest position on the roster in 2020. Having already added Kenneth Murray in round one, Cam Brown brings versatility to the Raiders defense. At Penn State, Brown took snaps in the slot, linebacker, safety, and as a rusher off the edge. He is very good in coverage due to his speed, length, and 6-foot-5 frame.

BD’s Mock

@bdwilliams18

Round 1, Pick 12: CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma WR

Round 1, Pick 19: Zack Baun, Wisconsin EDGE/LB

Round 3, Pick 80: Denzel Mims, Baylor WR

Round 3, Pick 81: Troy Dye, Oregon LB

Round 3, Pick 91: Alohi Gilman, Notre Dame FS

Round 4, Pick 111: Chris Williamson, Minnesota CB

Round 5, Pick 141: Michael Onwenu, Michigan OG

The Raiders get two wide receivers who win on the outside. Lamb is a supremely gifted pass catcher who wins in a variety of ways; inside, outside, jump-balls, or after the catch. Mims also wins on the outside as a contested catch artist, both are tough wide receivers who catch everything and add a physical element on the perimeter.

Baun and Dye are modern NFL Linebackers. Baun is going to convert from an edge player to a stand-up linebacker so there is a bit of a projection there, but his athleticism shows up on tape. Both linebackers are 6-foot-3 plus and can run. They will help the Raiders defend tight ends and add more speed and versatility to the second level.

Gilman and Williamson are smart, technically savvy players who can provide depth on the back-end and maybe eventually start. Gilman especially can push Joyner for the starting Free Safety role if Joyner indeed is moved there this offseason.

Onwenu is a 6-foot-2 360(!!) pound right guard with great footwork. That sounds like quite the fit next to Trent Brown if he needs to play. Otherwise Onwenu becomes a depth player at a position that had a lot of turnover in 2019.

Alex’s Mock

@AlextheJ9898

Round 1, Pick 12: CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma WR

Round 1, Pick 19: Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma LB

Round 3, Pick 80: Jacob Eason, Washington QB

Round 3, Pick 81: Solomon Kindley, Georgia G

Round 3, Pick 91: Troy Dye, Oregon LB

Round 4, Pick 111: Tyler Johnson, Minnesota WR

Round 5, Pick 141: Matt Hennessy, Temple C

I’ll be that person. I used the mock draft machine at Draft Network ten times on the predicative board setting and it just doesn’t seem realistic to me. I had my choice of Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert at 12 multiple times and Kenneth Murray also fell to the Raiders’ first third round pick multiple times as well, so I’m pretty much not using this website or putting any stock into it going forward. I mean, I would love if Isaiah Simmons was there at 12 (like he was four times), but I’m not holding my breath. The more knowledgeable gentlemen in front of me talked at length, so I’ll be brief.

My goal was to draft for need, depth, and potential replacements down the line.

Murray at the Mike, Dye at the Will, Eason as the back-up and also to potentially groom. Johnson for depth, Kindley to upgrade over Jackson, and Hennessy as back-up and to groom as the replacement as well.

Conclusion

WR CeeDee Lamb was the most mocked player, going in three out of the four mocks. Linebackers Kenneth Murray, Zack Baun, and Troy Dye each went in two of mocks as well. Georgia guard Solomon Kindley also went in two mocks.

All of the writers seem to want the front office to double dip at linebacker and wide receiver. It’s a good year to need those positions in the draft, especially receiver—there will be impact players still available on the third day of the draft.

What do you think Raider Nation, which writer nailed it? Vote below.

Poll

Which Mock Draft puts the Raiders in the 2020 playoffs?

This poll is closed

  • 28%
    Cyril’s
    (424 votes)
  • 31%
    Evan’s
    (473 votes)
  • 21%
    BD’s
    (318 votes)
  • 19%
    Alex’s
    (288 votes)
1503 votes total Vote Now