Silver Minings: Raiders draft Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah in Todd McShay’s mock draft

There are hundreds of mock drafts every week, but only a handful grab the attention of football fans everywhere. ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay is one of the few. He dropped his latest 2021 NFL mock draft on ESPN+ the other day, and he had the Raiders picking up a defensive stud.

He had them taking linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah from Notre Dame. During his time at Notre Dame, he racked up 142 tackles with 24.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks with seven pass breakups and five forced fumbles.

Here’s what McShay had to say about the fit between the Raiders and Owusu-Koramoah.

The Raiders’ defense allowed 389.1 yards per game last season, the eighth most in the NFL. They managed all of 21 sacks and were gutted for 4.6 yards allowed per carry. They need pass-rushers, linemen, defensive backs and linebackers, and while Owusu-Koramoah will play only one position, he can impact multiple facets of the game. Look for him in the overhang role, dropping in coverage or rushing the QB. He has speed, instincts, suddenness and plenty of strength.

Paul Gutierrez on his fit with the Raiders: Owusu-Koramoah is the dynamic second-level defender that Las Vegas has been lacking. New defensive coordinator Gus Bradley will find a way to use his versatility in his 4-3 base scheme alongside Nick Kwiatkoski and Cory Littleton, even if Littleton and Owusu-Koramoah are both Will linebackers. It’s a good problem for Bradley to have.

In other Raiders’ links:

• For Jon Gruden and the Raiders, the playoffs are a must in 2021.
• Will Gus Bradley solve defense’s problems?
• A look at the Raiders’ salary cap situation heading into 2021.
• Raiders predicament in possible Russell Wilson trade revealed.