Las Vegas Raiders

2017 NFL Draft: Oakland Raiders Early Seven-Round Mock

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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While they may be looking like a legitimate playoff team in 2016, it’s not too early to mock what the Oakland Raiders could do during the 2017 NFL Draft.

It may seem silly, but you better believe the Oakland Raiders are already thinking about the 2017 NFL Draft. While they’re sitting pretty at 4-1 to start the year, they’re scouting department is busy preparing to put together another impressive haul next April.

So instead of sleeping on it, why not take a look at some potential draft targets for the Silver and Black?

While the impressive start is great and all, there are glaring holes that have shown themselves early in 2016. If the Raiders plan on being competitive beyond this season, addressing some of those issues this offseason would be wise. The draft is obviously a great way to achieve said task.

At this moment, the Raiders own all seven of their original picks, and none else. While that could change in a heartbeat, those are the picks I’ll be focusing on with this Raiders-centered mock draft for the upcoming 2017 NFL Draft.

So here it is—my early seven-round Raiders mock draft as we roll through October.

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Round 1: Florida State, OT — Roderick Johnson

There’s no denying the Raiders have an exceptional offensive line, especially after this offseason’s additions. However, as we’ve seen in 2016, there’s still more work to be done.

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While there are other positions of more significant need, protecting Derek Carr should be Oakland’s top priority next offseason. That’s why targeting a player like Roderick Johnson in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft makes sense.

First and foremost, the Raiders need to get younger and healthier at offensive tackle. They have Donald Penn, a 33-year-old, starting on the left side. As for the right side, the duo of Austin Howard and Menelik Watson can’t seem to stay healthy. An influx of young, reliable talent is definitely needed.

It doesn’t help that Watson, Matt McCants are both scheduled to hit free agency in 2017.

Johnson is one of the top offensive linemen eligible for the upcoming draft, and could be available when the Raiders pick—which I’m guessing will be in the mid- to late-20s. The current Seminole would bring experience on the blindside, excellent upside and terrific athleticism to the Oakland front five.

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Round 2: Northwestern, ILB — Anthony Walker Jr.

Right now, the Raiders need a lot of help at linebacker. Most assumed Ben Heeney would star at middle linebacker, but that didn’t pan out as he was benched before eventually landing on IR. The addition of Perry Riley Jr. has helped, but it’s no long-term solution.

Drafting Anthony Walker Jr. in the second round would be, though.

The Northwestern star has flown a bit under the radar, but folks are starting to take notice. He led the Wildcats in tackles last year with 122, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors in the process. Despite coming from a program not known for producing NFL talent, Walker is earning serious consideration as an early-round talent.

I’m confident he’d help fix the Raiders’ issues among their linebacking corps. He’s an athletic, instinctive playmaker who flies to the football. Walker excels against the run, using impressive agility and technique to ward off blockers before taking down runners with authority.

Despite all of this praise, Walker is still a work in progress. He’s limited as a pass rusher, and needs more polish in coverage. However, if the Raiders are serious about upgrading at middle linebacker, he’d be an excellent Day-2 addition.

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Round 3: Virginia Tech, CB — Brandon Facyson

I know some Raiders fans are going to lose their marbles over this one, but just hear me out. As good as the duo of Sean Smith and David Amerson is, Oakland still needs a lot of help in the secondary.

The depth at cornerback is pitiful, with D.J. Hayden continuing to underwhelm in a contract year. T.J. Carrie has also struggled early in 2016, which seems to fall in line with what we saw from him a season ago. More talent behind the starters is needed, which is where a player like Brandon Facyson could come into the picture.

There are varying opinions on the Virginia Tech sensation, as some have him going as high as the early second round. However, I believe this loaded cornerback class could dilute his value a bit, allowing him to fall to the Raiders in the third in this hypothetical situation.

If this were the case, Oakland would be getting a young cornerback with the potential to develop into an excellent asset in man-to-man coverage. He’s flashed serious skills early in 2016, and could really give his draft stock a boost if he keeps pace through the end of the year.

There’s a reason the Raiders currently have the worst pass defense in the league. You need more than two quality cornerbacks in today’s pass-happy NFL, and Facyson would provide Oakland with a legitimate No. 3.

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Round 4: Alabama, DT — Da’Shawn Hand

To the surprise of many, the Raiders interior defenders have played miserably in 2016. According to Pro Football Focus, Dan Williams, Justin Ellis and Jihad Ward have all had terrible campaigns, with only Stacy McGee earning quality marks.

So how do you fix that problem? How about draft a former No. 1 overall recruit?

While it’s obvious Da’Shawn Hand hasn’t lived up to the hype during his time at Alabama, there’s still plenty to like about the defensive tackle prospect. He’s got the power and athleticism to collapse the pocket in the NFL—he just needs the opportunity.

Hand has spent much of his time with the Crimson Tide as a backup. He’s flashed NFL-caliber talent, but has been stifled by Alabama’s overwhelming amount of talent, especially on defense. Despite that fact, it’s easy to see why NFL scouts will be eager to see what he can do at the next level.

The Oakland defense needs a lot of help based on what we’ve seen in 2016. Nabbing Hand in the middle rounds would be a big step towards quelling that concern in 2017—if he even lasts that long.

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Round 5: Pittsburgh, OLB — Ejuan Price

The addition of Hand was a great start, but the Raiders still need help up front based on what we’ve seen from the defense in 2016. They can’t get any sort of pass rush, as no one is making enough of an impact to pull the double teams away from Khalil Mack.

A solid way to address the issue would be to add a high-upside edge rusher like Ejuan Price to the mix.

The Pitt star hasn’t gotten a lot of attention from NFL scouts, largely due to his lack of size at 5-11, 255 pounds. However, it’s difficult to deny he’s more than capable of pressuring the quarterback on a consistent basis. Just ask the 11.5 sacks and first-team All-ACC honors he earned a year ago.

He will need to improve as a run defender at the next level, but Price absolutely has the tools to be a pass-rushing specialist early in his NFL career. I’m sure Louisville’s Kyle Bolin and Lamar Jackson can attest to that, as they were sacked a combined five times by Price in 2015.

It’s simple—the Raiders need more capable pass rushers. Price will slide due to his size, but he’d bring plenty of value to the table for a fifth-round pick.

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Round 6: North Carolina, WR — Mack Hollins

Let’s be honest, Mack Hollins could end up coming off the board much earlier than this. He’s an exciting prospect with the size/speed combo that can make any NFL scout drool. Unfortunately, injuries and a loaded offense have kept him from truly emerging as a star.

However, if you watch the tape, it’s easy to see why this North Carolina wide receiver belongs in the league.

Hollins possesses excellent size at 6-4, 210 pounds, but also boasts blazing speed to run right by opposing cornerbacks. It’s part of why he managed over 24 yards per catch last season for the Tar Heels. To top it all off, he’s an outstanding special teams player who is more than willing to get down and dirty to help his team win.

While the Raiders already have two sensational starting receivers in Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree, the depth is somewhat thin at the position. With Andre Holmes set to be a free agent next offseason, it might be in the team’s best interests to add a high-upside talent like Hollins to the mix. If he’s still available in the sixth round, Hollins would have to be a consideration for the Raiders.

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Round 7: Oregon, TE — Pharaoh Brown

At one point in his career, Pharaoh Brown was considered one of the top tight end prospects in college football. And then, a devastating non-contact knee injury in 2014 plummeted his draft stock and put him on a lengthy road to recovery.

Now he’s back making plays for the Ducks despite the gruesome injury. Unfortunately, his history will likely make teams hesitant to call his name during the 2017 NFL Draft. That, however, could work out in the favor of a team like the Raiders.

It’s no secret Oakland hasn’t gotten the production they were hoping for from their group of tight ends. Lee Smith suffered a leg injury that landed him on IR, Clive Walford can’t seem to stay healthy, and we all know about Mychal Rivera’s limitations. So why not take a flier on a once-promising prospect?

Again, the health concerns aren’t to be understated. Brown is a high-risk prospect based on the severity of his injury, especially considering knee issues tend to linger. However, if he can get healthy and stay there, he has the talent to develop into a starter for the Raiders.

The seventh round is meant for rolling the dice. Based on what we’ve seen from Brown in the past, he’s well worth the risk at this point in the draft.

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