National Football League

Oakland Raiders 2017 In-season Mock Draft: Week 7

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 10:53 p.m. ET

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Oct 23, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; The Oakland Raiders emerge from the tunnel led by Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) before a football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

After two years of deconstruction, the Oakland Raiders started rebuilding in 2014. They’ve drafted very well since then and one more good draft can put them over the top.

The Oakland Raiders are almost there now as they sit at 5-2 and in first place of the AFC West. I’m not sure how this season will shake out but I believe the Raiders will sneak into the playoffs. However, I do not yet see them as a Super Bowl contender yet.

For starters, this team is very young and need to taste that playoff defeat to learn what it takes. Many will point at the defense as the reason but defense won’t be a problem much longer. The secondary has already straightened out whatever the issues were.

Picking up Perry Riley as the MIKE of the defense will help against the run and tight ends. And let’s not forget that Mario Edwards Jr. and Aldon Smith are on the way provide a big boost. By the time we get to Week 12, the defense should be clicking on all cylinders.

There is a lot of talent on the Raiders roster but there are some parts the team can use. If they get them, it will take this Raiders team to the next level, making them perennial contenders. So we can’t call this draft the finishing touches to what they’ve been building.

John Ross

WR, Washington

And at the same time, Ross is the best player at No. 27 overall, where I had them. He’s the fastest player in college football and looked at as the next Brandin Cooks. He’s a slot receiver but has the speed to play outside and adds extra value as a return man.

It’s been a minute since the Raiders have had a return man that’s a threat to go to the house. Current Raiders slot receiver Seth Roberts drops the ball way too much. And he depends too much on all the attention being focused and Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper.

With his blazing speed, Ross can open things up for the two receivers and the running game. He also has better hands than Roberts and can make defenses pay for focusing Crabtree and Cooper more often. The Raiders offense can move up to No. 1 in the NFL with this pick.

Oct 15, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Nick Chubb (27) runs against Vanderbilt Commodores defensive end Jonathan Wynn (49) during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Vanderbilt defeated Georgia 17-16. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Nick Chubb

RB, Georgia

So I don’t expect the Raiders to re-sign him and there’s no potential bell-cow on the roster. But there sure is a potential bell-cow that I expect to be available in the draft next spring. Nick Chubb is a first-round talent who had injuries get in the way.

When Todd Gurley injured his knee in 2014, Chubb effectively replaced him with no drop-off. Then the next year, he got off to great start, only to sustain his own knee-injury. This year, he started the season with a 200-yard game but has since fought an ankle injury.

So as of right now, he won’t have the production to get picked in the first round next spring. But the Raiders will jump at the chance to grab him when he falls to the second round. And he will give the Raiders the physical running game they need.

Oct 8, 2016; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks wide receiver Dwayne Stanford (88) is tackled by Washington Huskies linebacker Azeem Victor (36) and linebacker Keishawn Bierria (7) during the third quarter at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

Azeem Victor

ILB, Washington

At 6’2″, 235 pounds, Victor is an extremely physical player and has no problems in coverage. The Raiders got a steal in free agency after the season started in Perry Riley. A steal in the third round to challenge for a linebacker spot would be nice.

The Raiders waited for 2015 fifth-round pick Ben Heeney to become something this year to no avail. So they shouldn’t do that with Cory James, who may or may not get there. And Malcolm Smith is a cover-backer that’s not covering well these days.

So Victor has a chance to come in and compete for a spot next to Riley in 2017. He can potentially give the Raiders two physical presence inside that can stop the run and cover. It’s been a long time since the team has had two such linebackers.

Sep 17, 2016; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks tight end Jeremy Sprinkle (83) scores a touchdown in front of Texas State Bobcats cornerback Quinn Tiggs (4) during the first half at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Jeremy Sprinkle

TE, Arkansas

That’s what Lee Smith, who’s now out for the season with the leg injury, was the starter at first. The Raiders Like Gabe Holmes too but he’s out for the season with an injury. We don’t know how they’re all going to be when they come back so bringing in competition is the answer.

And Jeremy Sprinkle is the guy that can compete with these guys for a role on the team. He is known first and foremost as a great blocker in the running game and passing game. But he possesses really impressive athleticism and is a playmaker with the ball in his hands.

He’s not projected to go higher because he hasn’t been used enough at the Arkansas. But there is a lot of raw material there that the Raiders can mold into a good tight end. He would definitely heat up the competition at the position in 2017.

Sep 19, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Tony Brown (7) recovers an onside kick in the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Rebels defeated the Tide 43-37. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Tony Brown

CB, Alabama

Hayden is a free agent at the end of this season and he won’t be a priority re-signing for the Raiders. So the Raiders would be smart to draft some speed at the position as they have very little. And if Tony Brown doesn’t give the Raiders anything else, he will give them speed.

He actually has much more than that as he is 6’0″, 205 pounds, strong and rough at the line of scrimmage. His freshman year, he looked promising as a cornerback and a track athlete. And while he’s been an All-American in track, off-the-field trouble held him back in football.

He has some football skills to go with that speed and understands pro defenses from his time at Alabama. But of course, he has some developing to do as he isn’t completely polished. The Raiders can develop him into something special over time behind Amerson and company.

Nov 21, 2015; Stillwater, OK, USA; Baylor Bears wide receiver KD Cannon (9) runs for a touchdown in the first quarter against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

K.D. Cannon

WR/KR, Baylor

They have Taiwan Jones on special teams but he’s often injured so they don’t always have him. On defense, you’ve already seen what happens to the cornerbacsk when they miss their jam. On offense, Cooper is the only receiver that scares anyone with speed.

So the Raiders drafted some speed with a blazing fast receiver and cornerback earlier in the draft. When you have a big-armed quarterback like Carr, you’re supposed to surround him with speed. Look at all the speed the New Orleans Saints surrounded Drew Brees with.

Then there’s special teams, where Jalen Richard has returned the ball well but doesn’t scare anyone. K.D. Cannon is an outstanding return man with blazing speed to take care of return duty. The Raiders can also use him as a part of the vertical game they like to use.

October 8, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver Deontay Burnett (80) runs the ball against Colorado Buffaloes defensive tackle Josh Tupou (58) and linebacker Kenneth Olugbode (31) during the first half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Josh Tapou

NT, Colorado

So it’s time to bring someone in to compete and make Williams report to camp in shape and on weight. At 6’1″, 330 pounds, Josh Tapou has the leverage and power to get under centers and move them. His leverage also helps him anchor against the double-teams he’ll face.

If Williams behaves from here on out, the Raiders can develop Tapou under him for a year or two. The Raiders need a cheaper contract at nose tackle because they can’t keep paying Williams $6.25 million. Mack and Carr while be up for new deals before too long and those are must-re-signs.

So developing this natural-leveraged, thick-bodied nose tackle would be good for the run defense. Tapou is also a pocket pusher and gets more of a rush than you would think he could get. If the Raiders develop him right, opposing teams will not run up the middle on them.

Dec 6, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders running back Jamize Olawale (49) carries the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second quarter at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Emmanuel Holder

FB, Towson

But while Olawale can run and catch a pass in the flats, he’s not much of a smash-mouth blocker himself. He blocks better than Reece but that’s not who you want in front of you on 3rd-and-1. At 5’11”, 265 pounds Emmanuel Holder is a battering ram of a run-blocker.

He also has surprisingly good hands and can catch passes out of the backfield when his number is called. With the system and identity the Raiders are still creating, the Raiders should have two fullbacks. They already got themselves a more physical running back in the first round.

So here with the conditional pick they got from the Seattle Seahawks, they pick his diamond in the rough. Holder is from tiny Towson so I couldn’t find any photos of him to put in this slide. But would be a nice addition to the Raiders for what Del Rio and Musgrave want to do.