Oakland Raiders Mock Draft: Taking the Next Step Towards a Super Bowl
Tre'Davious White
CB, LSU
Oakland is 26th in the NFL in passing yards allowed, and needs to find a young shutdown corner to take the pressure off the Raiders offense. While David Amerson and Sean Smith received bloated contracts in free agency, the secondary continues to suffer.
Luckily for Oakland, Smith can be released after his first season with the Raiders with no dead cap penalty to worry about. As long as Smith is off the roster by the third day of the new league year, the Raiders don’t have to pay him a $4.25 million roster bonus.
Releasing Amerson would also save the Raiders an extra $7.5 million. With Derek Carr and Khalil Mack needing to be paid, you could see both Smith and Amerson to be shown the door.
LSU is known for producing talented cornerbacks and safeties for NFL teams. Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu are just two former Tigers who have flourished at the next level.
White may not look explosive on paper with a limited number of stats, but his ability to take receivers out of the game is elite. He anticipates plays extremely well thanks to natural football instincts, keeps his eyes on the quarterback when necessary, and knows how to cover a deep pass attempt down field without drawing a pass interference call.
Sep 4, 2016; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns running back D
D'Onta Foreman
RB, Texas
Latavius Murray has been serviceable for the Raiders, but he enters free agency looking for his first monster payday. As mentioned earlier, the Raiders will need to pay their two best players very soon, and can not afford to spend money on a second-tier running back.
D’Onta Foreman looks and feels like a Raider, and could be an explosive addition to the Oakland offense. The junior rushed for over 2,000 yards and scored 15 touchdowns for the Longhorns last season, setting career-highs in nearly every statistical category.
Foreman is a bruising down-hill running back who can take off large chunks of yards for Carr. If the Raiders can get a reliable veteran to be the number two back behind Foreman, this offense could take another step towards being one of the best in the NFL.
Nov 28, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Utes defensive tackle Lowell Lotulelei (93) lines up for a play during the second half against the Colorado Buffaloes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Utah won 20-14. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Lowell Lotulelei
DT, Utah
Now back to the defense, this time focusing on the interior defensive line. Oakland is 26th in rushing defense, already allowing over 1,500 rushing yards this season. Finding a defensive tackle to plug the middle of the defensive line is another highlighted issue on the Raiders offseason to-do list.
The brother of Star Lotulelei, Lowell centered a Utes defensive line that allowed just 12 rushing touchdowns all season. He already possesses the upper body strength to throw offensive linemen like rag dolls, and can make tackles in the back field as well as any other defensive tackle in this class.
Oakland can sure up their defensive front in a division featuring Melvin Gordon, Spencer Ware, and Jaamal Charles, and make another step towards being a Super Bowl contender.
Nov 12, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans linebacker Riley Bullough (30) reacts to a play on Rutgers Scarlet Knights running back Josh Hicks (8)(not pictured) during the first half of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Riley Bullough
ILB, Michigan State
Malcolm Smith is another member of the Raiders heading towards free agency, and the Raiders should be reluctant to pay him. Pro Football Focus ranks Smith the 66th linebacker in the league, and the way the majority of the Oakland defense has played this year is a microcosm of how Smith has performed.
Riley Bullough is a do-it-all linebacker who plays sideline to sideline for Michigan State. With top-level play recognition and range on the field, Bullough could develop into a very good linebacker for the Raiders. Having a motor that never stops will serve him well in the NFL.
Dec 30, 2015; Birmingham, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers place kicker Daniel Carlson (38) kicks a field goal during the game against the Memphis Tigers at the 2015 Birmingham Bowl at Legion Field. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Daniel Carlson
K, Auburn
It’s time to officially say goodbye to former first round pick Sebastian Janikowski after 17 seasons. Due nearly $4.5 million in the final season of his contract, the Raiders can clear nearly all of Janikowski’s cap hit by releasing him this offseason.
Not only does the contract hurt Janikowski’s chances of returning to Oakland, but his performance on the field has been sub par. The 38-year-old has missed six field goals this season, and owns a field goal percentage just over 80%. He’s also missed five field goals from beyond 50 yards.
Among schools where kickers have attempted at-least 20 field goals, Auburn is eighth in the country while being led by Daniel Carlson. The Tigers kicker is 9-13 on kicks 50 yards or longer, and has never missed an extra-point attempt in his collegiate career.
There’s no need to draft a kicker in the first round again if you’re Oakland.
Nov 22, 2014; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans safety Demetrious Cox (7) reacts to a play during the 2nd half of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Demetrious Cox
FS, Michigan State
Raiders back-up free safety Nate Allen will be a free agent this offseason, and the Raiders need someone backing up Reggie Nelson.
Sticking with their trend of drafting Michigan State Spartans, the Raiders take Demetrious Cox to develop behind Nelson next season. His ball instincts as a safety are among the best when looking at the day two and three safeties. Two years ago he picked off three passes, while knocking down seven for the Big Ten champions.
With excellent range for the position, Cox can provide help as a special teams gunner who can make the necessary open field tackles needed to make the team in training camp.
Dec 31, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Houston Cougars quarterback Greg Ward Jr. (1) carries the ball to score a touchdown against the Florida State Seminoles in the second quarter in the 2015 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Greg Ward Jr.
WR/RB/QB, Houston
Oakland has a history of drafting quarterbacks and moving them to a skilled position. Similar to Terrelle Pryor coming out of Ohio State, the Raiders can move Greg Ward Jr. to either wide receiver or running back. Ward has excellent athleticism, but will not have the intangibles to play quarterback at the next level.
If the Raiders can utilize his speed on a different position on offense, another major steal could be found in the seventh round for Oakland.
Ward scored 31 rushing touchdowns over the past two seasons for Houston, leading them back into the national spotlight with rare athleticism. While his numbers dipped from his junior season, the tape out out by the Houston quarterback will get him drafted and through an NFL training camp as a rookie.
Should he turn into a reliable receiver, having Ward take the top off the defense could open up room for Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree.
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