Mock ups of the NFL draft’s first round are quite common. Did one last year, and again on Tuesday. Delving farther than that can verge on draft obsession.
I’m not going to assemble all seven rounds in this space, but we’ll take a shot at each of the Raiders' draft picks.
General manager Reggie McKenzie has a selection in all seven rounds.
McKenzie wouldn’t address his team’s needs, or anything else for that matter, during his league-mandated press conference. We’ve got a pretty good idea of how to prioritize and address them with the selections below.
Before we get going, some ground rules:
-- No far reaching. We’re sticking to round projections, and using my first-round mock draft to narrow second-round options.
-- Odds are McKenzie will make a trade a some point in this three-day selection process, but we’ll stick with the draft order as originally mapped.
-- If I get more right than Matt Maiocco does in his 49ers seven-round mock, somebody owes me lunch.
All right, friends. Predicted selections for all seven Raiders draft picks. Here we go:
First round (No. 4): DL Leonard Williams, USC
The Raiders will be thrilled when Williams is on the board at No. 4 overall, thanks to a combination of Marcus Mariota buzz and Dante Fowler Jr. being a better fit in Jacksonville. The Raiders want to turn their defense into a bully, and Williams will help in that regard. He’s a tenacious defender with great hands and tremendous power. The scary part: He’s still considered raw in some aspects and has room to improve. Williams is not without question marks, but he’s a strong, safe bet at No. 4 overall. He grew up a Raiders fan, and the Silver and Black will be happy to make him part of the immediate family.
Second round (No. 35): WR Jaelen Strong, Arizona State
Receivers went early and often in my first-round mock draft, including several I’m sure the Raiders would covet if they fell, USC’s Nelson Algohor chief among them. The Raiders find some receiver help in Strong, a physically imposing presence (6-foot-2, 217 pounds) who is explosive and aggressive securing passes. There’s room for development, but he’s a hard worker who could improve in time.
Third round (No. 68): CB Quinten Rollins, Miami (Ohio)
Rollins only has a year of football experience since high school – he was a basketball player in college – but has all the tools you look for in a cover corner. While he needs some help technically, Rollins has solid instincts, can press and has the speed to close once the ball is in the air. He might not be ready right away, but the Raiders could use secondary depth. He’d be good in that role until he develops. He’s also projected by some as a safety, where the Raiders need a long-term answer. Rollins gives the Raiders options, especially if their current cornerback crop stays healthy and plays well.
Fourth round (No. 102): OG John Miller, Louisville
South Carolina’s A.J. Cann – maybe a perfect fit for the team’s scheme -- will be gone before the Raiders pick in the third round, so they hold off and still find a guard with some starter’s potential in the fourth. He isn’t as big as LG Gabe Jackson at 6-foot-2, 303 pounds, but he’s a four-year starter with tremendous strength and some nastiness. He’s character-plus. He can pull if necessary and could survive early on in a starting role, especially with help from veteran center Rodney Hudson.
Fifth round (No. 140): TE Tyler Kroft, Rutgers
The former high school receiver switched positions in college, so he has natural pass-catching instincts. That said, he’s a willing blocker who can help in the run game or move outside as a receiver. He projects well if he can add some bulk to his 6-foot, 5-inch frame. He was a first-team All-American in 2013, but his production waned last year when he became more of a blocker. That may help him slip to a spot where the Raiders can find great value.
Sixth round (No. 179): RB Malcolm Brown, Texas
The Raiders aren’t sure if the Trent Richardson experiment will work, and they could use a physical young runner who fits with their power-based rushing scheme. Brown is tough to handle a 5-foot-11, 224 pounds, and is an effort runner who follows blocks well and could work well in short-yardage situations. He could be a solid complimentary back.
Seventh round (No. 221): DE Corey Crawford, Clemson
Crawford has many of the physical tools required to be a solid pass rusher, but needs some coaching to figure it all out. The Raiders use a late pick in hopes that he can develop Crawford into a solid NFL defensive lineman.
