We are now less than a month away from the extravaganza that is the 2019 NFL Draft. Rumors about players and teams are furiously circulating, and their intensity will only increase as the draft gets closer. With that being stated, it’s a ripe moment to focus on a few college prospects the Oakland Raiders should avoid on the evening of April 25th in Nashville.
Raiders 2019 Prospects
Wide Receiver D.K. Metcalf, Mississippi
The prototypical college product, Metcalf seems like a bust waiting to happen. He physically resembles former Cardinals first-round pick David Boston, but owns the statistics of former Vikings and Jaguars wide receiver Troy Williamson. Metcalf got injured throughout his Ole Miss career, never opened his full can of abilities and was mostly used as a deep threat in a rather simplistic scheme that relied heavily on the pass. Also, NFL scouts have to be wondering why the Rebels’ best season with Metcalf on campus was 6-6 in spite of having so much talent on their roster.
Defensive End Rashan Gary, Michigan
Production doesn’t always match the value and Gary is the perfect example. He somehow only managed a merely 10.5 career sacks for the Wolverines. That realistically puts a player of Gary’s nature later in the opening round with his attributes. To Gary’s defense, he was double and triple teamed through his entire tenure at Michigan. He was the consensus #1 recruit in the nation coming out of Paramus Catholic in 2016, and he didn’t put up the numbers that should be expected of a can’t miss prospect. Moreover, Gary chose to sit out the 2019 Peach Bowl loss to Florida, which continued the disturbing trend of likely first round pick. The potential is there, it’s just uncertain if Gary will be able to tap it.
#RashanGary is the biggest mystery in this draft to me very early in the process. He tested very well in Indy as many thought a former #1 HS prospect from Paramus Catholic should. But where is the production. Is he really a top 10 player? #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/XBIuY3tIxS
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) March 3, 2019
Edge Jachai Polite, Florida
Polite openly admitted that he “wasn’t ready mentally” for the NFL Scouting Combine and ended up running the 40-yards in a pedestrian 4.8 seconds. He then ventured on to his Pro Day, where he ran a worse 40 time than he did at the combine. He also checked in a tad overweight, not to mention that he’s already considered a DE/OLB tweener who even said that teams were “bashing” him during the interview segment of the combine. Polite comes off as a one year wonder, but his sudden burst off the snap is second to none. NFL executives will seriously question if Polite can make it as a professional at the next level.
Jachai Polite's 5.04 official 40 at pro day with slow 3-cone, poor broad jump and low bench press or going to likely drop him even more. Rare to get slower at the Pro Day than combine.
— Lance Zierlein (@LanceZierlein) March 29, 2019
Other notable college draftees with question marks include:
Running Back Rodney Anderson, Oklahoma
An all-around talented runner who was only healthy for one full season during his college career, Anderson is just an injury away from being place on Injury Reserve. Also, Anderson was also accused of rape in November of 2017, but even though the charges were later dropped, NFL teams will need to do further research on him.
Wide Receiver Preston Williams, Colorado State
Suspended by head coach Mike Bobo prior to the 2018 campaign because he plead guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge, Williams redeemed himself in the eyes of the coaches with a highly productive 2018 season though. NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein compares Williams to free agent and ex Raider Martavis Bryant.
Former Colorado State WR Preston Williams has official visits scheduled with the #Raiders and #49ers next month.
Williams earned a top-10 overall grade among wideouts in the 2019 class, catching 97-of-166 targets for 1,399 yards & 14TDs with the Rams in 2018.
— Austin Gayle (@PFF_AustinGayle) March 28, 2019
Taking a risk on one of these young man will require patience, coaching and just a little bit of luck in a league that doesn’t offer much of that anymore.
Ramble On respectfully Raider Nation!
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