As the Las Vegas Raiders inch closer to next month’s NFL draft, they find themselves with a major hole at right tackle. Perhaps taking one with the 17th pick would be astute.
This year’s class is a deep one as far as offensive tackles go. That’s good news for the Raiders who need a long-term replacement for Trent Brown. The Pro Bowl tackle was recently shipped back to New England this offseason. Working in their favor is the fact they could find a good tackle in the second round such as Alex Leatherwood. Nevertheless, Las Vegas needs an instant starter with their 17th pick, whether it’s a safety or a right tackle. In an attempt to gauge Raider Nation’s pulse, we asked our readers via our Twitter to weigh in on the matter.
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What should the Raiders then do at number 17?
Virginia Tech’s Christian Darrisaw and Texas’ Samuel Cosmi were the options in the poll, as they’d both be available when Las Vegas is on the clock, per mock drafts. A third option was USC’s Alijah Vera-Tucker, a worthy candidate though it’s likely he’ll be gone by then. Be that as it may, anything can happen on draft day and if Vera-Tucker drops, the Raiders should definitely pull the trigger.
Fans also gave other options that Las Vegas should consider in response to our poll. Particularly, Teven Jenkins and Spencer Brown. Those are fair responses but as one reader pointed out, if this year’s premier tackle prospect in Penei Sewell is off the board, the second round could be a better option. Regardless, the Raiders are no doubt doing their homework and after addressing their defensive line in free agency, drafting a tackle early can now be justified.
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*Top Photo: Nick Wagner/American-Statesman
Vegas can do fine just sitting at 17. Of the premier linemen, Sewell will almost surely be gone. That leaves Slater, Darrisaw, and Tucker as potentially available at 17. It’s very likely that at least 4 if not 5 QB’s will have already been taken, plus the three top WRs and Pitts at TE, and probably Surtain at CB. So if none of the linemen are available, it probably means that there is a top-flight defender available such as Paye, Parsons, Barmore, or Ojulari. If it’s Parsons or Barmore, the Raiders should just take him. For the edge guys, given the Raiders have YN + Ferrell + Maxx at backup at DE, it may be a good time to look at trading down. But I think for the most part the Raiders are in a pretty attractive position as far as their draft position as it seems likely that one of the guys who would be a great fit is going to drop to them.
There does seem to be a step down in talent after they pick, though, so if it doesn’t work out, trading down might be advisable. But there are so many unexpected things happening every draft I would be amazed if at least one of things doesn’t happen in the first round: 1) The Raiders get a great offensive lineman who can step in and start day one, or 2) A great playmaker like Parsons falls into their laps, or 3) the Raiders are offered a king’s ransom to trade down (like maybe a late-first pick plus a first next year) where they can take one of the second tier linemen this year who they probably would have taken anyway, but have two firsts next year in the bank.