All mock scenarios aside, the Las Vegas Raiders will do as they please in a few weeks at the NFL draft. Fans should prepare themselves for the worst, in fact, here are three scenarios that will make them regurgitate if they actually happen.
You would think this year’s first-round pick should be a no-brainer for the Raiders’ brain trust. They should get either a right tackle to fill Trent Brown’s shoes or an upper echelon pass rusher. Nevertheless, all you have to do is look at the previous three drafts and realize how unpredictable the team is. Kolton Miller turned out to be a cornerstone player but a large sect of Raider Nation was pleading their team to take Derwin James. Clelin Ferrell has become a solid run-stopper but far from his projection as a foundational pass rusher. Any fan that tells you they were happy with Damon Arnette’s selection is lying to your face, it was called a ‘reach’ at best and so far, the naysayers are right.
All of the aforementioned players are in the team’s long-term plans so if anything, the team stands by its selections. This year’s first-round selection will have to contribute out of the gate, whether they play offense or defense. However, taking any of these three players could make Raider Nation punch their TV.
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And with the 17th pick, the Las Vegas Raiders select…
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Alijah Vera-Tucker, OL, USC
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Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida
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Najee Harris, RB, Alabama
First off, let’s make this clear, all three players are talented and have the potential to be good NFL players. Rather, the fact that the Raiders could draft any of the three will infuriate fans knowing that none of them are ‘needs’ from a conventional point of view. The Raiders need a right tackle but Vera-Tucker’s classified as more of a swing offensive lineman, not a prototypical right tackle if you will. He played well as USC’s left tackle so naturally, he could make the transition but it might take time, the Raiders need an instant surefire starter.
The wide receiver debate has created some tension on social media within Raider Nation. Most feel that there’s absolutely no need for one to be taken anywhere in this draft, much less the first. However, Toney is one of the best overall prospects in this draft regardless of position. Last year, the Florida product accumulated 70 receptions, totaling 984 receiving yards in the process and finding the endzone once. If Toney or any receiver for that matter gets his name called, fans will have a collective meltdown.
A running back? really?
If taking Toney will cause a meltdown, selecting Harris will cause World War III among Raider Nation on social media. The six-foot-two 230 pound running back has all the tools to become a special NFL player. Pro Football Focus graded Harris 89.8 overall with a 90.1 run grade along with 81.6 in the receiving department. A threat as both a runner and a receiver, the Alabama standout could help revolutionize the Raiders’ offense. Be that as it may, that backfield’s now very crowded with Josh Jacobs and Kenyan Drake. Certainly not a position that needs help but one that would get taken another level with Harris though the question would become if there are enough snaps for everyone.
While all three scenarios are unlikely, these are the Raiders we’re talking about. Expect the unexpected with Gruden and Mike Mayock on draft day and you won’t be disappointed.
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*Top Photo: David Zalubowski/Associated Press
Tucker would be fine. I don’t think people realize how tenuous the Raider’s situation at guard actually is. Denzelle Good is a career backup, and did not play well last year. Richie Incognito will be 38 and coming off an Achilles injury that often ends the careers of much younger guys. And Simpson is a second year player coming off a rookie year where he did not play well. And despite being a thousand yard rusher, Jacobs averaged less than four yards per carry last season and the Raiders were often stuffed in short yardage situations. And this is a very deep year for tackles, so right tackle can be addressed in the second or third round. I completely agree about the other two situations, though.
Mario Tovar, who are you to assume you speak for Raider Nation? Your opinions and the opinions of the other writers on this site are a joke, with absolutely no basis in reality. You just listen to random sports talking heads, that have very little if any more knowledge than you do. Who told you that Ferrell, and Arnette were reaches? Oh yeah, that’s right, the draft “experts” that previously used Mayock’s (you know the Raiders’ GM) draft analysis as the basis of their own. Now, suddenly they know more than Mayock? Please… Ferrell has played at a top 15 level, for most of his two year career so far, while playing out of position as a DT. Do you realize how stupid it is to expect defensive end sack numbers from a guy playing inside? Out of position at that… Arnette played okay for a rookie with virtually no offseason trying to learn one of the hardest positions to translate from college to pro. By your logic, the Raiders should have never kept Tim Brown, they should have never signed Gannon, traded for Plunkett, or hell even made Madden, or Gruden the head coach, because none of those moves made “sense” according to YOUR logic…. How about you write something other than projecting your ignorant opinion as if you speak for Raider Nation, because you don’t, at least not the ones with a brain…
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Your guys articles are terrible. Do us all a favor and pick a new team to cover
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Mario Tovar, I love how I articulated my opinion with actual facts, unlike you. Yet all you responded with was emoticons, that’s very telling… You and the other “journalists” on this site are a joke, you only care about stirring the pot. You don’t care about responsible journalism with real sources, and facts, you just use regurgitated crap peddled by other pot stirring people like Josh Dubow. The fact you act like you speak for Raider Nation, because some hack website gave you somewhere to post your ignorant opinions, is laughable at best…. Do better, or go find another team to constantly trash, because Raider Nation deserves better…
In years past Raiders took in first round: a CB with heart condition, and S coming off knee surgery, a DE (4th) from a completely stacked DL, a CB who was in the news weeks before the draft, and last year (another) CB with character concerns who didnt even have a second round grade. Raiders are now located in “Sin City”, and the world is coming off a year long lockdown. The Raiders FO better do a deep dive into all their drafts/FA’s (trent brown) social media. Make sure these guys flush with new cash, in Vegas, can handle the distractions. TMZ will be waiting. Can we go for a Healthy, play maker, more interested in football than twitter, has no character concerns, and is someone we have all heard of, for our first pick? Maybe too much to ask for.