Night one is over. Night two is where drafts are won. After a first round full of surprises from other NFL teams—some welcome, some head-scratching—the Silver and Black now hold the 36th pick with a loaded board still in front of them. Here are the top targets the Las Vegas Raiders should have circled.
We’ll start at the top.
Who should the Raiders target?
1. Jermod McCoy, Cornerback, Tennessee
Injury history is the only reasonable explanation for McCoy still being on the board. It certainly was not a question of talent. Assuming the medicals are not significantly worse than what is already known, and assuming he makes it to 36, this could be the best pick the Raiders make all draft. Cornerback may not appear to be a pressing need on paper, but Eric Stokes offers only so much upside and Darien Porter has yet to truly establish himself at the NFL level. McCoy has the ability to push one or both of them for a starting job from Day 1.
2. Kayden McDonald, Defensive Tackle, Ohio State
This pick has appeared in Raiders mock drafts more times than can be counted, and it is easy to see why. The fact that McDonald has fallen this far feels almost too good to be true. He is a natural fit for what Las Vegas is missing in the middle of its front seven, a space-eater against the run and a pocket pusher against the pass. McDonald also offers the versatility to line up anywhere from nose tackle to three-technique. The Raiders just have to hope he is still there at 36.
3. Denzel Boston, Wide Receiver, Washington
Ja’Lynn Polk was another player many expected to hear his name called on Day 1. If Boston continues to fall, the former Washington Husky is exactly what the Raiders are missing at wide receiver. Boston is a true X receiver who can win contested catches both down the field and in the red zone. Landing him in the second round would be a pleasant surprise.
4. TJ Parker, EDGE, Clemson
Had you told me last summer that T.J. Parker would still be available in the second round, I would not have believed it. Even now, it is hard to wrap your head around. Parker is too good a player to keep sliding, and at some point a team is going to pounce. For the Raiders, that opportunity is right in front of them. Even with a respectable edge rusher room already in place, Parker is the kind of talent that makes your roster better the moment he arrives.
5. Colton Hood, Cornerback, Tennessee
Should McCoy come off the board before the Raiders are on the clock, Colton Hood offers an intriguing fallback option. Hood’s college teammate at Tennessee, he stepped into the top cornerback role after McCoy’s injury this season and handled the transition well. He may not carry the same ceiling, but Hood would bring legitimate competition to a cornerback room that currently includes Porter and Stokes.
Holding the fourth pick of the second round works in Las Vegas’s favor. At minimum, two of these prospects should still be on the board, and with a third-round pick to follow, the Raiders have more than one opportunity to add impact talent. An updated best-available board, with selected players noted, can be found here. Tonight has the makings of a good one.
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*Top Photo: Las Vegas Review-Journal/YouTube