Here’s the Raiders’ 12 picks from a mock draft simulator
There has been a great deal of focus about what the Raiders will do with the No. 7 pick in Thursday’s first round of the NFL draft.
But the rest of the draft will be equally important in terms of shaping the direction of the franchise.
General manager Dave Ziegler is armed with 12 picks in the seven-round draft, giving him the opportunity to stockpile players or use the selections to target specific prospects who should be available at certain points.
“I want to get 12 contributing players,” Ziegler said last week. ”And we’ll work up until the day of the draft (to evaluate prospects and options).”
With that in mind, here’s a look at one way the seven rounds could play out for the Raiders For this exercise, the Pro Football Focus mock draft simulator was utilized with the other 31 franchises simulated.
This is who the Review-Journal selected with each pick for the Raiders, with no trades:
Round 1, Pick 7
Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
Analysis: Three quarterbacks are off the board, with just Will Levis available among the top four prospects at the position. Defensive stars Will Anderson, Jalen Carter and Tyree Wilson were also gone. Levis could be an option for the Raiders, but Witherspoon is the best player at a premier position and would be a welcome infusion to a defense desperate for playmakers.
Round 2, Pick 38
Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee
Analysis: This probably wouldn’t be a difficult choice. While it’s unlikely Hooker would be on the board here, the draft can be unpredictable. Interior offensive lineman O’Cyrus Torrence is still on the board and is given strong consideration, but Hooker proved too tempting.
Round 3, Pick 70
Nick Herbig, Edge, Wisconsin
Analysis: It’s back to the defensive side, and the Raiders add more depth to the edge with an incredibly productive player from the Big Ten. Herbig projects as more of an outside linebacker in the NFL after excelling as a pass rusher in college, which might be why he’s still on the board. He’s exceptional at shedding blocks and getting to the ball. The Raiders could use more of those types of players even if he’s not a great positional fit.
Round 3, Pick 100
Jammie Robinson, S, Florida State
Analysis: He’s an exceptional tackler who has experience at the highest levels of college football as a starter at South Carolina and Florida State. He needs to add strength, but is a smooth athlete who can do a little bit of everything required in the secondary.
Round 4, Pick 109
Kobie Turner, DT, Wake Forest
Analysis: He’s undersized and can get pushed around, but his trajectory is intriguing. Turner went from being unrecruited to a legitimate force in the Atlantic Coast Conference and a standout at the Shrine Bowl.
Round 5, Pick 141
Olusegun Oluwatimi, C, Michigan
Analysis: The Raiders bolster the interior of the offensive line with the player who anchored the best line in the nation for the Wolverines. He has relied on his intelligence and understanding of concepts to cover deficiencies as a run blocker, which might not be as sound a strategy at the next level. There is plenty of potential, though.
Round 5, Pick 144
Jose Ramirez, Edge, Eastern Michigan
Analysis: One of the things Ziegler talked about was how much input he has received from people around the team facility lobbying for their guys. Nate Hobbs has been an advocate for Witherspoon, and there perhaps has been no more vocal supporter for Ramirez than Maxx Crosby. That endorsement might be enough for Ramirez to get his shot with the Raiders.
Round 5, Pick 174
Jaxson Kirkland, G, Washington
Analysis: Ziegler also preached versatility, and Kirkland brings it. He has played both guard spots and left tackle at a high level in college, which shows his ability to adapt to what his team needs. He needs to add strength to deal with power rushers and could improve at finishing his blocks.
Round 5, Pick 204
Troy Brown, LB, Mississippi
Analysis: Anytime players are being selected this deep, there are going to be questions about them as a prospect. For Brown, many of those questions surround his top-end speed. His tape, however, shows a player with tremendous instincts who can quickly identify a play and get where he needs to go to make a stop.
Round 6, Pick 214
Will Mallory, TE, Miami
Analysis: This is a deep tight end class, and the Raiders could be in the market at the position with an eye toward the future. Should they not take one of the top five players, Mallory could be an option later. He’s pretty much strictly a pass catcher at this point with great speed and ball skills to turn short routes into big gains. He needs a lot of help as a blocker.
Round 7, Pick 220
Jonah Tavai, DT, San Diego State
Analysis: Few flaws showed up against Mountain West competition, but there might be questions about his explosiveness off the line. He’s strong and has the ability to take over the line of scrimmage.
Round 7, Pick 231
Darrell Luter Jr., CB, South Alabama
Analysis: He has shown excellent ability in press and off coverage. Where he truly excels is with his ball skills. He consistently attacks the ball at its highest point and his hands often find the ball before the receiver can get there. Ziegler said he likes corners who can tackle, an area at which Luter needs to improve.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on Twitter.