2017 Oakland Raiders Mock Draft: Version 4.0
2017 Raiders Mock Draft
With the inferno of relocation slowly dying down, it’s time to get back to the matter at hand. With less than a month until the draft, RaiderNation turns its attention toward Philadelphia. On balance, the Raiders need to fills holes and build depth at the same time. Whether this is successful or not remains to be seen.
Round 1
Malik McDowell, DT (Michigan State): Currently, the Raiders need another defensive lineman. Irvin and Mack cannot win alone. McDowell provides the versatile punch needed to impact games and strike fear into quarterbacks. Plus, with Mack seeing double teams, McDowell singled up on a lineman is a plus.
Round 2
Ahkello Witherspoon, CB (Colorado) Sooner or later, Sean Smith will make the move either to safety or another franchise. The glaring need at corner gets filled with the addition of Witherspoon. He checks the boxes for what Del Rio and Norton like physically in corners (tall and rangy). Unlike many CB his size, Witherspoon explodes downfield with a burst and timing. For example:
Round 3
Samaje Perine, RB (Oklahoma) Normally, Reggie McKenzie would wait until later in the draft to grab a back. Yet, the need for a power back and Perine’s availability make this pick too tempting to refuse. Perine bursts between the tackles, armed with a stiff arm and low center of gravity.
AROUND COVER32
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Fan Reaction:Mark Davis and Raiders win; Oakland and the NFL’s soul loses
Round 4
Round 4Anthony Walker, MLB (Northwestern) For too long, the Raiders search for a quality inside ‘backer produced very little. From Day 1, Walker’s toughness and efficiency in short areas will allow him to see the field. In addition, his mean streak and downhill styles plays well anywhere
Round 5
John Johnson, FS (Boston College) While secondary depth continues to plague Oakland, McKenzie looks to Johnson to solve some of these problems. Reggie Nelson still plays at a decent level, but he’s lost a step or two. Johnson’s timing on his leaps is not teachable. Yet, a veteran like Nelson can instruct him on nuance. Value pick.
Round 6
Jordan Evans, LB (Oklahoma) At this point in the draft, the Raiders GM gets a bit antsy to draft a linebacker. Names like Burris, Heeney, Ball, and Valles zoom to mind. Evans is a nimble backer with the ability to either drop into a deeper coverage or shadow on the perimeter.
Round 7
Bug Howard WR (North Carolina) As Andre Holmes cashes obscenely large checks in Buffalo, he leaves avoid for a big receiver. Howards’ size and vertical presents a challenge in the red zone. Covering him with a corner is a jump ball waiting to happen. At the same time, most linebackers would trail behind him.
Jerry Ugokwe OT (William and Mary) Since Menelik Watson departed for Denver, Marshall Newhouse is the only challenger to Austin Howard. While Ugokwe is not ready to start, his size, strength, and punch gives Mike Tice enough raw material to turn into a decent right tackle.
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