2018 NFL Mock Draft: Josh Rosen, Sam Darnold lead the way
By Brad Weiss
Denzel Ward
Defensive Back, Ohio State
With first place on the line in the AFC West, the Oakland Raiders went into Kansas City to take on the Chiefs this past Sunday. Arrowhead Stadium has been a House of Horrors for Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, who has never won there in his career. Those horrors continued on Sunday, as the Silver and Black were destroyed by the Chiefs, and may have seen their playoff chances go out the window.
In April, the Raiders could be picking in the first half of the first round, which is incredible considering the expectation on this team coming into the season. Oakland is still having issues with their secondary, and they should spend another first round pick on a cornerback in 2018. Last year, the Raiders selected Gareon Conley from Ohio State in the first round, and they should pick another Buckeye in the first round next year.
That player should be Denzel Ward, who is regarded as the second-best cornerback in this draft class behind Minkah Fitzpatrick of Alabama. Ward has tremendous cover skills, and the Raiders have not had a shutdown cornerback in many years. He would instantly upgrade a young secondary in Oakland, and possibly finally give them the kind of player they can put on an island against the best wide receiver the other team has.