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2018 NFL mock draft: Saquon Barkley heads to Giants

By Brad Weiss

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Running back Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs the football 92 yards to score a touchdown against the Washington Huskies during the first half of the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Running back Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs the football 92 yards to score a touchdown against the Washington Huskies during the first half of the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /
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SOUTH BEND, IN – SEPTEMBER 09: Roquan Smith #3 of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts during a game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on September 9, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. Georgia won 20-19. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN – SEPTEMBER 09: Roquan Smith #3 of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts during a game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on September 9, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. Georgia won 20-19. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Linebacker. Georgia. Roquan Smith. 10. player. 28.

The Oakland Raiders struggled mightily in 2017, as they never quite recaptured the magic of the 2016 season. However, they have a new sheriff in town, albeit a familiar face, as the team hired Jon Gruden to run the show moving forward. Former head coach Jack Del Rio did a nice job getting the organization pointed in the right direction, and the hope is that Gruden can take them over the finish line.

In order for the Raiders to do well in 2018, two big things need to happen. The first is that Derek Carr needs to return to the player he was in 2016, when he was leading the Raiders to so many late-game winning drives. The second is the defense needs to be a lot better, and it really starts in the middle of the unit.

Drafting a player like Roquan Smith from Georgia would give the Raiders the inside linebacker they have been missing for quite some time. Khalil Mack may be the best defensive player in football, but he cannot do it on his own. Smith would give the Raiders another legitimate young star in the middle of the defense, making this unit formidable against the run, and the pass. Oakland could go corner at No. 10, but Smith makes a lot of sense on many levels.

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