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NFL Draft 2018: Oakland Raiders 7-round mock draft

By Joe Romano

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) /
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 The Oakland Raiders were not able to carry the 2016 momentum into the 2017 season. With a new coach in town, they can address their holes in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Entering the 2017 season there was hope in Oakland that the Raiders were a legitimate playoff and possible Super Bowl contender. They were coming off an impressive 2016 and had the pieces ready for a run. The team did not live up the hype and changes are going to come entering 2018. The first change was bringing in a new head coach in Jon Gruden. Now Gruden will look to remake the roster, starting with the NFL draft.

This mock draft was done using Fanspeak’s On the Clock, a fun and informative tool for all NFL draft fans.

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) /

Round 1 – Pick 10

Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia

The first thing Gruden should address is the defense. Oakland ranked near the bottom of the league in almost every defensive category. There are talented pieces in place but the biggest hole is at linebacker. They tried bringing in NaVorro Bowman to sure up the middle, but at his age it was clear he is not the answer.

In Roquan Smith the Raiders would get their defensive leader in the middle of the field. This could be Gruden’s new version of what he had when he was in Tampa Bay with Derrick Brooks. Smith is a rangy, every-down linebacker. Despite knocks on his size, throw on the tape and you see possibly the best player in the 2018 class.

There will be debated between Smith and Virginia Tech’s Trumaine Edmunds as the draft’s top linebacker. For a team that is ready to win now, taking the older, more experienced Smith over Edmunds makes sense. Edmunds is the athlete that is glowing potential. Smith is the linebacker that can step onto an NFL field and dominate right away. If he is there Oakland should run the card to the podium.

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