2019 NFL Draft: Oakland Raiders 7-round mock
By Conor Dorney
With three first-round picks and a plethora of needs, the Oakland Raiders will be one of the most fascinating teams to watch in the 2019 NFL Draft.
In a short time, the Oakland Raiders have become one of the most entertaining franchises to observe to both its fans and the rest of the NFL.
Last year, it was the massive investment in former Monday Night Football analyst (and former Raiders/Bucs coach) Jon Gruden to be their head coach for the next ten years. Throw in the hire of NFL Network’s Mike Mayock as the team’s new general manager, a still up-in-the-air home for the 2019 season and eventual move to Las Vegas, and you have yourselves one of the best reality shows on TV.
The 2019 NFL Draft will be especially important for the Raiders as they currently hold unique draft capital with three (!) first-round picks following the trades of Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper.
As we attempt to project this seven-round Raiders mock draft, it’s important to note that a lot will change between now and draft day. We still have the Combine, pro days, and all the juicy draft rumors that come along with getting a better picture of how the draft will play out. Add to this a GM with no front office experience and you have a recipe for some good, old-fashioned chaos!
As with all my draft pieces, I remind you of my two disclaimers.
- Yes, I hate your team and don’t know what I’m talking about.
- Yes, I hate your team and don’t know what I’m talking about.
Without further ado, let’s get to it!
New year, different Josh Allen.
While Kentucky’s Josh Allen may have had a similar completion percentage in college to his Wyoming counterpart (I’m here to provide comedic relief, remember?), this year’s Allen is one of the best edge defenders in a class loaded with them, particularly in the top two rounds.
Allen is unique in that he wasn’t a five-star, blue chip prospect heading into college but has turned himself into a five-star, blue chip NFL Draft prospect after four years on campus with the Wildcats.
Allen has length, size, and speed in spades, and was the most critical member of the Kentucky football program’s remarkable turnaround over the past several years. He’s still not a finished product but his versatility and “in it for the long haul” attitude could be a huge selling point to an Oakland front office that knows it it will likely struggle in the near future.
Unless the Raiders become enamored with one of the first-round quarterbacks (I think they may prefer later options like Will Grier or Daniel Jones to Dwayne Haskins or Kyler Murray), I think their primary focus will be adding high-upside players in round one.
TEMPE, AZ – SEPTEMBER 29: Wide receiver N’Keal Harry #1 of the Arizona State Sun Devils attempted catch against Oregon State Beavers defender at Sun Devil Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)
Whoever the Raiders envision as their quarterback of the future, they know they’ll have to surround him with weapons in order to be successful.
Arizona State’s N’Keal Harry is the type of big-bodied target who could immediately step in as a security blanket for whichever quarterback the Raiders opt to go with next season and beyond.
Harry’s biggest question mark among evaluators is his long speed and ability to separate from corners at the next level, but there’s no denying his size and overall athletic ability, not to mention the fact that he has remarkably strong and reliable hands. I think that Harry will surprise people from an athleticism standpoint at the Combine and barring a catastrophic 40-yard dash time (I think a low 4.5s time is where he ends up), Harry would be a great option for Oakland in the back half of the first round.
Also keep an eye on NC State’s Kelvin Harmon as a possibility with this selection.
With Beast Mode and Doug Martin slated to hit free agency, the Raiders’ depth at running back leaves a lot to be desired to put it mildly.
Without a workhorse back heading into next season, the Raiders could turn to talented Alabama running back Josh Jacobs at the end of the first round. Jacobs immediately became one of the most sought-after running backs in the 2019 class when he declared following the Tide’s national championship loss, and has had a ton of first-round buzz.
While I don’t think he winds up in the top ten as some are projecting, Jacobs brings a unique blend of size and speed that will make him an immediate starter for whichever team he lands with. He has the added benefit of not having much tread on the tires due to a perennially-loaded Alabama backfield, which only stands to increase his value.
He seems to relish in running over defenders and racking up pancakes in pass protection, which means it’s only a matter of time before the Raiders fall in love with him during the draft process. Even if he winds up being selected much higher than this, Oakland has the draft capital to get him if they so choose.