2019 NFL Draft: 5 players Raiders could take in Round 1

2. Montez Sweat

Montez Sweat is arguably the edge rusher with the highest upside in this draft class. He put on an absolute show at the Scouting Combine by running a 4.41 40-yard-dash. That, coupled with his collegiate tape at Mississippi State, makes him an easy prospect to fall in love with.

The only question mark about Sweat at the moment is the pre-existing heart condition the NFL’s medical staff identified at the combine. If any team is going to be comfortable with this issue it will be the Raiders. It’s believed that Sweat’s defect is a much milder version of what pushed Maurice Hurst’s draft stock down in 2018. The Raiders obviously decided he was a player they were comfortable drafting.

Assuming his medicals check out, the Raiders are going to take a long look at him at No. 4. He’s the type of player who can grow into an elite pass rusher in just a season or two’s time. Sweat would immediately become the team’s most dangerous threat off the edge if he’s drafted by Oakland.

In a perfect world for the Raiders, Nick Bosa would fall this far. That doesn’t seem likely. Sweat looks like the next-best defensive end in the class. He’d be a terrific consolation prize for the Raiders.