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

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ORLANDO, FL – JANUARY 01: Kentucky Wildcats linebacker Josh Allen (41) looks on during the Citrus Bowl game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Penn State Nittany Lions on January 1, 2019 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. Josh Allen

The choice between Sweat and Josh Allen would be a close one for the Raiders. Ultimately, Allen gets en edge here because of his clean bill of health. That makes him a slightly safer selection than his SEC counterpart.

Of course, Allen is an electric prospect in his own right. He put up 17 sacks for Kentucky last season which was good for fourth in the NCAA. Outside linebackers who can come in and rush the passer at a high level are valuable commodities for every NFL franchise.

Allen can’t fix the Raiders’ weakness at defensive end, but he could still impact their pass rush significantly from the outside linebacker position. Drafting Allen in the first round and coming back to select a more traditional defensive end later with one of their other Round 1 picks could be the perfect plan for Oakland.

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There’s no certainty that Allen will still be available when the Raiders pick at No. 4, but if he is, he’s got a strong chance to be their pick. Gruden will gravitate towards his dynamic play off the edge. Allen isn’t a perfect fit in every scheme, but he is a great fit for Oakland’s defense.

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