Skip to main content
Raiders
Advertising

Mock Draft Tracker 1.0: All eyes on a pair of Sooners

I can hear it now, the Draft chimes ringing to indicate a selection is in, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell taking the Draft Stage in Las Vegas to a chorus of boos, "and with the first pick of the 2020 NFL Draft…".

We've finally entered draft season, ladies and gentlemen.

Super Bowl LIV is over, and the 2019 season is behind us, which means we can immediately hit the reset button and shift our sights to next season. The Las Vegas Raiders have two first round picks and three third round picks at their disposal this year, and there's no doubt in my mind General Manager Mike Mayock and Head Coach Jon Gruden have another strong draft in their second year together.

Now that everyone is preparing for the NFL Scouting Combine at the end of this month, we can release our first official Mock Draft Tracker.

Table inside Article
Pick Player Position College
No. 12 CeeDee Lamb WR Oklahoma
No. 19 Kenneth Murray LB Oklahoma

Analysis:

Lamb - "Lamb is a big-time playmaker with great hands who will step in, catch a bunch of passes and score touchdowns. This team isn't that far off from contending -- don't forget that it sat at 6-4 before a late-season collapse, and it was only eliminated from the playoffs in Week 17 -- and Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock have two first-round picks and three third-rounders with which to work."

Murray - "Yes, this means two Sooners to Vegas in this projection, this time with my top-ranked inside linebacker taking over in the middle of the Raiders' defense. Murray is a chiseled, gifted talent with great athleticism for his size (6-foot-2, 240). He needs to improve in coverage, but he has the speed to match tight ends in space and is so fun to watch on tape as a tackler and penetrator. I also thought about a corner here -- the Raiders allowed quarterbacks to throw for 8.3 yards per attempt, tied for highest in the league -- but I like the fit with Murray in Paul Guenther's defense."

Table inside Article
Pick Player Position College
No. 12 Jerry Jeudy WR Alabama
No. 19 CJ Henderson CB Florida

Analysis:

Jeudy - "Enter the top route runner in the draft class in Jeudy. He would immediately give Derek Carr -- or whoever is throwing the passes in Vegas -- a legitimate threat outside to pair with breakout tight end Darren Waller. The wide receiver class is deep, but Jeudy is my No. 1-ranked prospect at the position."

Henderson - "With Jeudy taking care of receiving woes, it's time to look at the defense for the Raiders' fifth Round 1 pick in the past two years. Trayvon Mullen showed some potential in his rookie season, but Nevin Lawson and Daryl Worley are both free agents, so Vegas -- man, I'm still getting used to saying that -- is going to have to get a playmaker in coverage. Henderson broke up 11 passes for Florida this past season, an ability that will be welcomed by a Raiders defense that managed only nine picks and was bottom 10 in pass defense (256.7 yards per game)."

Table inside Article
Pick Player Position College
No. 12 CeeDee Lamb WR Oklahoma
No. 19 Patrick Queen LB LSU

Analysis:

Lamb - "The Raiders need more playmakers. I believe Lamb is the best receiver in this draft class."

Queen - "The Raiders need to get faster and more dynamic on defense. Queen plays sideline to sideline, and he's outstanding in coverage."

Table inside Article
Pick Player Position College
No. 12 CeeDee Lamb WR Oklahoma
No. 19 Kenneth Murray LB Oklahoma

Analysis:

Lamb - "Jon Gruden loves physical pass-catchers with explosive running skills."

Murray - "Swift linebacker with legit sideline-to-sideline range as a run-and-chase linebacker."

Table inside Article
Pick Player Position College
No. 12 Jerry Jeudy WR Alabama
No. 19 Patrick Queen LB LSU

Analysis:

Jeudy - "The Raiders have a couple of selections in the first round and one of them has to be spent on a receiver. Why not take your pick of WR1s in this spot?"

Queen - "The latest in a recent string of speedy linebackers from LSU, Queen helps fill a gaping hole in the Raiders' defense."

Table inside Article
Pick Player Position College
No. 12 Henry Ruggs III WR Alabama
No. 19 Patrick Queen LB LSU

Analysis:

Ruggs - "As part of the epically loaded Alabama receiver group, Ruggs didn't amass gargantuan numbers with the Crimson Tide but is probably going to run in the low 4.3s at the combine and has high-end twitch. Jon Gruden will adore him."

Queen - "Queen looks like a linebacker built for today's NFL and his instincts, athleticism, and coverage abilities land him inside the top 20."

Table inside Article
Pick Player Position College
No. 12 Jerry Jeudy WR Alabama
No. 19 Patrick Queen LB LSU

Analysis:

Jeudy - "General manager Mike Mayock has to be doing backflips of happiness with the way the board has fallen. The top receiver in the draft falls into the lap of a team desperate to add speed to the edge of the offense.

Jerry Jeudy may be falling victim to a case of over-scouting. We've seen him dominate in college for two seasons, so evaluators start to look for holes in his game and narrow their focus to examine things that in the larger picture might not be as important. Jeudy is an elite route-runner with awesome balance, agility and burst. He's exactly what the Raiders lack."

Queen - "The middle of the field has long been an issue for the Raiders defense. 2019 first-rounder Johnathan Abram will be back healthy next season and will add a boost, but more help is needed—especially at linebacker.

Queen was a standout player starting on the road against Texas and from then on showed the speed, instincts and coverage skills to be a true three-down NFL linebacker. With Abrams back and the defensive line developing, now is the time to add a top-tier linebacker prospect."

Take a look at the top 50 prospects leading up to the 2020 NFL Draft, according to NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah.

Related Content

Latest Content

Advertising