Oakland Raiders Mock Draft: 7-Round Predictions, Post-Combine
The NFL Scouting Combine is just about over and prospects have either confirmed their film performances or made a lasting first impression—whether good or bad.
The combine has likely caused slight changes on draft boards, specifically for the mid to late-round prospects looking to impress team scouts.
There were some eye-openers for the Oakland Raiders—but don’t tell that to Raiders scout Raleigh McKenzie (twin brother of general manager Reggie McKenzie), who seemed to be in a deep trance during Saturday’s workouts, per Bleacher Report’s Arman Walia.
In all seriousness, most teams should have already constructed their draft boards. Solo workouts shouldn’t wow scouts as much as face-to-face interviews, where the interrogations can expose character flaws or potential locker room chemistry issues.
Here’s an updated post-combine mock draft for the Raiders.
A previous mock draft is also available to keep track of the changes in selections.
Round 1 Pick: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
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Amari Cooper as the first pick for the Raiders doesn’t change—unless, of course, Leonard Williams slips past the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Oakland essentially has four good options for this pick: Williams, Cooper, Randy Gregory or trading down to accumulate more picks.
There’s speculation that the Philadelphia Eagles may entertain the idea of trading up for quarterback Marcus Mariota, but outside of this scenario, it’s unlikely any team will trade up that far for any other prospect.
Williams will likely go No. 2 to the Titans, a team that needs to bolster their defensive line.
With only a spectacular junior season on his resume, Gregory isn’t as polished as Cooper. Secondly, according to Sam McKewon of Omaha.com, an old injury shortened his senior season at Nebraska, which should be a huge cause for concern.
Cooper is the safest pick at No. 4 sans Williams. He has excelled against top-notch competition in the SEC for three years without injury or character issues.
Raiders Insider Scott Bair of CSN Bay Area further highlights what Cooper brings to the table:
"Cooper is a real talent, destroying SEC defensive backs with precise route running, speed and excellent hands. Even in a tough college conference, Cooper always got open.
That should excite the Raiders to get a player who can make an immediate impact and steadily improve over time. Cooper is a quarterback’s best friend because he runs excellent routes rarely gives up on plays and fights to get open when his signal caller’s under duress.
While there are no guarantees in this draft, many experts believe Cooper could be a top wideout.
“The No. 1 receiver in your offense should be able to command a double team, and you absolutely have to double team him to contain him," NFL Network draft analyst Bucky Brooks said. "... But what I really like about him, he is a guy who is still hungry, working on his craft. I think he's going to be better as a pro than he was as a collegian."
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Yes, defense wins championships, but when the alternatives to a near slam dunk wide receiver are relatively raw talents in Gregory and Shane Ray on the defense, the best player on the board should be selected—in this case it will be Cooper.
Round 2 Pick: Eric Kendricks, ILB, UCLA
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In unrelated football news, GM Reggie McKenzie is putting Nick Roach’s health before all football plans. The 29-year-old ILB still struggles with concussions symptoms, as reported by Bair:
"Raiders middle linebacker Nick Roach suffered a serious concussion, maybe more than one, in a preseason game at Green Bay back in August. Roughly seven months later, symptoms persist.
General manager Reggie McKenzie said on Wednesday that Roach still hasn’t been formally cleared to resume football activities. That’s not a good sign for a player in his prime hoping for a return to the gridiron.
It’s possible that Roach will not return in 2015 due to lingering concussion-like symptoms. The Raiders are chiefly concerned with Roach’s well-being at this stage.
“I’m only concerned about the best interest of the player,” McKenzie said. “As much as I would love for Nick to be our defensive signal caller, I don’t want to risk a lifelong injury if he goes out there, especially if he has any type of feeling within him that something’s not right. For (symptoms) to last this long, it’s not a good thing.”
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This is depressing news in more ways than one, but the Raiders have to do what’s best for Roach and the team.
Drafting Eric Kendricks could likely propel Oakland’s linebacker corps to elite levels in a few seasons. The Raiders need a solid signal-caller on the defensive side, and Kendricks' exceptional play in college proves he’s capable.
Kendricks recorded 149 tackles in his sophomore and senior seasons at UCLA. He won the Dick Butkus Award as the nation's most outstanding linebacker, and also won the Ronnie Lott Trophy for defensive impact player of the year in 2014.
Current impact defenders J.J. Watt (2010) and Luke Kuechly (2011) were also recipients of the Ronnie Lott Trophy.
Kendricks would improve the Raiders rush defense significantly with his ability to track and pursue the football. His 11.5 tackles for loss and four sacks also suggests he’s strong enough to fight through blocks and make impact plays behind the line of scrimmage.
Round 3 Pick: Preston Smith, DE, Mississippi State
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Preston Smith’s resume is comparable to Gregory’s as a potential third-round pick.
Smith started three seasons as a defensive end for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. He peaked in his senior year with nine sacks and 15 tackles for loss, making him a potential threat to quarterbacks and running backs off the edge.
According to Michael Bonner of The Clarion-Ledger, he may have increased his stock value at the combine:
"Preston Smith's draft stock continues to improve with each offseason workout in front of NFL scouts.
The former Mississippi State defensive lineman began the momentum at the Senior Bowl and continued it at the NFL Combine this weekend.
Smith had one of the best combines of any defensive lineman.
He ran a 4.74 in the 40-yard dash, which ranked eighth among the lineman that participated Sunday. When including only full-time defensive lineman, Smith's time was third best. Five players who also played linebacker ran with the lineman on Sunday, including Clemson's Vic Beasley who ran a 4.53.
Smith's vertical jump was eighth best among lineman at 34 inches. His 7.07 was third-best in the 20-yard shuttle. He finished the three-cone shuttle in 4.28, which was fifth best among defensive lineman.
One of the knocks on Smith entering the Combine was his lack of athleticism. Smith quieted that discussion with his time in the 40 as well as this broad jump.
"I've got a second-round grade on him," NFL.com draft expert Mike Mayock said. "And I think he's really going to be a productive NFL player."
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The Raiders should attempt to add youth to their pass rush by using this early pick on a defensive end. Oakland must keep an eye on Smith as his draft stock continues to rise.
He could be a student of the game under Justin Tuck’s tutelage, or compete for his starting position if the Raiders choose to pursue DE Greg Hardy.
Yes, news is buzzing about Hardy becoming an unrestricted free agent after Carolina Panthers GM Dave Gettleman was mum on Hardy’s status at the combine, per Darin Gantt of Pro Football Talk:
"Gettleman wasn’t touching any questions about free agent defensive end Greg Hardy, who remains on the commissioner’s exempt list after his domestic violence case was thrown out earlier this month. No one sane expects the Panthers to bring Hardy back, after they franchised him and paid him $13.1 million for one game last year.
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That news coupled with McKenzie’s thoughts of bringing in more impact free agents than role players, per Bair, bodes well for the possibilities of Hardy donning a Raiders jersey in 2015, as the Raiders GM stated:
"Last year, I felt like we need more role players, more backups. We needed to upgrade so much. Now, we’re looking for guys who can come in and make a real impact. I’m looking for less volume this time around. I don’t need as many backup-type players. We’re going to go after some real players.
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Hardy, Tuck and Smith could be a fierce trio of QB crushers in 2015 if McKenzie pulls the right strings.
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Round 4 Pick: Javorius Allen, RB, USC
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According to Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle, Darren McFadden is likely on his way out of Oakland:
"The Raiders are unlikely to bring back running back Darren McFadden on a bargain-basement deal like they did last season. McFadden started off as the No. 2 back behind Maurice Jones-Drew, started 12 games and gained 534 yards on 155 carries (3.4 average) before giving way to Latavius Murray.
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Despite reuniting with new head coach Jack Del Rio, Maurice Jones-Drew may also be on his way out, as he was a nonfactor in 2014. The Raiders should restart in the backfield after a horrible showing on the ground, finishing as the worst rushing offense in the league.
Latavius Murray has taken hold of the starting position, but after his impressive showing against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 12, he missed a game due to a concussion. He isn’t seen as a workhorse back and should be paired with a running back who can threaten defenses with an ability to catch and run.
Pairing him with a running back Javorius Allen will keep defenses guessing, and diminish the wear and tear on Murray.
Allen improved his production as a running back and receiver each year at USC. He finished his junior year with 1,489 rushing yards and 458 receiving yards. The RB is projected as third- to fourth-round pick and would fit well in Oakland as the Raiders try to rejuvenate their backfield.
Round 5 Pick: Cameron Erving, C, Florida State
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According to Chase Goodbread of NFL.com, Cameron Erving was a combine standout:
"Florida State's versatile offensive lineman, helped himself in more ways than one. His 40-yard dash of 5.15 seconds ranked him in the top 10 at his position, but his bench-press reps (30) and fourth-ranked broad jump (112 inches) combined to give him one of the top overall performances among offensive linemen. Erving's pro potential will be evaluated as both a tackle and an interior player -- he played both tackle and center in his final year at FSU -- and he'll leave the combine with both possibilities intact.
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Most GMs didn’t have Cameron on their scouting report as a high-ranking center. He played on the defensive side of the ball and at tackle before converting to center. The move could potentially impact his draft stock, if he's sought after strictly as the centerpiece of an offensive line.
As the Raiders and Stefen Wisniewski’s camp continue to stand on opposite sides of the spectrum in regard to his contract, Erving could find a home in Oakland. His versatility is attractive for a team that had to shift linemen around in 2014.
Erving has shown a fast learning curve, even on the collegiate level. He began his collegiate career as a defensive lineman and played two solid seasons as a center snapping the ball to Jameis Winston in a pro-style offense, per Lance Zierlein of NFL.com.
Even if Oakland signs another veteran center, the Florida State prospect could add depth to an offensive line that is in need of improvement.
Round 6 Pick: Damarious Randall, FS, Arizona State
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On Jan. 26, the Raiders’ official Twitter account tweeted a photo of a smiling Charles Woodson signing a new deal worth $3.2 million with $1.4 million guaranteed, per Spotrac.com.
Woodson will turn 39 during the 2015 season. Even though he’s playing well, the heir to his position needs to be groomed.
Brandian Ross is a restricted free agent this offseason, and Tyvon Branch has been unreliable due to injury. Branch has played just five games in the last two seasons.
With the old and the unreliable at safety, Damarious Randall would be a quality pick in the sixth round. Ross played well in the absence of Branch, but it remains to be seen if the Raiders will decide to match offers from other teams bidding on the four-year veteran.
Similar to Branch, Randall is a hard-hitting, undersized safety at 5’11”. He has some coverage skills but lacks the consistency to be a full-time cornerback on the professional level.
Nonetheless, according to Zierlein, he can challenge wide receivers in their routes and play physical closer to the line of scrimmage:
"Plus athlete with good speed. Scouts love his toughness and effort. Inspired effort as a tackler, racking up 177 tackles during two-year stint at Arizona State. Looks to punish. Explodes into targets and jolts his victims. Takes very good angles in space in run support. Instinctive blitzer who times snap and has a nose for the quarterback. Senses throws underneath and breaks on them early. Highly competitive on 50/50 throws and won't give an inch to receiver. Took two interceptions for scores. Good hands -- played some wide receiver in junior college and was also an explosive returner while there.
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Randall plays a lot bigger than his size and better than his sixth-round projection. Playing behind a future Hall of Fame defensive back would expedite his progression. His natural skill set could solidify his status as starter if Branch continues to disappoint.
Round 7 Pick: Mitch Morse, OG, Missouri
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Mitch Morse was another standout performer on the first day of workouts at the combine.
Just like Cameron—who should pique the Raiders' interest as a fifth-round pick—Morse garnered some interest for his showing of raw strength through his workouts, per Tod Palmer of The Kansas City Star:
"There’s a good chance his stock is revised up after proving to be one of the top athletes among offensive linemen at the Combine.
A total of 52 offensive linemen were invited to the NFL’s annual meat market at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, but not all of them participating in drills and some only participated in a handful of drills.
Morse posted 36 reps, the second-most among offensive-line prospects, in the bench press on Thursday. Only Ereck Flowers of Miami (Fla.) benched 225 pounds more reps than Morse.
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Austin Howard played at the guard position in 2014, but could eventually move back out to tackle if Donald Penn isn’t re-signed beyond the 2015 season. Menelik Watson is also on a short leash at right tackle.
Initially, Morse’s role would be limited, but his toughness, strength and football IQ could help solidify his spot on the Raiders offensive line within a couple of seasons, as noted by Zierlein.
Advanced statistics provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com and Sports-Reference.com. Draft analysis provided by NFL.com and CBSSports.com.
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