Who Are Experts Predicting to Oakland Raiders in 1st Round of the NFL Draft?
As the draft draws nearer, the options for the Oakland Raiders' fourth overall pick are becoming clearer. Oakland addressed several needs through free agency, but there are still some glaring needs on the roster. The best way to address them now is through the draft.
When it comes to predicting who the Raiders should take with the fourth overall pick, there's a clear theme evident across all the mock drafts: Oakland should either take a wide receiver or a defensive lineman.
Of course, there's always the possibility that the team goes in a completely different direction. There's also the possibility that the Raiders trade down, in which case the entire draft plan changes.
But for now, the assumption is that Oakland stays at the top of the draft—or the very least near it. This, along with the help the team needs at wide receiver and in the pass rush, dictates the projections.
Here's a look at what experts think Oakland will do with the fourth overall pick.
NFLDraftScout.com's Dane Brugler: WR Amari Cooper
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What NFLDraftScout.com's Dane Brugler has to say:
"The Raiders failed to land a marquee free agent and it looks more and more likely that this pick will be a pass-catcher to help second-year starting quarterback Derek Carr. Bigger question might be, which receiver does Reggie McKenzie like the most?
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Brugler suggests that the Raiders go with Amari Cooper, but he doesn't have much conviction behind his decision. He sees selecting a wide receiver at fourth overall as a coin flip.
However, it does illustrate the debate at the top of the wide receiver class. The fact is that a case can be made both for and against Cooper and Kevin White. Ultimately, if the Raiders do decide to select a wide receiver, it's going to come down to the team's own preference.
It also shows why wide receiver is such a high priority for Oakland. It was arguably the team's biggest need heading into free agency, but there wasn't a single addition made to the position. That leaves the top of the draft as the Raiders' best opportunity to vastly improve the team's wide receiving corps.
NFL.com's Charles Davis: WR Amari Cooper
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What NFL.com's Charles Davis has to say:
"Raiders consider defense with this selection, but Cooper offers instant big-play ability to help second-year QB Derek Carr grow.
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Davis agrees with Dane Brugler, but he offers a more convincing argument for the choice.
While White has extremely impressive film, it's comprised of one very good season. Cooper, on the other hand, has film that's just as impressive, but it comes from three years worth of college ball. What the Raiders need more than anything with the fourth overall pick is an immediate contributor, and Cooper provides the best option for adding that to the lineup.
The Raiders currently have some decent receivers on the roster, including Rod Streater, Brice Butler, Andre Holmes and James Jones. But what is missing from that group is a consistent producer and big-play option, which is what the team would get in Cooper.
One of the knocks against Cooper is that he lined up all over the field in college, not just as a true No. 1 receiver. However, this isn't a bad thing. With an offense lacking in consistent producers, adding someone as versatile as Cooper would make a huge difference. Not only would he himself produce but he would also immediately increase the other receivers' productivity.
CBSSports.com's Will Brinson: WR Kevin White (Trade Down)
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What CBSSports.com's Will Brinson has to say:
"Finding difficulty not projecting White as a money fit for the Raiders. Derek Carr needs weapons and White has the talent, size and speed to be a guy who can impact at the next level right away.
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What's interesting about Brinson's projection is that he doesn't have the Raiders taking White at fourth overall. Instead, he has Oakland taking him at sixth overall following a trade with the New York Jets.
At fourth overall, the Raiders will likely be a key target spot for teams that'll be looking to move up. With the number of needs Oakland still has, adding additional picks will certainly be be an option that the team will strongly consider.
Of course, a move down in the draft can't be done just for the sake of additional picks. This option only does the Raiders good if they can add picks and still bring in immediate contributors at key positions.
If the Raiders can trade down, pick up additional picks and still add White, it would be a major coup. Additionally, most projections have White and Cooper still available at sixth overall. The Raiders could add picks and still get the receiver they need.
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Sports Illustrated's Don Banks: WR Kevin White
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What Sports Illustrated's Don Banks has to say:
"The Raiders have their pick between the draft’s top two receivers, and they probably can’t go wrong choosing between [Kevin] White and Alabama’s Amari Cooper. White’s track record isn’t as proven, but his skill set fits today’s NFL perfectly, with his size-speed combination and his ability to come down with the contested catch in traffic.
Raiders QB Derek Carr should be rooting for White’s selection, because that combination has big-play potential written all over it.
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Banks recognizes the debate at the top of the wide receiver class. Should the Raiders select White, who has the higher projected upside, or Cooper, who's seen as the safer pick but with not as a high of a ceiling?
This debate will rage up until the draft, and it probably won't be answered until at least a few years down the road. Of course, that's a normal part of the draft, and it's up to each team to make as accurate a prediction as possible of how a player will translate to the NFL over the long run.
Cooper is the more experienced of the two, and he has a longer track record of success. On paper, he also had a better final season in college.
| 2014 Stats | Kevin White | Amari Cooper |
| Receptions | 109 | 124 |
| Yards | 1,447 | 1,727 |
| Avg Yards/Catch | 13.26 | 13.93 |
| Touchdowns | 10 | 16 |
But a look at White's film exhibits his impressive measurables and why he's seen by some, including Banks, as the best option. This was evidenced with their respective performances at the combine.
| Kevin White | Amari Cooper | |
| Height | 6 ft 3 inches | 6 ft. 1 inches |
| Weight | 215 pounds | 211 pounds |
| 40-Yard Dash Time | 4.35 seconds | 4.42 seconds |
| Vertical Jump | 36.5 inches | 33 inches |
| Broad Jump | 123 inches | 120 inches |
| 3-Cone Drill | 6.92 seconds | 6.71 seconds |
| 20-Yard Shuttle | 4.14 seconds | 3.98 seconds |
White is bigger and stronger, and he has the physical build of a prototypical No. 1 receiver. He's fast, and he knows how to use his size to win jump balls. White exhibits what every team covets and what Oakland desperately needs: the ability to stretch the field and consistently make plays downfield.
Cooper had a lot of success in college, but there are legitimate questions about how this success came about. He was moved around and put in situations to make plays.
White, on the other hand, played as a true No. 1 and had equal success. He didn't have his in-game situations handpicked for him. Instead, he was lined up and told to beat whoever was across from him. And that's just what he did.
White has shown that he can be a true No. 1 receiver, and that's what Oakland needs from a first-round receiver.
MMQB's Peter King: DE Leonard Williams
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What Monday Morning Quarterback's Peter King has to say:
"GM Reggie McKenzie waits for the phone to ring. He’ll trade during his pick, especially with Williams on the board. Interesting trade-up candidate: Cleveland, with the 12th, 19th and 43rd picks, and with a big need for a dominating three-technique pile-mover.
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This is an interesting take for two reasons. First, King has Williams falling out of the top three, something that many believed had little to no chance of happening not long ago. Second, King has the Raiders using this as trade bait rather than actually taking the player who's almost universally viewed as the best defensive prospect of the draft.
Suggesting that Oakland trade out of the fourth overall spot is a solid, logical stance, and it's not an uncommon one. In fact, it might be the team's best option. While the Raiders roster definitely improved through free agency, the team still has plenty of needs. For this reason, picking up some more draft picks would be a good move.
But Williams is the exception. He addresses a major need on the roster, and he's arguably the best overall prospect available at any position.
If Williams is gone, then the Raiders should look to shop the pick and be willing to sell to the highest bidder so long as the price is right. But if Williams is there, he has to be selected.
Blecher Report's Jason Cole: DE Leonard Williams
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What Bleacher Report's NFL Insider Jason Cole has to say:
"The player they[Raiders] really want to get, according to sources I've talked to, is Leonard Williams, the defensive lineman out of USC.
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Cole sees the Raiders' fourth overall pick as the "pivot spot" in the draft. In other words, this is the best spot at the top of the draft to sell the pick for the best price.
However, Cole suggests this as the best option if Williams is no longer an option when the Raiders are on the clock. This suggests that if Williams does fall to the Raiders, they'll take him.
Both Peter King and Cole see Williams dropping to the Raiders. But while King views this as a prime opportunity to make a trade, Cole views it as ideal for Oakland. Given Williams' abilities and what he would mean for the entire Oakland defense, Cole's view is the best-case scenario for Oakland.
If Williams drops out of the top three, the Raiders could almost name their price. But this is the perfect scenario of biggest need meets best player available. If he's there when Oakland is on the clock, the team shouldn't waste any time in getting him in silver and black.
What We Know
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If you take a look across mock drafts, the projected draft plan for Oakland is clear:
- Draft Leonard Williams
- If Williams is off the board, take the best wide receiver (Amari Cooper or Kevin White).
Williams is the only option along the defensive line, and he's the overall favorite. All players considered, if Williams drops, he should be the pick.
But while Oakland now seems to have a real chance at drafting Williams, it's still something of a stretch. It's still very possible, if not likely, that Williams will be gone in the top three. That leaves selecting a wide receiver as Oakland's best option.
However, the picture isn't quite as clear at wide receiver. The pick is either White or Cooper, but the debate is a tense one. Whichever wide receiver is proposed as the best option, there are plenty of arguments to be made for both. Which receiver is the better option is a debate that won't be truly settled until at least a year down the road. It certainly won't be settled before the draft.
Williams dropping to Oakland at fourth overall would make this an easy decision. But if Williams isn't there, then the Raiders will have to make a tough choice between this year's top two receiving weapons.
Unless otherwise noted, all stats taken from ESPN.com.
Do you disagree with the experts? Who do you think is the Raiders' best option with the fourth overall pick? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section and on Twitter @BrianJ_Flores.
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