Nine 2015 NFL Draft Picks Who Could Be Opening-Game Starters for Oakland Raiders
With the 2015 NFL draft fast approaching, the Oakland Raiders are in the final stages of fine-tuning their big board. The team made several additions through free agency, but many of those were to add depth. That means that several starting spots are still up for grabs.
The Raiders still have to address starting jobs at three positions in particular: wide receiver, defensive and right guard. Fortunately, plenty of players at all three positions will be available in the draft who can step in as immediate starters.
Given the depth in the draft at these positions, Oakland has plenty of options to fill these roles. The players are there. All that's left is for the Raiders to find them.
Here's a look at players the Raiders could take in the upcoming draft who could step in as Day 1 starters.
Mitch Morse
1 of 9
Position: Offensive Tackle/Guard
Projected Round: 4
Given the need the Raiders have at right guard, it's possible they'll choose address the position within the first three rounds. But if they decide to wait another round, they could find the answer in the fourth round in Mitch Morse.
Morse played center, guard and offensive tackle while at Missouri. While not particularly exceptional in any one area, he's solid across the board. He's quick, agile and strong enough to stand up in pass blocking against both bull rushes and speed-rushers. In run blocking, he's fast enough to get to the second level, and he has the strength to move blockers downfield.
While he played left tackle in his final college season, he projects as a guard in the NFL. Fortunately, his experience playing across the entire offensive line while in college will make his transition between positions an easier one.
Last season, Oakland took left guard Gabe Jackson in third round. He worked his way into the starting lineup, and he has now solidified his starting position along the offensive line. Morse would have the opportunity to do the same at the other guard position.
Ali Marpet
2 of 9
Position: Offensive Tackle/Guard
Projected Round: 2-3
In college, Ali Marpet showed the production that NFL teams look for. He was a standout left tackle for three seasons, during which time he didn't miss a game. He also went his entire senior season without allowing a single sack, according to his NFL.com draft profile.
The problem? He performed at this level against inferior competition while playing at Division-III Hobart College.
It also remains unclear what position Marpet will play in the NFL. He was a left tackle in college, but most scouts and experts project him as a solid offensive guard at the next level. This is where the Raiders come in.
Oakland has quietly put together a solid offensive line, but there's still a gap at right guard. With no long-term solution currently on the team (and it could be argued that there's no short-term solution either), the Raiders will likely look to address this position within the first three rounds. Whoever they do select will arrive in Oakland with a chance to start immediately.
Marpet showed at the Senior Bowl that he's for real. He has the tools to play guard in the NFL. If the Raiders select him, there's a good chance he will be the starting right guard in 2015.
Nate Orchard
3 of 9
Position: Defensive End
Projected Round: 2
If the Raiders decide to select a wide receiver in the first round, then chances are the team will add a defensive end in the second round. And in Round 2, Nate Orchard should be the top target.
Orchard hasn't received as much publicity as some other prospects, but his college production speaks for itself. He ended his college career with a spectacular senior season, amassing 18.5 sacks.
At 6'3" and 250 pounds, Orchard might be a bit undersized. But he has plenty of experience playing with his hand in the dirt and producing as a true 4-3 defensive end, which is just what Oakland is looking for. Orchard is the perfect plug-and-play option for the Raiders at a position that desperately needs an upgrade.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Nelson Agholor
4 of 9
Position: Wide Receiver
Projected Round: 2
Nelson Agholor remains one of the more underrated prospects in the upcoming draft. Despite his production at USC, he's never mentioned along with the top-tier receivers in the draft. That's not a surprise. But what is surprising is that he's rarely, if ever, mentioned along with the second-tier receivers either.
At 6'0" and 198 pounds, Agholor is smaller than the bigger names at the position, but not by much. He's a playmaker who could step in as a No. 2 or slot receiver and immediately be effective. In fact, slot receiver might be his best projection.
He leaves something to be desired as a deep threat due to some concentrations issues and his struggles with securing the ball. But if he gets the ball in his hands closer to the line and over the middle, he has the speed to break away from defenders and gain yards in bunches.
Agholor will be a steal in the second round. While he's not be the No. 1 receiver the Raiders are looking for, he's capable of stepping in on Day 1 and producing in a starting role.
Alvin Dupree
5 of 9
Position: Defensive End
Projected Round: 1
Alvin Dupree isn't an option at fourth overall for Oakland. But if the Raiders decide to trade down, something that's a real possibility, he would become a prime target in the first round.
While still raw at the position, Dupree has all of the physical tools that teams look for in a prospect. He's quick enough to get around the edge, and he's strong enough to simply outmuscle offensive tackles. He still has work to do in regard to recognizing and diagnosing plays, but he can learn that. As far as the physical aspects of playing defensive end, he's already set.
Given the fact that Dupree is still learning the position, he would have to do a little more work to make his way into the starting lineup. He wouldn't just be handed the job. But if he showed enough growth during training camp and in the preseason, the job would be his for the taking.
And with no other exciting prospects on the team to play the position, he would be the favorite to start opposite Justin Tuck.
Dante Fowler Jr.
6 of 9
Position: Defensive End/Outside Linebacker
Projected Round: 1
The Raiders need help at defensive end. Given the number of promising edge-rushers available in the upcoming draft, it might seem like this is a good year to address the position. The problem is that while there are plenty of edge-rushers to choose from, most of the top prospects project as outside linebackers, not defensive ends.
Dante Fowler Jr. falls into this category. While he has the physique to be a defensive end, most see him as an outside linebacker at the next level. In fact, NFL.com compares Fowler to current Oakland strong-side linebacker Khalil Mack. That's not a bad thing. The problem is that this isn't the position that the Raiders are looking to address.
If Oakland decides to try to add a defensive end with the fourth overall pick, Fowler is arguably the best option. However, this move will be a gamble because it means that the team will expect Fowler to fit into the position.
Fowler played both defensive end positions, defensive tackle and outside linebacker while at Florida, so he's capable of playing defensive end in the NFL. If the Raiders do take him with the fourth overall pick, this is the position they'll expect him to play, and he'll walk into the Oakland locker room as the presumed starter.
Kevin White
7 of 9
Position: Wide Receiver
Projected Round: 1
If the Raiders decide to take a wide receiver with the fourth overall pick, Amari Cooper is the favorite to be the selection. Still, Kevin White has shown enough to make his way into this position. However, if Oakland trades down to somewhere in the No. 5-10 range, Cooper will likely be gone, which makes White the best bet at the position.
The biggest question surrounding White is the lack of history. He had an exceptional final college season, but it's the only season in his college career during which he was that impressive. Up to that point, he'd been a mostly average producer. The Raiders would draft him with the hope that his best season was a sign that he finally figured out how to consistently use his physical tools.
Still, the game tape is spectacular. White is a physical freak. He has a combination of size and speed that a team desperate for a No. 1 wide receiver like Oakland hopes to find. If the Raiders do take White, he'll immediately step in as the No. 1 receiver.
Amari Cooper
8 of 9
Position: Wide Receiver
Projected Round: 1
As the draft draws nearer, Amari Cooper has separated himself at the top of the wide receiver draft class. The Raiders can choose to either go pass-rusher or wide receiver with the fourth pick. If they decide to add a wide receiver, Cooper will be the pick.
Simply put, he can do it all. He's fast enough to beat cornerbacks deep. He's shifty enough to consistently make defenders miss in the open field. He's an NFL-ready route-runner. He has great hands and is capable of finding the ball and winning jump balls in traffic. Adding him would immediately make the Oakland wide receiving corps as a whole a much more dangerous group.
Cooper has No. 1 potential, but he might be better suited as an offensive weapon that gets moved around to take advantage of matchups all over the field. Either way, he'll see plenty of playing time from the moment he joins the team. Exactly how he gets used in the offense would be a work in progress, but he would undoubtedly start immediately.
Leonard Williams
9 of 9
Position: Defensive Tackle/Defensive End
Projected Round: 1
Leonard Williams remains arguably the top overall prospect in this year's draft. He's still a favorite to go within the first three picks. But if he makes it beyond that, he'll be playing in silver and black in 2015.
Williams is capable of playing both defensive end and defensive tackle, but he seems better suited on the inside. This creates a problem for the Raiders because they've already addressed both tackle positions. Justin Ellis, last year's fourth-round selection, and Dan Williams, an addition from free agency, are both expected to start.
Adding another defensive tackle who is expected to start would be redundant. But while Ellis and Williams are both solid interior defensive linemen, they're strongest against the run. Leonard Williams, on the other hand, provides an interior pass rush, making him the perfect running mate to either Ellis or Williams.
Leonard Williams has so much potential that, redundant or not, he's still a good selection. If he somehow falls to fourth overall, the Raiders are sure to take him, and they'll likely ask him to step in at defensive end.
Unless otherwise noted, all stats taken from ESPN.com. Draft projections are taken from CBSSports.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.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
