Oakland Raiders' 7-Round Mock Draft and Top-100 Big Board

For the Oakland Raiders, there’s no more waiting for next year—this is it. After an active free-agency period, another impact draft class should dig this franchise out of an extended rebuilding stretch.

General manager Reggie McKenzie deserves an A-plus for his shrewd free-agent moves, but shallow spots on the roster remain leading up to the draft.

In the new calendar year, Oakland signed defensive backs Sean Smith and Reggie Nelson to address the secondary, added another primary pass-rusher to pair with Khalil Mack in Bruce Irvin and strengthened the interior of the offensive line with Kelechi Osemele. The front office also refreshed deals with offensive tackle Donald Penn and pass-rusher Aldon Smith, per ESPN.com.

What’s left over on the roster checklist?

First, the Raiders must address their No. 28 rushing offense, which averaged 91 yards per game. In today’s NFL, the quarterback shouldn’t rank as the second-best ball-carrier on the roster.

Defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. expressed sheer optimism for his return to the field and set his aim for the Pro Bowl in the upcoming season, per WCTV anchor Kenny Morales. Nevertheless, the Raiders cannot count their chickens before they hatch. Edwards will undergo medical checks at some point this month, per Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle.

Oakland should add insurance for Edwards in case he’s not 100 percent and upgrade its 3-4 scheme with another dual-threat, 5-technique defensive end on the opposite side.

Third, after safety Nate Allen’s injury-plagued season, Oakland released and re-signed him to a one-year deal, per Spotrac.com. Despite Nelson’s two-year deal, the secondary needs a defensive back who can set the tone and thump in the box against the run. 

The trade-down phenomenon has hijacked most NFL franchises. However, the best-player-available approach seems suitable for a team that doesn’t need to fill several roster voids but instead draft a few impact players to push for a division crown.

History doesn’t always repeat itself, but McKenzie traded back in 2013 and selected cornerback D.J. Hayden as a first-round choice. Still, it’s a different draft class, and the Raiders sit at No. 14. As opposed to picking in the top five, a mid-round selection yields uncertainty in prospect availability.

We’ll take a look at the Raiders top-100 big board and provide a realistic mock draft via Fanspeak.com’s draft simulator.

Top-100 Big Board

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Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio

The Raiders’ top-100 big board illustrates realistic targets from top to bottom. It’s understood that Florida State safety Jalen Ramsey holds top-10 value; don’t expect to see his name on this list. 

The big names omitted give an indication of who will likely hear their names called before the No. 14 overall pick in the draft. Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith’s placement in the rankings deserves major consideration due to his slides and surges every other week. How far will he fall? 

Assuming McKenzie doesn’t trade up, we’ll go through a descending order of potential draft picks for the Silver and Black.

Oakland Raiders Big Board

Rank	Player	Position	School
1	Myles Jack	LB	UCLA
2	Shaq Lawson	DE	Clemson
3	Ezekiel Elliott	RB	Ohio State
4	Sheldon Rankins	DT	Louisville
5	Ronnie Stanley	OT	Notre Dame
6	Darron Lee	LB	Ohio State
7	A'Shawn Robinson	DT	Alabama
8	Eli Apple	CB	Ohio State
9	Jack Conklin	OT	Michigan State
10	Kevin Dodd	DE	Clemson
11	Robert Nkemdiche	DT	Ole Miss
12	Jarran Reed	DT	Alabama
13	Taylor Decker	OT	Ohio State
14	Reggie Ragland	LB	Alabama
15	Andrew Billings	DT	Baylor
16	Mackensie Alexander	CB	Clemson
17	William Jackson III	CB	Houston
18	Jonathan Bullard	DE	Florida
19	Emmanuel Ogbah	DE	Oklahoma State
20	Chris Jones	DT	Mississippi State
21	Karl Joseph	SS	West Virginia
22	Su'a Cravens	LB/S	USC
23	Vonn Bell	SS	Ohio State
24	Jeremy Cash	SS	Duke
25	Corey Coleman	WR	Baylor
26	Laquon Treadwell	WR	Ole Miss
27	Jason Spriggs	OT	Indiana
28	Keanu Neal	FS	Florida
29	Kenny Clark	DT	UCLA
30	Josh Doctson	WR	TCU
31	Germain Ifedi	OT	Texas A&M
32	Kenneth Dixon	RB	Lousiana Tech
33	Xavien Howard	CB	Baylor
34	Austin Johnson	DT	Penn State
35	Devontae Booker	RB	Utah
36	Kentrell Brothers	LB	Missouri
37	Sterling Shepard	WR	Oklahoma
38	Joshua Perry	LB	Ohio State
39	Carl Nassib	DE	Penn State
40	Deion Jones	LB	LSU
41	Sheldon Day	DT	Notre Dame
42	Artie Burns	CB	Miami (FL)
43	Bronson Kaufusi	DE	Brigham Young
44	Jonathan Williams	RB	Arkansas
45	C.J. Prosise	RB	Notre Dame
46	Cyrus Jones	CB	Alabama
47	Rashard Higgins	WR	Colorado State
48	Tyler Matakevich	LB	Temple
49	Vadal Alexander	OG	LSU
50	Darian Thompson	FS	Boise State
51	Jalen Mills	FS	LSU
52	Kenyan Drake	RB	Alabama
53	Jordan Howard	RB	Indiana
54	Leonte Carroo	WR	Rutgers
55	John Theus	OT	Georgia
56	Paul Perkins	RB	UCLA
57	Michael Thomas	WR	Ohio State
58	Cody Whitehair	OG	Kansas State
59	Miles Killebrew	SS	Southern Utah
60	Scooby Wright III	ILB	Arizona
61	Adolphus Washington	DT	Ohio State
62	Derrick Henry	RB	Alabama
63	Alex Collins	RB	Arkansas
64	Jaylon Smith	LB	Notre Dame
65	Yannick Ngakoue	DL	Maryland
66	Anthony Zettel	DL	Penn State
67	Deiondre' Hall	CB	Northern Iowa
68	K.J. Dillon	SS	West Virginia
69	Will Fuller	WR	Notre Dame
70	Shon Coleman	OT	Auburn
71	Kamalei Correa	LB	Boise State
72	Joe Schobert	LB	Wisconsin
73	Kevin Byard	SS	Middle Tennessee State
74	Kenny Lawler	WR	California
75	Eric Striker	OLB	Oklahoma
76	Roberto Aguayo	K	Florida State
77	Kyle Murphy	OT	Stanford
78	Pharoh Cooper	WR	South Carolina
79	Connor McGovern	OG	Missouri
80	Nick Vigil	LB	Utah State
81	Joe Haeg	OT	North Dakota State
82	Tajae Sharpe	WR	Massachusetts
83	Zach Sanchez	CB	Oklahoma
84	Dominique Alexander	LB	Oklahoma
85	Avery Young	OT	Auburn
86	Kyle Friend	C	Temple
87	Jihad Ward	DE	Illinois
88	Eric Murray	CB	Minnesota
89	Le'Raven Clark	OT	LSU
90	De'Runnya Wilson	WR	Mississippi State
91	Landon Turner	OG	North Carolina
92	Nick Kwiatkoski	LB	West Virginia
93	Maurice Canady	CB	Virginia
94	Denver Kirkland	OG	Arkansas
95	Jayvon Kearse	SS	Clemson
96	Jared Norris	ILB	Utah
97	Brandon Shell	OT	South Carolina
98	D.J. Reader	DT	Clemson
99	Charles Tapper	LB	Oklahoma
100	Rees Odhiambo	OG	Boise Sate

Round 1

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Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee

Round 1, Pick 14: Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State

It’s not a sexy, splashy pick like Mack or wideout Amari Cooper, though they were top-five selections. A brighter future means fewer cracks at the top talents in the draft.

Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee will likely be available as the best linebacker and one of the best players on the board. He also satisfies a need at linebacker. He played the "Sam" position on the collegiate level, but at 6’1”, 232 pounds, he’s too small to take on lead blocks on the outside. He fits perfectly inside a 3-4 scheme next to linebacker Ben Heeney.

Lee’s playing style as a quick-striking athletic defender who’s fluid in coverage provides the Raiders with resistance to receiving tight ends and running backs attempting to squeeze through the defensive line.

As a redshirt sophomore, he’ll add some bulk and strength in an NFL facility to compete with bigger bodies in the league.

Lee fits appropriately as an energetic ball-tracker between Mack and Irvin in a 3-4 alignment who stops runs up the middle and provides pocket pressure in blitz schemes.

Round 2

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Florida defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard

Round 2, Pick 44: Jonathan Bullard, DT, Florida

Florida defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard slipped into the second round, which allows the Raiders to add another 5-technique defensive end who can also excel as a 3-technique defensive tackle. He’s a great value pick at No. 44.

Bullard flashed both pass-rushing ability and the propensity to disrupt plays in the backfield with 6.5 sacks and 18 tackles for a loss as a senior.

Like Edwards, the Florida prospect brings size, power and length. At 6’3” and 285 pounds and stretching his 33 5/8” arms, he’ll corral ball-carriers and use strength to win one-on-one battles in the trenches.

If Edwards returns without restrictions, Bullard would challenge defensive lineman Denico Autry in 3-4 schemes or become a pass-rushing alternative for defensive tackle Justin Ellis in a four-man front.

Round 3

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Duke safety Jeremy Cash

Round 3, Pick 75: Jeremy Cash, S, Duke

The Raiders signed a ball-hawking safety in Nelson, which creates the perfect opportunity to match yin and yang with a hard-hitting tone-setter in the secondary.

Duke safety Jeremy Cash will earn his paychecks as a tough, gritty, sure tackler who holds up as the last line of defense or an enforcer in the box. After transferring from Ohio State, he recorded 332 tackles, 18 stops for a loss, eight sacks, 14 passes defensed and five interceptions in three seasons at Duke.

The brave running backs who slide through the defensive line must brace themselves for Cash’s bone-cracking hits. He doesn’t tackle for style points; it’s natural to his technique. The Duke standout stands at 6’0", 212 pounds and wallops targets like an undersized linebacker.

With West Virginia’s Karl Joseph likely unavailable as the No. 1 safety on some boards, Cash qualifies as a solid 1A option at the position as a complement to Nelson.

Round 4

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Alabama running back Kenyan Drake

Round 4, Pick 114: Kenyan Drake, RB, Alabama

The Raiders will select an Alabama running back, but it won't be speeding freight train Derrick Henry, who lacks soft hands as a receiver and the ability to bounce outside the tackles.

Henry’s college backup, Kenyan Drake, completes the Raiders backfield as a mid-round steal. He’s not one of those stiff bull-rushing tailbacks manufactured in Alabama. Don’t underestimate his numbers as the No. 2 running back in college. 

He’s a dynamic offensive weapon with size at 6’1”, 210 pounds, who shows elusiveness as a ball-carrier and catches like a wide receiver in the slot as well as the flat. Drake caught 46 passes for 570 yards and four touchdowns in a reserve role for three seasons.

The Raiders don’t need a home run hitter at No. 2 since running back Latavius Murray ranked No. 6 among all ball-carriers in yards during the previous season. 

According to CSNBayArea.com's Scott Bair, Del Rio doesn’t categorize running back as a glaring need. Murray simply needs a complementary back to offset his weaknesses. Drake brings a fresh pair of legs and explosive catch-and-run ability wherever he lines up on the field. As a footnote, he’s also a high-end kick returner.

Round 5

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Maryland defensive lineman Yannick Ngakoue

Round 5, Pick 143: Yannick Ngakoue, DE/LB, Maryland

Like last year’s draft, the Raiders have two fifth-round picks to spend on long-term potential as opposed to polished talent.

Oakland opted not to match the Dallas Cowboys’ offer sheet for Benson Mayowa, which creates a need for a Sam-type linebacker on the roster. 

Maryland defensive lineman Yannick Ngakoue possesses the tools to make an impact at the end of his rookie campaign or immediately take the field in sub-packages.

While playing on the defensive line as a junior, Ngakoue exploded in production with 13.5 sacks, leading the Terrapins pass rush.

At 6’2”, 252 pounds, his size translates to a prototypical strong-side linebacker in the pros. Over the years, he steadily improved in field awareness to develop his run-stopping ability. In a scheme positioned behind Mack who takes on lead blocks in a 4-3, Ngakoue has time to see plays develop in run situations or tee off with an occasional rush at the quarterback.

Round 5, Pick 154: Anthony Zettel, DT, Penn State

At 6’4”, 277 pounds with unmatched athleticism at his size, Penn State defensive lineman Anthony Zettel could become the draft’s biggest sleeper.

The Penn State prospect’s resume exhibits consistent pass-rushing and run-stopping production as an interior lineman. He accumulated 20 sacks and 38 tackles for a loss in four seasons on campus. 

The Raiders could face a scenario that entails sitting Edwards for a portion or the entire offseason program to ensure recovery. The coaching staff may enact an early regular-season snap count to err on the safe side. Regardless of Edwards’ situation, it doesn’t hurt to add depth along the defensive line.

If Zettel isn’t engulfing running backs and harassing quarterbacks, he’s able to bat down passes at the line of scrimmage. In four seasons, the versatile defender logged four interceptions and 14 passes defensed on the defensive line.

Round 6

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West Virginia safety K.J. Dillon

Round 6, Pick 194: K.J. Dillon, S, West Virginia

The Raiders grab “the other” safety in West Virginia’s secondary. No, it’s not Joseph, but K.J. Dillon adds depth to a very weak roster position in the long term. Nelson has two years on his deal, and Allen has one year to prove his worth. 

Joseph outperformed Dillon on the collegiate level until an injury derailed his senior season. The latter earned acclaim in the former’s absence, showing coverage ability with two interceptions, eight passes defensed and 54 tackles.

According to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, Dillon shows potential as a slot defender in zone schemes with athleticism—two attributes that should intrigue the Raiders coaching staff.

Defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. could utilize three safeties in nickel packages, pending Dillon’s progression in the slot at the professional level.

More importantly, another solid draft prospect at the position provides options in case the injury bug strikes as well as competition for Cash in training camp.

Round 7

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Illinois offensive lineman Ted Karras

Round 7, Pick 234: Ted Karras, OG, Illinois

The Raiders front office has carefully crafted an offensive line with unmatched size and strength inside and out.

Carr Insurance isn’t just a clever moniker for Derek Carr’s pass protection. Center Rodney Hudson lists as the smallest starting offensive lineman at 6’2”, 300 pounds. Gabe Jackson, Austin Howard, Penn and Osemele all weigh 330-plus pounds at 6’3” or taller.

According to Zierlein, football runs through Ted Karras’ blood, as he has four relatives who played for the NFL. He also brings his own brand of consistency and experience as a four-year starter at Illinois. 

At 6’3”, 307 pounds, Karras fits in as a backup for Hudson. He’s a natural guard, but his technical approach to the game along with a gritty style could pay dividends in case injuries sideline the starting center as in the previous season.

With Tony Bergstrom signing a two-year deal with the Houston Texans and guard Jon Feliciano below the bar as a starter, the Raiders need a versatile lineman to fill the gaps in Carr’s pass-protection insurance.

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All college statistics are provided by Sports-Reference.com.

All free-agent moves provided by ESPN Free-Agent Tracker.

All contract deals courtesy of Spotrac.