Raiders Pick Maurice Hurst in 2018 NFL Draft Despite Concerns About Heart Issue

The Oakland Raiders used the No. 140 overall pick of the 2018 NFL draft to upgrade the defensive front with the selection of Maurice Hurst out of Michigan.

Twitter reacted to the Raiders' decision to add a talented player, albeit one with health concerns:

At 6'2" and 282 pounds, Hurst is a little undersized for the position but has a great burst off the ball and is quick enough and strong enough to get into the backfield consistently.

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller considered him the No. 4 defensive lineman in the class, also listing him as the best pass-rusher at the position while having the most potential.

While size is a bit of an issue, the bigger question mark for teams came when he was flagged for a heart condition at the scouting combine. However, he was cleared to play a month later, per ESPN.com's Adam Schefter.

Todd McShay of ESPN.com reported some teams took him off the board completely because of the heart problem.

Hurst was a consensus All-American last season for the Wolverines, consistently becoming a disruptive presence in the middle of the front seven. While defensive tackles don't often produce big statistics, he finished last year with 61 tackles, with 14.5 coming for a loss and five sacks.

Pro Football Focus noted just how good he was in 2017:

If he can remain healthy, Hurst has a chance to make an immediate impact in the pros.