Raiders 2018 Draft Rumors: ESPN's Todd McShay Says Oakland Wants Roquan Smith

The Oakland Raiders have Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Roquan Smith atop their board as they evaluate potential targets for the 10th overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, ESPN's Todd McShay reported on a Wednesday conference call (h/t the San Francisco Chronicle's Matt Kawahara).

"[Smith] is the guy," McShay said. "I don't know that they would be willing to give away additional picks later to go up and get him. But he's the guy they want."

Smith was Georgia's leader in total tackles (137), tackles for loss (14.0) and sacks (6.5) in 2017. The junior was also a standout in the Bulldogs' overtime loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff National Championship, where he recorded 13 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack.

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller ranked Smith as the second-best linebacker in the 2018 draft class and compared him to another former Bulldogs star, Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis.

Although the Raiders signed Tahir Whitehead this offseason, they'd be smart to find an upgrade over Cory James to play alongside Whitehead and Bruce Irvin.

Smith's availability could be a problem for Oakland, though. McShay reported multiple teams are looking at the defender, so he may not be around when the Raiders are on the clock April 26.

If he's gone, Oakland could set its sights on Virginia Tech linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. Raiders coach Jon Gruden spoke highly of Edmunds without mentioning him by name.

"There's a 19-year-old football player in this draft that's a hell of a player," Gruden said, per ESPN.com's Paul Gutierrez. "We're not going to discriminate against him because he's 19. You're the best player and you fit what we're looking for, we'll take you."

Edmunds, who had 108 total tackles and 14.0 tackles for loss in 2017, would be a solid contingency plan if Smith is off the board.