If there is one thing we know about Mike Mayock as a general manager, it’s that he is going to be aggressive. Whether it’s signing big-names in free agency or trading for superstar receivers, Mayock is never afraid of making the bold move to try to improve his team. And with two picks in the first round, there is certainly the possibility of the team using one of those selections to move up in the draft.
Today, we are looking at three players that the Raiders could trade up for in the 2020 draft. All three players are expected to go before pick No. 12, but the order in which they are drafted could vary. But here are three players the Raiders have to consider moving up for during April’s draft.
QB Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
The No. 1 trade-up target for a lot of teams may be Tua Tagovailoa from Alabama. While his health status is still up in the air, it sounds like he is progressing well and may be even able to participate in the NFL Combine.
Tagovalioa is one of the best passers in the history of college football and would be the No. 1 pick in most drafts. If he were to slide outside of the top three or four picks, the Raiders would have to make a few calls as he would give them a franchise quarterback to build with over the next decade.
CB Jeffrey Okudah, Ohio State
While it’s clear that the wide receiver and linebacker positions are the two biggest needs on the Raiders’ roster, the cornerback situation is one that can’t be ignored. Trayvon Mullen had an excellent rookie season, but the team needs to find a long-term solution on the other side.
The top cornerback in this draft is Jeffrey Okudah from Ohio State. Okudah is widely believed to be a top-five selection in this class, but if a run on quarterbacks starts early, it’s possible to envision scenarios in which he gets outside of the first few picks.
Could the Raiders possibly consider using two third-round picks to move up from No. 12? If that’s the case, they may be able to move up to pick No. 7 or No. 8. If that’s the price of acquiring an elite cornerback talent, count the Raiders in as a team that could possibly move up in the first round.
LB Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
Maybe the most realistic trade-up candidate for the Raiders is linebacker/safety Isaiah Simmons from Clemson. Obviously, we know how much value Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden put on Clemson players as they drafted three during the 2019 NFL Draft. It also doesn’t hurt that Simmons is simply one of the best defenders in the entire class.
Simmons will likely be the only linebacker carrying a “first-round grade” from teams during this draft cycle, and with the position being such a need for the Raiders, it’s not hard to envision them making a small trade-up to secure the All-American.
If Simmons were to fall outside of the top seven or eight selections, anticipate the Radiers having conversations with the teams above them to secure the No. 1 linebacker in the 2020 draft.
