For the most part, we’ve seen the same names mocked to the Raiders at pick No. 4 over and over again. You know the usual suspects. It’s Kentucky’s Josh Allen, Alabama’s Quinnen Williams, and occasionally, Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray.
However, what if it isn’t one of those three players? What if the Raiders throw us a curveball and select a player with the fourth pick that we never even bothered to discuss? We know Jon Gruden can tend to be a wild card at times, so let’s take a look at three under-the-radar players the Raiders could consider with the No. 4 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
OL Jonah Williams, Alabama
If one thing is clear about Gruden, it’s that he wants to rebuild the Raiders’ offensive line. In his first year back with the Raiders, he selected two offensive linemen in the first three rounds of the draft (Kolton Miller and Brandon Parker.) This offseason, the Raiders gave Trent Brown a four-year deal in free agency.
If Oakland wants to continue to improve its offensive line, it could use the No. 4 pick in the draft on whatever offensive lineman it wants. By most accounts, that player is Jonah Williams from Alabama.
Most consider Williams an offensive tackle in the NFL, but there are some who wonder if his best position might be inside at guard. Considering how rock solid he was for the Crimson Tide, it wouldn’t be much of a reach for him to be picked inside of the top five.
If the Raiders believe Williams could have a Zack Martin-like impact at guard in the NFL, don’t be surprised if he is a name the Raiders consider at pick No. 4.
LB Devin Bush, Michigan
The Raiders’ biggest need on the roster is on the defensive line. They desperately need pass rushers that can get to the quarterback. However, the next-biggest need on the roster comes at linebacker.
It has been years since the Raiders have had a dominant force in the middle of their defense and you can bet first-year general manager Mike Mayock will look to change that.
Considering how expensive off-the-ball linebackers have become in free agency, it wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world to grab the top linebacker in the class. For me, that player is Devin Bush of Michigan.
Bush shined at the NFL combine, running a 4.43 40-yard dash at 234 pounds. Despite his lack of height, Bush proved to be one of the most athletic linebackers in combine history and is the perfect player for today’s league.
Bush is worthy of a top-10 pick in this class and would fill a significant need for the team. Don’t be surprised if the Raiders target Bush, likely in a small trade back.
EDGE Brian Burns, Florida State
In the nightmare scenario in which Nick Bosa, Quinnen Williams, and Josh Allen are all off the board by pick No. 4, the Raiders could be looking at a situation where they might have to “reach” on the next available pass rusher. But who would that be?
Some think Montez Sweat from Mississippi State is deserving of a top-five selection, but with the recent news of his heart condition, maybe that will scare some teams off. The name to watch here for the Raiders is Florida State’s Brian Burns.
From an athletic standpoint, Burns has everything the Raiders could ever want from an edge rusher. He’s long, explosive and has the lower body flexibility to bend around the edge. From a production standpoint, Burns is solid, too, accumulating 23 sacks in only 33 career starts.
Burns isn’t getting enough hype during this draft process, and it’s hard to understand why that’s the case. His athleticism and production alone make him worthy of a top-10 selection. Expect the Raiders to be interested, even with their first pick in the draft.
