As we inch closer to the NFL Draft, the list of options for the Raiders seemingly grows by the day, especially at pick No.4. It seems like every day there is a new possibility that hasn’t been discussed yet. That is somewhat uncommon for a team having a top-five selection.
However, our goal today is to narrow the list down to seven players the team could consider with their first pick in April’s draft. Here is a look at some of the names Oakland may draft a month from now and the reasoning behind each potential pick:
EDGE Josh Allen, Kentucky
Maybe the most likely pick for the Raiders at No.4 is Kentucky’s, Josh Allen. The 2018 SEC Defensive Player of the Year was dominant last season, recording 21.5 tackles for a loss to go along with 17 sacks. Over the previous three years at Kentucky, he tallied an incredible 42 tackles for a loss and 31.5 sacks.
Combine his production with his athleticism (81st percentile), and it’s not hard to see why he’s a top prospect in this draft. There just aren’t many holes to poke in his game as he has everything you would want to see from an elite edge rusher prospect.
With the Raiders desperately needing an edge rusher and Allen likely in their range, he has to be the odds-on favorite to be the pick come late-April. Expect him to be wearing a Raiders’ hat in less than a month from now.
EDGE Nick Bosa, Ohio State
Ideally, Ohio State’s Nick Bosa would be the Raiders pick at No.4. Bosa has elite athleticism, college production and just knows how to get to the quarterback. He is the prototype defensive end in the NFL.
However, with the team picking fourth and two teams ahead of them that desperately need pass-rush help, it’s unlikely that Bosa will drop to Oakland. But we have seen stranger things happen on draft night. If one or two quarterbacks are selected ahead of Oakland, it seems likely that the former Ohio State star could fall to the Raiders.
At the very worst, Bosa is on the short list of players the team would have to select if he fell to them at pick No.4. He is simply one of the best two or three players in this entire class, even with his injury concerns.
Defensive Tackle Quinnen Williams, Alabama
After Josh Allen, Alabama’s Quinnen Williams has to be the most likely player in the draft to wind up wearing the Silver and Black.
Despite the Raiders need on the edge, it may be tough to pass on Williams because just might be the best player in the entire draft. On nearly every draft analysts big board, he ranks inside the top two or three players for good reason.
In 2018, Williams recorded 19.5 tackles for a loss and eight sacks as a redshirt sophomore at Alabama. That is unheard of in college football, especially in the SEC. Williams was named an All-American and went onto dominate the NFL Combine, running a 4.84 at 303 pounds.
Oakland has depth on the interior of the defensive line, but Williams would be an instant starter next to Maurice Hurst. The thought of pairing those two talents together has to be intriguing for new general manager Mike Mayock. Expect Williams’ name to be in the conversation
Defensive Tackle Ed Oliver, Houston
Early on in the draft process, Oliver was a name that was routinely discussed inside the top-five picks. However, his hype train has slowed down some over the last few months as other players have received more attention.
While most believe Williams is the better player, it’s not hard to get behind the idea of selecting Oliver. He is an exceptional athlete with excellent college production (53 tackles for a loss and 13.5 sacks in 32 games.) Only Aaron Donald has had better college production at the FBS level than Oliver. If there was ever a player who deserved to be compared to Donald, it’s Oliver.
If the Raiders want to get a true three-technique with quickness and explosiveness, Oliver is their man. Pairing him with Maurice Hurst inside would provide offensives across the league problems every week. Oliver should be getting a lot more discussion as the potential pick for the Raiders at No.4.
Quarterback Kyler Murray, Oklahoma
One player that we can’t rule out just yet is quarterback Kyler Murray. The 2018 Heisman Trophy winner was dominant in his only season as Oklahoma’s starting quarterback, he threw for 42 touchdowns and ran for another 12 in just 14 games. Murray is as dynamic as a quarterback as have ever seen as he had the highest adjusted passing yards per attempt in college football history.
However, the two questions surrounding this possible pick are if he is going to make it to Oakland and what does the team think about Derek Carr long-term?
While it’s impossible to answer either question right now, it does appear that Oakland is interested in Murray. The team is scheduled to visit with him this week, and that will likely decide what the Raiders will do about Murray.
Expect them to continue to have interest all the way up until the day of the draft.
Linebacker Devin White, LSU
It’s no secret that the team’s biggest need on the roster is a pass-rusher, specifically one on the edges. However, the need at linebacker is a pressing one, as well. The team signed veteran Vontaze Burfict but gave him just $300,000 in guarantees. It’s anything but a lock for him to be on the roster come September.
If the Raiders want to address their linebacker need early, it wouldn’t be that big of a stretch for the team to select LSU’s Devin White with their top pick.
White was dominant over the last two seasons, tallying 256 total tackles and 25.5 tackles for a loss. At the NFL Combine, he proved to be an elite athlete, running a 4.42 40-yard dash at 237 pounds. He is the perfect modern-day linebacker who can run from sideline to sideline, but also dominate in coverage.
While using the No.4 pick in the draft seems a little rich, White would instantly fill a need and make their defense dramatically better. Consider White a darkhorse to be selected inside the top-five picks.
Quarterback Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State
Of the two quarterbacks who are expected to be top-10 picks, Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins seems like the more likely option for the Raiders at pick No.4. The team already has a pre-draft visit set up with him, and he seems to fit the Raiders’ scheme better than Murray.
Haskins is still an underdog to be selected by the team, however. But we can’t rule him out as a possibility, especially after his dominant season at Ohio State. It wouldn’t be a surprise at all if Haskins turns out to be the best quarterback in this draft.
