As ESPN’s foremost draft expert for over 30 years, Mel Kiper Jr. knows all about television and the NFL. When he looks at the Raiders’ situation heading into this year’s selection meeting, he sees the league’s most intriguing storyline.
The Raiders already had one TV personality in coach Jon Gruden when they added NFL Media draft guru Mike Mayock to the front office. Mayock will serve as the Raiders’ general manager as they embark on a crucial roster rebuild. The two will have an abundance of picks and even more glaring needs, making each selection vital.
On a conference call with reporters, Kiper Jr. talked about what he’s looking for from Oakland, according to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Scott Bair.
“It’s Jon and Mike working together. They have the three first-round picks. They have a chance with more next year. They have an opportunity to fill a lot of holes.”
They have decisions to make, including with the Antonio Brown situation in Pittsburgh and them needing a receiver,” Kiper said. “They have the draft picks. Do they try and make a move there? Do they take (Oklahoma quarterback) Kyler Murray? Do they move Derek Carr or stick with him?”
Jon was always raving about quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes and Russell Wilson and the like. What’s his opinion of Murray in relation to Carr? You talk about a fascinating player, and that’s Kyler Murray. You talk about the most fascinating team in this draft, for obvious reasons, it’s the Oakland Raiders.”
Kiper points out a couple of hot-button issues. Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown is on the trading block, and the Raiders are one of the teams with a glaring need at WR in addition to the assets to make a deal. And while quarterback Derek Carr received praise from Gruden during the season, it’s no secret he likes a dual-threat QB, like the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and Kyler Murray, the Heisman Trophy winner out of Oklahoma.
It would be a risk to trade picks for Brown or to draft Murray in the first round. Oakland’s needs are numerous. The defense had just 13 sacks in 2018, while the offense allowed 52 such plays. But those two players are arguably more talented than any other they might select.
Kiper is right to be most interested in the Raiders. With an abundance of needs and assets and two TV personalities running an iconic franchise, the entire NFL will be waiting with anticipation to see what Gruden and Mayock choose to do.
