With just over a week to go, no one knows where the Raiders will go in the first round of the draft. Over the last three years, we’ve been surprised with who they have picked each year, but not necessarily the positions they’ve targeted on Day 1.
However, the 2021 NFL draft seems different as we have no idea if the Raiders will be going offense or defense at No. 17. The right tackle position looks to be the weakest on the roster. However, the Raiders also had the 32nd-ranked defense in 2020 and need to continue to add to all three levels of that unit.
Luckily, the folks at BetMGM might be able to help us figure out where the team might go at No. 17. The Raiders are currently -175 favorites to defense in Round 1 (bet $175 to win $100) and we know they are the betting favorites to land Micah Parsons.
If the Raiders do go defense in Round 1, linebacker (+225) appears to be the most likely pick with Parsons and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (Notre Dame) being likely targets. Both players would add speed and athleticism to a defense that desperately lacks it.
These odds are certainly fluid and can change at a moment’s notice. But as we stand here today, it appears the team will be adding a high-profile defender in a week.
