In 2019, the Oakland Raiders nabbed several Clemson Tigers in the draft, including Clelin Ferrell, Trayvon Mullen, and Hunter Renfrow. Clearly, the Raiders’ front office has a strong relationship with Clemson head coach Dabo Sweeney, and we should expect the team to continue to target Tigers in future drafts.
In a recent mock draft by Luke Easterling of the Draft Wire, he has the Raiders doing just that. With the No. 30 pick (acquired from Chicago), Oakland selected linebacker Isaiah Simmons. Take a look at Easterling’s thoughts on the potential pairing in 2020:
After opting for value over need earlier in the first round, the Raiders use this pick to improve their biggest area of need on defense. Simmons will be viewed as a ‘tweener by many, but his athleticism, explosiveness and playmaking ability will translate to the next level, no matter where he lines up.
Simmons played in all 15 games for Clemson last season, lining up mostly at safety. He tallied 88 total tackles, nine tackles for a loss, and six pass deflections. Simmons will need to make the transition from safety to linebacker, but that shouldn’t be a problem given his speed, power, and instincts. Look for Simmons to be an option for the Raiders in the 2020 draft.
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