The conventional thought among mock drafters is that the Raiders are going to spend all three of their first-round picks addressing their needs on defense. And while that is indeed possible, that strategy would ignore one of the Raiders’ most significant needs; the receiver position.
Heading into the 2019 offseason, the Raiders lack a true No.1 receiver. In fact, you can make a case that Oakland needs a No.2 wide receiver, as well as Jordy Nelson, is now just a role player at this stage in his career. That is why it wouldn’t be shocking to see the team target a receiver in the first round of the draft.
In CBS Sports latest mock draft, Ryan Wilson mocked a wide receiver to the Raiders at the bottom of the first round. At pick No.4, he gave Oakland Quinnen Williams, the defensive tackle from Alabama. But at pick No.24, a new name appeared as the Raiders selected wide receiver Deebo Samuel from South Carolina. Here is the reasoning behind the selection:
Jordy Nelson isn’t the player he once was and whether tight end Jared Cook is re-signed, Derek Carr and this offense needs a playmaker. Samuel can line up anywhere on the field — he can even return kicks — and he’s coming off a strong Senior Bowl performance.
It’s hard to argue against Wilson’s assessment of Samuel. He’s a do-it-all receiver that can help the team in a variety of ways. However, he lacks the size, production and elite athleticism that you would expect to see from a first-round pick, let alone a No.1 receiver.
According to PlayerProfiler, Samuel accounted for only 27.2 percent of South Carolina’s passing offense, putting him in the 42nd percentile for college dominator rating. He averaged 14.2 yards per attempt, which was slightly below average. To make matters even worse, Samuel is an older prospect (23) who has dealt with an extensive injury history. For those reasons alone, I find it hard to believe he will be a first-round pick.
I have no doubt that Samuel is going to be a solid NFL player. He is going to find a way to produce one way or another. However, at pick No.24, there are likely to be better receivers available that offer more upside. If the Raiders want to select Samuel, look for them to target him on Day 2 of the NFL Draft.
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