It’s widely acknowledged that the Raiders will spend their first pick on the defensive side of the ball. Who will they select is another story, but it’s reasonably likely it will be a defensive line.
But what is more intriguing is what the Raiders will do at the bottom of the first round. In Peter Schrager’s first mock draft at NFL.com, he gave the Raiders defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and linebacker Mack Wilson. But with the No. 27 overall selection, the Raiders were given arguably the best receiver in the class in D.K. Metcalf from Ole Miss.
Metcalf is one of the most physically imposing receivers in the draft. At his Thursday press conference, head coach Jon Gruden compared Metcalf to a Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown:
Metcalf is expected to impress at the NFL Combine, potentially running in the high 4.3s. While he doesn’t have the ideal production for a first-round pick, his physical tools are outstanding. He would be well worth a top-25 selection if he is medically cleared.
