It is no secret that the Oakland Raiders need to add linebacker depth this offseason. You can make a case that the team had the worst group of linebackers in the league in 2018. But with three first-round picks, it’s likely that the team will try to address this need.
At the NFL combine, two linebackers stood out: LSU’s Devin White and Michigan’s Devin Bush. It’s widely considered that White will be a top-10 pick with Bush falling somewhere in the middle of the first round. After these two, the talent level significantly drops off.
If the Raiders want an elite linebacker, they will likely have to “settle” for Bush. Luckily for them, there isn’t much of a gap, if at all, between the two. Take a look at just how well Bush tested Sunday at the combine:
More than likely, if the Raiders want to draft Devin Bush, they will need to trade up into the teens. If you are looking at the first-round order, the Pittsburgh Steelers sit at pick No. 20, and they have a significant need at linebacker after failing to replace Ryan Shazier in 2018. They would love nothing more than to select Bush with their first-round pick.
Let’s take a look at what it would cost the Raiders to move up from pick No. 24 to No. 19, hypothetically. According to Drafttek’s trade value chart, that move would cost the Raiders their fourth- and fifth-round picks. Another option would be to swap third-round picks with the Titans (No. 66 and No. 82).
Considering the linebacker depth doesn’t stretch very far in this draft, a trade like the one listed above would make a lot of sense for the Raiders. Bush would instantly become a starter for the Raiders and has Pro Bowl potential. He’s arguably one of the 15 best players in this class, and he is worth trading up for.
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