The NFL Combine is just a few weeks away, and as the 2019 NFL Draft inches closer and closer, we are getting a clearer picture of who the Raiders may pick with the fourth-overall selection. Selecting at No.4 means Oakland will have a reasonably good idea of which players will be available to them, making this process all the more fun. Oakland should be able to create a relatively accurate short list of players to choose from with their first pick.
With new mock drafts coming out daily, we are starting to see trends of certain players ending up in the Silver and Black. With a little more than two months to go until the NFL Draft, here are the five most likely picks for the Raiders at No.4:
5. DE Clelin Ferrell, Clemson
If the Raiders are dead-set on grabbing a pass-rusher with their first pick in the first round, Clelin Ferrell from Clemson could be an option if there is an early run on defensive ends. Ferrell is one of the safest defenders in the class as his college production rivals any player in the draft.
In three seasons at Clemson, Ferrell recorded 50.5 tackles for a loss and 27 sacks as well as being named the 2018 ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Ferrell may lack the elite upside of a Nick Bosa or a Josh Allen, but there is no doubt in my mind that he will be a solid pro, at the very worst. Expect to see Ferrell’s name continue to show up in mock drafts at No.4 to the Raiders.
4. QB Kyler Murray, Oklahoma
With Kyler Murray officially choosing football over baseball, it’s time to consider the possibility that the Raiders could draft him with the fourth-overall selection. I’ve already planted my flag and said that Murray is an elite quarterback prospect, but will the Raiders agree? A selection of Murray at No.4 means that the Derek Carr era will come to an end sooner rather than later.
However, that hasn’t stopped mock drafters from giving the Raiders the 2019 Heisman Trophy winner. While it’s certainly a possibility, don’t expect the Raiders to grab a quarterback, not in the first round at least.
3. DE Rashan Gary, Michigan
Recently, Michigan’s defensive end Rashan Gary has been a common selection for the Oakland Raiders at No.4. If defensive ends Nick Bosa and Josh Allen are gone by the fourth pick, mock drafters have slated Gary to go to the Raiders inside of the top-five.
On paper, that selection makes sense. Gary is a super-athletic defensive end from a football factory in Ann Arbor. His movement skills for a 280-pound defensive end reminds some of J.J. Watt coming out of college. However, Gary lacks the college production you would like to see from an elite prospect. In three seasons at Michigan, Gary had just 9.5 total sacks. The hype surrounding him didn’t match the production.
However, if Gary crushes the NFL combine, people will overlook the sub-par college stats and point to his potential. Expect Gary to continue to be a name the Raiders consider with the fourth-overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft.
2. DT Quinnen Williams, Alabama
One of the most commonly mocked players to the Raiders at No.4 is Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. Despite drafting two defensive tackles in the 2018 NFL Draft (P.J. Hall and Maurice Hurst), Williams is a likely pick for the Raiders at No.4 given just how talented he is.
According to Pro Football Focus, Williams was the highest-graded player in all of college football in 2018. From the defensive tackle position, Williams racked up an absurd 19.5 tackles for a loss and eight sacks as a redshirt sophomore. For most of the season, he was nearly unblockable as teams would rarely ever leave him alone with a single offensive lineman.
If selected by the Raiders, Oakland would quickly have one of the best interior defensive lines in all of football. The combination of Williams, Hurst, and Hall would allow the Raiders to match up against any type of offense. Grabbing Williams at No.4 overall would be a fantastic value.
1. DE Josh Allen, Kentucky
Seemingly the most likely pick for the Raiders at No.4 is Kentucky’s, Josh Allen. Allen is a perfect fit in Paul Guenther’s defense as he can do a little bit of everything. But most importantly, Allen can get to the quarterback. As a senior, Allen recorded 17 sacks and 21.5 tackles for a loss, all while on his way to becoming the SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
Considering that Nick Bosa is likely to be the No.1 pick, the Raiders will have to “settle” for the second-best edge option in the 2019 draft. However, that would be a home-run pick for the Raiders. Josh Allen is one of the top two or three players in this entire draft.
