With the 2020 NFL Draft officially days and not weeks away, we keep pushing forward with yet another draft expert joining us to give his take on some Las Vegas Raiders-specific questions. This time, it’s Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports, whose latest two-round mock has the Raiders surprising some folks when it comes to their first selection…
1) One of the surprises in your latest mock is you have the Raiders trading up to No. 10 in order to grab Jerry Jeudy. Do you see any gap big enough among the top three receivers to justify trading up for in particular?
Trapasso: I don’t necessarily see that huge of a gap between them, but that of course doesn’t mean a few teams would agree with that. I just have a hunch that the Raiders will move around with those two first-round selections, and obviously a receiver is a big need. Getting ahead of the Jets at No. 11 would all but lock them into having the pick of the litter at wideout in this class.
2) In both of your last two mocks you’ve had the Raiders taking a CB at No. 19 (Kristian Fulton and Jeff Gladney). How do you see the corners shaking out — is there a big drop-off after CJ Henderson? And is the No. 3 corner a true first-round talent — or a reach in a week position class?
Trapasso: I have Fulton as my CB2, and Henderson as CB3, so I view it a little differently. Both first-round prospects on my board. I think there’s a noticeable drop off after that but a really nice group of cornerbacks who’ll be picked from like early Round 2 to mid Round 3.
3)You’ve got a lot of trades in your latest mock — which I appreciate! Is there a team that you could see being willing to trade up to 19? What do you think it might take?
Trapasso: The Vikings, with multiple firsts at No. 22 and No. 25 overall, seem like a candidate, and the Dolphins, at No. 26 overall with 14 overall selections in this class, are another. It will depend on how big of a leap a team would make, but getting an extra second or third-round selection wouldn’t be out of the question.
4)The Raiders also have three third-round picks. Aside from receiver, is there a position group that should be flush with talent still in the third?
Trapasso: Cornerback should still be pretty rife with talent at that juncture. And actually that’s when I think the value begins at the tight end position. Other than that, there’s a nice second or third tier at the edge-rusher spot and safety is deep enough to get an impact player in Round 3.
5) Last one: who are one or two guys that you think people are sleeping on? Could be a high-end prospect who people have going too late, or even a stud that might be on the board as late as Day 3.
Trapasso: Jeremy Chinn isn’t getting enough love. There’s plenty of buzz for him, but I think he should go in the first round. He’s a towering safety/linebacker with awesome coverage ability and ridiculous athletic traits. He fits the modern-day NFL.
Another one: Terrell Burgess, the safety from Utah. The guy has phenomenal coverage instincts in zone and has the lightning-quick feet of a slot cornerback. He plays bigger than his size in run support too. My comparison for him in Tyrann Mathieu. So versatile and active.
