Unlike last year, the Las Vegas Raiders find themselves just out of reach of some of the most notable prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Regardless, this has not stopped head coach Jon Gruden from doing his due diligence on household names like Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah. After all, the Raiders still have two first-round picks to work with in order to potentially make a splash.
Okudah has established himself as the best cornerback prospect in this year’s draft. It is safe to say that he has managed to make quite the impression on Gruden.
Okudah revealed that Gruden had complimented his otherworldly potential during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, via Chase Goodbread of NFL.com:
“I’m talking football with Jon Gruden, and he says ‘Hey man, are you from planet Earth?’ ” said Okudah, who is expected to be the first cornerback selected in the 2020 NFL Draft. “It’s crazy to think about that because he’s someone who’s been around some great football minds. For him to say that, I was like (to myself) ‘You’re here, man.’ “
Okudah’s comments are indicative of the kind of respect Gruden garners among the next generation of potential superstars. The only question now is whether or not the Raiders will be the ones to take advantage of his elite skill set.
The former Buckeye is projected to be a top-5 pick in this year’s class, meaning he will be off the board well before Las Vegas is on the clock with the 12th overall pick. This means they may have to pair with the No. 19 pick and trade up if they hope to have a shot at landing his services.
It has been deemed a foregone conclusion that the Cincinnati Bengals will take LSU quarterback Joe Burrow with the No. 1 pick. Meanwhile, every team in the top-5 outside of the New York Giants have reportedly expressed interest in Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Of course, it remains to be seen whether or not the Raiders’ two picks will be enough for them to be willing to fall back in the draft.
Regardless, Las Vegas is still left with a void to fill opposite of cornerback Trayvon Mullen in their secondary. If they are not able to find an answer in the draft, they could look to free agency. Rumors have already begun to swirl about their interest in Dallas Cowboys cornerback Byron Jones and Denver Broncos cornerback Chris Harris Jr.
Although landing Okudah may seem far-fetched, it is safe to say that Gruden and the Raiders will be doing their due diligence to leave no stone unturned.
