On Monday, the league announced that the 2020 NFL Draft would be taking place on the dates originally planned — albeit with a radically new format (shout-out to social distancing). While there is much to debate about the wisdom in this decision, that’s not what this space is for — all we’re here to do is entertain and spark discussion about things that exist to take our minds off of the brokenness around us.
And so, with that in mind, I’m launching a new series today called “Re-Mock the Mock”. The premise is simple: over the next few weeks, I’ll take a look at some prominent NFL Draft experts’ mock drafts and take a look at what they have the Las Vegas Raiders doing. Admittedly, I’m not an expert on the other 31 teams in the NFL — and so I’ll let the pros pick for everyone else, and I’ll adjust to each unique mock accordingly.
First up is one of my favorite follows on Twitter, Matt Miller of Bleacher Report. After the first wave of free agency, Miller took to Twitter for a new mock draft thread and had the eleven picks before the Raiders at No. 12 looking like this:
- Joe Burrow (CIN)
- Chase Young (WAS)
- Jeff Okudah (DET)
- Tristan Wirfs (NYG)
- Justin Herbert (MIA)
- Tua Tagovailoa (LAC)
- Isaiah Simmons (CAR)
- Jedrick Wills (ARI)
- Derrick Brown (JAX)
- Mekhi Becton (CLE)
- Andrew Thomas (NYJ)
And then, the Las Vegas Raiders are on the clock…
Now the reality is that many of these mock drafts are going to look pretty similar to the one above — in most cases, those 11 players will be off the board when the Raiders step up. So, for the sake of making this series interesting and different, I’m going to take a unique approach to this one:
I’m going to trade up. For who, you might ask?
Isaiah Simmons would be the obvious one, but I don’t think the Raiders want to get up that high, and I don’t think the Panthers are going to want to give up on him. Instead, I’m trading up to the No. 9 pick to grab Derrick Brown.
In looking at the draft value chart, and knowing that I’ve got to overpay a little bit here, I’m offering No. 12, No. 80 (Las Vegas’ first pick in the third round) and No. 159 (fifth round) for No. 9. Again: it’s an overpay, but one I see value in considering the player the Raiders land.
That brings us to Brown: the defensive tackle from Auburn. Honestly, if not for the glut of quarterbacks and offensive tackles in the top-10, I think Brown would be getting a heck of a lot more love.
This guy is a top-five talent at a premium position — and one the Raiders still need some help at. Yes, they’ve got a handful of quality guys at DT — but none are needle-movers, and with Chris Jones taken off the market by the Chiefs, this is the Raiders’ best bet to add one.
One last note: Raiders beat writer Vic Tafur has indicated that Javon Kinlaw (the No. 2 interior defensive lineman in this draft) isn’t a guy the Raiders feel is quite ready to be an impact player — otherwise I’d stay at 12 and snag him. Is that a smokescreen to get other teams off the scent? We’ll see.
The draft continues…
12. Cee Dee Lamb (JAX)
13. Jerry Jeudy (SF)
14. Austin Jackson (TB)
15. Henry Ruggs III (DEN)
16. CJ Henderson (ATL)
17. Javon Kinlaw (DAL)
18. Josh Jones (MIA)
With the Raiders back on the clock, let’s keep things interesting and….TRADE DOWN.
The Raiders are already lacking draft capital, and even moreso after moving two later picks to get Brown. What if we move No. 19 to Baltimore for No. 28 and No. 60?
19. Patrick Queen (BAL)
20. K’Lavon Chaisson (JAX)
21. Justin Jefferson (PHI)
22. Jeff Gladney (MIN)
23. Kenneth Murray (NE)
24. Jordan Love (NO)
25. Tee Higgins (MIN)
26. D’Andre Swift (MIA)
27. Yetur Gross-Matos (SEA)
Back on the clock, the Raiders have seen five receivers fly off the board since they picked at No. 9. Remember, though, that this draft is flooded with wide receiver talent — and the Raiders still have a second and two thirds to work with.
Here, the value is in the defensive backfield where the Raiders could still use some help. I’m grabbing the top safety in the draft, Xavier McKinney from Alabama. (And yes, we know Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden love their blue bloods).
McKinney and Jonathan Abram make-up a devastating duo in the back of the defense — making up for any mistakes the Raiders’ young corners might make. With three picks on Day 2, expect the Raiders to grab a receiver — maybe two — as well as a cornerback they like.
