The first wave of free agency is over, and the draft is starting to come into focus for the Raiders.
With the addition of Christian Wilkins, the Raiders filled a huge need on the interior of their defensive line, but there are three positions groups in Las Vegas that still need considerable attention: quarterback, offensive tackle and cornerback.
There is a good chance the Raiders will address one of those positions with their first-round pick, and ESPN’s Mel Kiper agreed in his latest mock draft…
“In my last mock draft, I had the Raiders taking the best interior penetrator in the class in Byron Murphy II (Texas). Well, that no longer makes sense after they gave free agent Christian Wilkins a massive deal, plugging a hole in the middle of their defense. I’m not ruling out edge rusher or quarterback as a possibility with this pick — they did add Gardner Minshew in free agency to at the very least be a bridge passer — but I keep staring at their depth chart and wondering who’s going to play right tackle. Let’s fill that void with [Alabama offensive tackle J.C. Latham], the best right tackle in this class.
Latham started 27 games at the position in college, surrendering just two sacks and 16 total pressures. He can also dominate in the run game with his 6-foot-6, 342-pound frame. Las Vegas is remaking its run game without back Josh Jacobs, who signed with Green Bay, and Latham could be an integral part of its rebuild. The Raiders ranked 28th in yards per rush attempt (3.7) last season.”
With Jermaine Eluemunor leaving in free agency for the New York Giants, the Raiders have Thayer Munford and no other exciting options on the roster at right tackle.
Everyone knows Antonio Pierce wants to build the roster from the inside out (i.e. focus on the offensive and defensive lines) and what better way to carry out that plan than drafting the most promising right tackle in the draft?
It will be interesting to see what quarterbacks fall to the Raiders at pick 13, and the team’s decision could come down to the no. 5 quarterback on the board or the no. 1 right tackle.
Which of those potential options would you prefer?
twitter: @raidersbeat
We definitely are not set at QB! But regardless of who we have back there we have to protect him! Having a tackle that big at that age would be a huge step for our QB’s future. I also think Nix, Pence or Rattler could make terrific QB’s in the right circumstance. And having bookend tackles that are that good would do wonders for the running game. Which side you gonna run? Or are you gonna pass? Opens up a lot of possibilities!
We are set at quarterback. Any of our current quarters could easily find victory with the pro-bowl group of receivers we have.. What we aren’t set at but could get there quickly is a defense feared by the league. Match the 1983 defense and you have already won the super bowl. Your offense is talented enough to get the points you need after your defense crushes the opposing offense. Rebuild the defense, the offense will follow.