There has been a lot of talk around the Raiders taking Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty with the sixth overall pick in the draft, but there seems to have been a shift in recent days among some of the most connected NFL insiders.
The latest popular projections have been all about the trenches.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter specifically named Armand Membou as a possibility for the Raiders in the first round and Sports Illustrated insider Albert Breer also seems to be coming around to the idea of the Raiders addressing the line of scrimmage with their first pick.
On the Breer Report this week, Breer mentioned four linemen, on both sides of the ball, as possibilities for the Raiders – even with Jeanty still on the board.
“I’m not positive that’s the way they go. Because I look at Pete Carroll’s history, I look at what he has looked for in players in the past, I look at how he built his team in Seattle and the investments over the years they made in defensive linemen,” Breer said. “Then I look at the general manager there, John Spytek, coming over from the Buccaneers, he’s got Eagles background, so he’s a line of scrimmage guy, too, building inside out.”
It wouldn’t surprise me if you see an offensive lineman or a defensive lineman here. Could be Mason Graham, could be Mykel Williams… could be a Will Campbell, could be Armand Membou. It would not surprise me if it’s an offensive or defensive lineman. I’m not ruling Ashton Jeanty out. I’m just saying it’s too early for me to say ‘Yeah, I think Jeanty is the pick.'”
With the draft just over a week away, there is definitely a growing contingent of insiders and draft analysts leaning away from Jeanty to the Raiders at pick 6.
It also sounds like the odds are shrinking that Shedeur Sanders will end up in Las Vegas
This week on his weekday Raider Nation Radio program, Vinny Bonsignore said he believes Shedeur will be on the board when the Raiders are on the clock with the sixth pick but expects the Raiders to pass on the Colorado quarterback if that scenario plays out.
“I feel like in spite of what’s going on with the Giants and bringing in Shedeur Sanders or heading over to Colorado to work him out for a private visit with a contingency of Giants decision makers, I don’t think that they draft him with the third pick,” Bonsignore said on the Morning Tailgate on Tuesday. “I do think he’s going to be available at no. 6, and I think the Raiders are going to have a decision on their hands. I don’t think that they go Shedeur in that scenario.”
It’s been written down more than a few times in this corner of the interwebs, but Ohio State quarterback Will Howard has to be the most likely rookie quarterback to end up with the Raiders.
His rising draft stock after the NCAA National Championship combined with his familiarity with offensive coordinator Chip Kelly are too much to ignore.
Howard to the Vegas in the third round… unless someone jumps on him sooner.
x: @raidersbeat
Raiders are NOT drafting a QB in the 1st round. Please go with a big, fat OLineman. Our Oline has been a real issue. Graham on DL would be good too.
Mason Graham and Mykel Williams. Why are these guys ranked so high?
Graham doesn’t rush the QB, he’s a run stopper. He’s not Jalen Carter. I don’t see anything special when I watch his film.
Williams same thing. Nothing special on film.
The Raiders should be seriously considering Mike Green at 6. Now that guy is the real deal.
If Sanders is on the board at 6, and the Raiders pass in favor of Will Howard, they’d better pray that Sanders doesn’t become a top-10 QB in the league, or that Will Board also becomes a top-10 QB or that neither do.
This will be a tenure defining decision, in the way Mayock never recovered from turning 3 first round picks into a DE who couldn’t rush the passer, a box safety who couldn’t tackle (and was more famous for penalties and blown assignments than any highlight hits), and a running back who left once his rookie deal expired.