With less than 48 hours until the NFL Draft, the Raiders have been linked to about a dozen prospects with their first pick and it would seem from the outside that the team has done well to hide their intentions to this point.
But until the card is turned in on their first-round pick, we’re going to speculate on what the Raiders plan to do and a couple of the league’s respected insurers dropped their latest draft intel on the team on Monday.
According to draft insider Tony Pauline, the Raiders are expected to look for an offensive tackle at some point in the draft, but feel good about the interior of their offensive line.
Additionally, Pauline shared a few thoughts on Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty and the buzz around him going to the Raiders with the sixth pick.
“After the press conference from Pete Carroll and John Spytek last week, many feel it’s a lock that the Las Vegas Raiders will select Ashton Jeanty with the sixth pick of the draft,” Pauline reported on Monday.
“Yet in speaking with league sources since that press conference, no one told me Jeanty is a lock, as some ‘think’ it’ll be the running back, while others just don’t know. Most all I’ve spoken with still believe Armand Membou is in the conversation once the team is called to the clock. Just about everyone believes the Raiders will look to upgrade their tackle position at some point in the draft.”
ESPN’s Adam Schefter also weighed in and said the Raiders could go a lot of different directions with the no. 6 pick.
”Even though they have holes, they want to win now. They traded for Geno Smith, Pete Carroll loves to run the football, but still could use help along the offensive line and defensive line,” Schefter said.
”There’s a lot of ways that new GM John Spytek could go with that sixth overall pick.”
Maybe just as importantly, Schefter said he believes the Jacksonville Jaguars will be taking an offensive player with the no. 5 pick and that means there’s a good chance Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham is going to be on the board when the Raiders are on the clock.
Will Spytek and Tom Brady jump at the opportunity to pull from their alma mater for help along the defensive line?
x: @raidersbeat