Oakland Raiders: Go defense heavy in initial seven-round mock draft
By Kevin Saito
San Diego State. player. 28. Pick Analysis. Running Back. Scouting Report. Rashaad Penny. 112
Oakland’s backfield is in flux. To say the least.
Given his age, cap number, and antics on the field and off, the smart money is on Marshawn Lynch not being in Silver and Black next season. Gruden isn’t the type who is going to tolerate a player who makes himself bigger than the team and a player who is not 100 percent all in with his program.
Assuming Lynch is on his way out, that leaves the Raiders with DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard in the backfield. And if 2017 showed us anything, it’s that neither player seems ready or capable of being the featured back.
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Of course, they still have former North Carolina standout Elijah Hood squirreled away on the practice squad, and he’s got a build and running style very similar to Lynch. They could opt to bring him in to see what he can do.
But, knowing they need help running the ball – something they did not do effectively in 2017 – the Raiders are going to dip into the draft for some talent. With more highly touted backs like Saquon Barkley, Kerryon Johnson, and Sony Michel already off the board, the Raiders will turn to San Diego State product Rashaad Penny to help them fill the holes in their backfield.
At five-foot-eleven, 220 pounds, he’s got that smaller, compact, and powerful frame that allows him to bull his way over and through defenders.
As a senior, Penny ran for 2,248 yards on 289 carries (a healthy average of 7.8 yards per carry). He also ran for 23 scores. In the passing game, Penny collected 135 yards on 19 receptions, and added another two touchdowns.
He could also add value as a kick and a punt returner – both duties he performed well enough as an Aztec.
Scouts say that Penny needs to work on his knee bend, that he runs too upright at times and that he relies on going through, rather than around people, using his size to power his way downfield. Which sounds an awful lot like a perhaps, soon-to-be-former Skittles-loving, Oakland running back.