Oakland Raiders: Go defense heavy in initial seven-round mock draft

Sticking with the idea that the Raiders need to give Carr a little more help around him, the Raiders opt to go offense with another of their six, sixth-round picks, by taking Miami’s Christopher Herndon IV.

At six-foot-four, 252 pounds, Herndon has a big, strong frame that allows him to run and pass block effectively. He’s got a bit of quickness to his step and a lot of athleticism to go along with that big frame.

More than that though, he’s also a very talented pass catcher who runs terrific routes and has solid hands.

Over his three years at Miami, Herndon amassed 1,048 yards on 86 catches, and hauled in seven touchdowns. His senior year was, by far, his best season as a collegiate, posing 40 catches for 477 yards, and four of his seven total college touchdowns.

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There is a possibility that the Raiders free up some cap space – and clear out some apparent locker room drama – by releasing Jared Cook. They also have former Hurricane Clive Walford still on the roster and under contract for another year, though he clearly fell into disfavor with the Jack Del Rio regime.

If the Raiders release Cook – or even if they don’t – they’ll need to start thinking about the future of the tight end position. And as of right now, that future is looking pretty bleak.

Picking up Herndon and developing him could turn out to be a terrific value for a sixth-round pick, and could give Carr a big, reliable target down in the red zone.