Oakland Raiders: Post-free agency four-round mock draft
By Kevin Saito
The Oakland Raiders addressed glaring areas of need with a flurry of free agent signings – here’s one guess as to how they address others via the Draft.
Oakland Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie and HC Jon Gruden have showed us that it’s not how you start, but how you finish that counts.
What it counts for, we’re not sure yet, since we’ll have to wait and see how these pieces they’ve added fit into the bigger picture. But, kudos to them for picking up some nice pieces that will fill some holes on this roster – and not breaking the bank to do it.
After the feeding frenzy and financial orgy of the first official day of free agency, McKenzie and Gruden perused the shelves and picked up some solid pieces – Jordy Nelson and Doug Martin notwithstanding.
Tahir Whitehead fills an immediate need in the second level of that defense, and has the ability to play inside or outside. If the Raiders fail to lure NaVorro Bowman back into the fold, expect to see Whitehead in the middle of that defense.
Rashaan Melvin will plug a gaping hole in the secondary after David Amerson and Sean Smith were cut, and T.J. Carrie was allowed to walk as a free agent. He’ll likely slot in opposite Gareon Conley, with new add Shareece Wright likely lining up in the slot, hopefully giving the Raiders a better secondary than they’ve had in the last few years.
And Marcus Gilchrist will likely be slotted in starting alongside Karl Joseph on the back line of that Oakland defense, giving them a lot steadier play than they’ve had with Reggie Nelson back there, while allowing them to see what they actually have in Obi Melifonwu.
Tank Carradine, Kyle Wilber, and Keith Smith will fill some rotational needs as well.
Suffice it to say, after that initial explosion when the free agency window first opens, McKenzie and Gruden have been busy adding pieces. But, they’ll still need talent and depth at many key positions. Which is where the Draft comes into play.
With the big waves of free agency past, and considering the players Oakland has signed, we will now take a look at a four-round mock draft simulator, and how the Raiders might go about filling some of the needs that remain.