Oakland Raiders shake things up in post-Combine three-round mock

Having missed out on both Bosa and Allen earlier, and still need to address a glaringly deficient pass rush that accounted for just about the same amount of total sacks as Khalil Mack did for the entire season, Gruden uses the twenty-fourth pick on former Florida pass rusher Jachai Polite.

Las Vegas Raiders

Polite has seen his stock rising in some circles and for good reason. At six-foot-three and 258 pounds, he’s got terrific size. And having run a 4.8 40 at the Combine, he’s shown that he’s got some wheels. His combination of size, speed, and power made him highly effective rushing the passer at Florida where he notched 15 sacks and 28.5 tackles for a loss in just 29 total games.

His game isn’t perfect. He would likely need to start off as a designated pass rusher until he put on a little more mass and developed into a better run defender. He could be coached up on how to shed blocks and get to the ballcarrier more effectively.

But in terms of instinctively being able to get off the ball and get to the quarterback, Polite is top notch. He’s disruptive and has fantastic closing speed. Paired up and bookended with a fellow athletic freak in Arden Key, the Raiders could have a very solid set of pass rushers with Polite in the fold.

He would add to a defensive line that features both Maurice Hurst, P.J. Hall – both of whom figure to be better in their sophomore seasons – along with veteran Justin Ellis and the recently re-signed Johnathan Hankins. With Hurst, Hall, Ellis, and Hankins getting a push up the middle, then having Key and Polite coming in off the edges, the Raiders could find themselves with an effective and intimidating defensive line.

He’s not overly celebrated and probably isn’t atop anybody’s draft board, but Polite has a ton of potential, some serious raw skills, and is a guy that DC Paul Guenther can help shape and mold into something special.