2020 NFL Draft primer: Everything you need to know about the Raiders
When the Raiders pick, who they might select and more regarding the 2020 NFL draft.
There has never been an NFL draft like the one that starts Thursday night. Hopefully, it’s the last of its kind.
Yet it’s better than no draft at all. NFL teams are simply going about their business safely within the confines of social distancing, and at far less risk than medical professionals, grocery store clerks and others are doing on a daily basis.
Who wouldn’t want to keep working if at all possible?
It’s a little more complicated for Raiders coach Jon Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock, given their impending move Las Vegas. And there’s no assurance that once the draft is completed, there will be anything other than a “virtual” offseason, no training camp and maybe even no season.
Yet it’s a nice, safe diversion for all involved, and what could possibly be wrong with that?
A look at how things are shaping up for the Raiders going in to the 2020 draft:
DRAFT INFO
Where: Conducted through secure lines and video conferencing in line with shelter-in-place policy.
When: Round 1–Thursday, April 23 at 5 p.m.
Rounds 2 and 3: Friday, April 24, 4 p.m.
Rounds 4 through 7: Saturday, 9 a.m.
Television: Simulcast on ESPN and NFL Network. ABC television will have its own show Rounds 1 through 3 and pick up ESPN/NFL Network Rounds 4 through 7.
THE PICKS
Round 1: 12, 19 (via Chicago)
Round 2: None
Round 3: 80, 81 (via Chicago), 91 (from Seattle via Houston)
Round 4: 121
Round 5: 159
Round 6: None
Round 7 None
THE NEEDS
Wide receiver
Tyrell Williams and Hunter Renfrow are the only two returnees written in stone (health permitting). Nelson Agholor has the most receptions of anyone on the roster, but arrived on a one-year veteran minimum prove-it deal. If the Raiders keep both first-round picks, it would be a major surprise if one isn’t a wide receiver.
Potential targets: Jerry Jeudy (Alabama), CeeDee Lamb (Oklahoma), Henry Ruggs III (Alabama), Justin Jefferson (LSU), Tee Higgins (Clemson), Brandon Aiyuk (Arizona State), Michael Pittman Jr. (USC), Laviska Shinault Jr. (Colrado), Denzel Mims (Baylor), Jalen Reagor (TCU).
Cornerback
You have to go back to Nnamdi Asomugha in 2003 to find a cornerback drafted by the Raiders that made the Pro Bowl. The hope is Trayvon Mullen, a second-round pick last season, is on that track The Raiders were outbid by Miami for Byron Jones, the former Dallas corner. A deal with Eli Apple fell through. The Raiders signed Damarious Randall, who plays both corner and safety, but he’ll likely be a safety.
Potential targets: Jeff Okudah (Ohio State), C.J. Henderson (Florida), A.J. Terrell (Clemson), Kristian Fulton (LSU), Trevon Diggs (Alabama), Jeff Gladney (TCU), Noah Igbinoghene (Auburn), Jaylon Johnson (Utah), Bryce Hall (Virginia), Damon Arnette (Ohio State), Cameron Dantzler (Mississippi State).
Defensive end/edge rusher
The Raiders got a huge rookie season out of fourth-round pick Maxx Crosby and are counting on No. 4 pick Clelin Ferrell to double his sack total of 4 1/2. Carl Nassib arrived as a relatively high-priced free agent and Arden Key returns from a foot injury. None is a pure speed rusher off the edge. Consensus edge player Chase Young (Ohio State) should be long gone.
Potential targets: K’Lavon Chiasson (LSU), Yetur Gross-Matos (Penn State), A.J. Epenesa (Iowa), Terrell Lewis (Alabama), Josh Uche (Michigan), Curtis Weaver (Boise State), Julian Okwara (Notre Dame), Jonathan Greenard (Florida), Darrell Taylor (Tennessee), Bradlee Anae (Utah).
Running back
Given that the Josh Jacobs set a franchise rookie record wtih 1,150 yards in 14 games as a first-round pick, the Raiders will be on the lookout for a complementary back larger than Jalen Richard, who excels in the passing game. DeAndre Washington is off the market, having signed with the Chiefs.
Potential targets: Cam Akers (Florida State), Clyde Edwards-Helaire (LSU), Zack Moss (Utah), A.J. Dillon (Boston College), Antonio Gibson (Memphis), Darius Anderson (TCU), James Robinson, Illinois State.
Offensive line
The Raiders, injuries permitting, have set starters in left tackle Kolton Miller, left guard Richie Incognito, center Rodney Hudson, right guard Gabe Jackson and right tackle Trent Brown — that’s assuming they’ll carry Jackson’s $9.6 million cap number into the season. But backups are scarce, Incognito is 36 and Hudson will be 31 in July.
Potential targets: T Mekhi Becton (Louisville), C Cesar Ruiz (Michigan), C Lloyd Cushenberry (LSU), G Jonah Jackson (Ohio State), T Andrew Thomas (Georgia), T Austin Jackson (USC), T Josh Jones (Houston).
NEED TO KNOW
— The final say on who the Raiders draft belongs to coach Jon Gruden. That said, Gruden trusts general manager Mike Mayock, and Mayock is no shrinking violet. He’ll take a stand and fight for a pick, but in the end will support Gruden’s call.
— This is the Raiders’ first draft with Mayock’s hand-picked, reorganized personnel department. The 2019 draft was conducted with many of former G.M. Reggie McKenzie’s scouting staff. Mayock brought in Jim Abrams as director of college scouting, promoted Teddy Atlas to assistant director of college scouting. Those moves were in addition to a new director of pro personnel (Dwayne Joseph) and assistant director of player personnel (DuJuan Daniels).
— There are only four drafted players on the roster who pre-dated Gruden’s arrival in 2018 — quarterback Derek Carr, guard Gabe Jackson, linebacker Marquel Lee and tackle David Sharpe. And Sharpe was released and brought back. Running back Jalen Richard (2016) and lineabcker Nicholas Morrow (2017) made the Raiders as undrafted free agents in the McKenzie-Jack Del Rio regime.
RAIDERS MOCK
There’s a chance the Raiders don’t pick at Nos. 12 and 19 and instead trade back to try and get a pick in the second round round as well as the sixth and seventh. If that doesn’t occur, a wild guess at the Raiders seven selections in the 2020 NFL draft, barring trades to move up or down:
1/12_WR Jerry Jeudy, Alabama: Can he fill the role Antonio Brown was supposed to assume last year? Appears to be the most game-ready of any of the wideouts and would be an instant go-to target.
2/19_CB A.J. Terrell, Clemson: Analysts are all over the place on Terrell, with those who think he’s a mid- first-round pick and others who look at him as a mid-second. The Raiders know he went to Clemson. That counts for a lot.
3/80_S Terrell Burgess, Utah: Has position versatility in that he volunteered to go from nickel to safety as a senior and showed a nose for the ball. One of those “football guys” in terms of preparation that Gruden and Mayock covet.
3/81_QB Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma: OK, quarterback-starved Raiders fans, here’s your guy. He’ll likely be on ice as a rookie behind Derek Carr and Marcus Mariota, but he’ll be a nice piece of clay for Gruden to mold into an NFL player.
3/91_DE Bradley Anae, Utah: High effort player similar to Maxx Crosby in terms of motor, although possibly more limited because of shorter arms and athletic skill. Utah’s career sack leader with 30.
4/121_G-T John Simpson, Clemson: The kind of road-grader the Raiders love at 6-5 and 321 pounds and could easily play in the 330s. Plus the Raiders love the way Clemson players arrive ready to compete every day in practice.
5/159_RB A.J. Dillon, Boston College: Gruden loves backs who can move the chains. Always has. Dillon is 6-3, 247, gained 1,685 yards for the Eagles, averaged 5.3 yards per carry and scored 14 touchdowns.