3 Bold Predictions for the Raiders in 2020 NFL Draft
By Michael Luciano
The Las Vegas Raiders have the ability to take the 2020 NFL Draft completely off the rails. Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden own two first-round picks, and they haven't totally closed the book on selecting a quarterback despite the presence of Derek Carr and Marcus Mariota. "Gruyock" have been known to go against the grain in the draft during their short tenure together with the Raiders, and more of that trend-bucking should be expected this weekend.
3. At Least Three Secondary Players Are Drafted
Not only has the Raider secondary been bad over the last few years, but it's been so bad that a pretty solid offense has struggled to piece wins together. Pick No. 19 could be an ideal place to pick a player like Alabama's Xavier McKinney or TCU's Jeff Gladney that could step in right away and help the D grow into something that the fans in Las Vegas proud of. After that, expect two more defensive backs to be among the Raiders' selections.
2. Las Vegas Trades up for a Wide Receiver
One of the most commonly predicted first-round selections is that the Raiders will opt for either Alabama's Jerry Jeudy or Oklahoma's CeeDee Lamb. Unfortunately, they might need to move up from the No. 12 spot to take their guy, as the receiver-needy New York Jets pick ahead of them and the Denver Broncos could leapfrog ahead as well. Adding a wide receiver has to be of paramount importance for Gruden and Mayock, which could require sacrificing additional assets.
1. Mayock Passes on the Top Quarterbacks
The Justin Herbert and Jordan Love rumors aren't dying down, but the Raiders have more pressing needs to figure out than quarterback, as Carr and Mariota have proven to be at least serviceable over the course of their careers. In a division that is wide open, the Raiders need to fix holes in the secondary rather than picking a guy who won't be active for most of the season.