Use the 19th Overall Pick on Kenneth Murray
While wide receiver is arguably the Raiders most-needed position, linebacker isn’t far behind. Right now the Las Vegas linebacking core is a mess.
The core of Tahir Whitehead, Will Compton and Nicholas Morrow simply didn’t do enough in 2019 to be locked in starts going into 2020. While Whitehead is a team leader, cutting him would save $6.25 million and is a real possibility.
Compton shined in moments throughout the season and could be brought back on a cheap deal. Although a starting role is far from a given.
The Raiders did lose Vontaze Burfict due to suspension. If he is in their plans for 2020 he would help shore up the position. However, it’s hard to trust a guy who always seems like one step away from out of the league.
Las Vegas needs to truly invest in their linebacking core. They have to add a young player to build around at the position. They have Clelin Ferrell and Maxx Crosby on the line and Trayvon Mullen and Johnathan Abram in the secondary. Adding a versatile linebacker would help a position in desperate need of help as well as give the team a core building block in all three phases of the defense.
Isaiah Simmons out of Clemson would be a perfect fit for the Raiders. However, it’s unlikely he falls to the 12th pick.
Instead the Raiders could use the 12th pick on a brand new WR1 and land another strong linebacker at 19 in the form of former Oklahoma Sooner Kenneth Murray.
Last season, Murray racked up 102 tackles, 17 for a loss and four sacks. He was named First-Team All Big 12 in 2019 and was the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the year in 2017. Murray also holds the record for most tackles in a game with 28, a number he recorded in 2018 against Army.
Murray is a dominant force in the middle of the field. He plays with both speed and tenacity and always seems to be around the ball. He is the type of field general the Raiders could use at linebacker.
While he has speed, he is also patient enough to work as a QB spy and force the thrower to get out of the pocket quicker than usual.
Murray has the speed and natural football IQ to succeed in the NFL. The Raiders desperately need to upgrade their linebacker position. The former Sooner should be the guy to fix it.
