The Raiders will Trade Up from Pick 24
While more draft picks are usually considered a good thing, landing a difference making player at every selection is even more important. Picks are just that, but the players those picks turn into is what could turn the Raiders around.
The 24th overall pick could certainly give the team a day one starter. Gareon Conley was selected with the 24th overall pick. However, with the team trading down from four, they’ll have more ammo to work with. If the Raiders fall in love with a player, they could work their way back up the draft board to land him.
In this example, an ideal trade would occur between the Raiders and a team sitting in the mid-teens. Perhaps the Washington Redskins, who pick 15th, would move down to the Raiders selection to land a quarterback like Daniel Jones or Drew Lock. With the 15th overall pick, the Raiders could then draft another vital piece to their young core.
Two players currently stand out as potential pieces the Raiders could move up for.
Former LSU linebacker Devin White is considered one of the best in the draft class. During his three years with the Tigers, White amassed 286 total tackles with 28.5 of them coming for a loss, including 8.5 sacks. Recently, Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller recently called White a great fit for the Raiders, saying:
Devin White is my top-ranked linebacker and a top five overall player. His athleticism as a former top prep running back shows on the field as he tracks down ball-carriers and receivers. The Oakland Raiders, Cincinnati Bengals and Green Bay Packers are all great fits in the first half of Round 1. White is an easy comparison to Myles Jack and should be one of the prized defenders in this year’s class.
It’s unlikely that White makes it all the way to 24. If the Raiders fall in love with him during the draft process, there’s a chance they move up to select him, likely pairing him with the defensive lineman they drafted with their first pick.
Another option would be offensive lineman Jonah Williams. Ranked as one of the best offensive tackles in the draft, Williams was at one time considered to be a top five pick. However, new reports have stated that there is a chance he slips out of the top 10.
According to Draft Analyst’s Tony Pauline, “at least a dozen scouts” have ranked Williams as a mid-first round pick. Williams will have an opportunity to improve his draft stock, and could work his way back into the top 10 with a strong NFL Combine. However, if he slips into the teens, the Raiders might be willing to move up for him.
Pairing Williams with former first rounder Kolton Miller on the outside with Kelechi Osemele, Rodney Hudson and Gabe Jackson on the inside could make for one of the better offensive lines in the league.
With three first round picks, the Raiders will likely move their way up and down the draft board. After trading down from four, Oakland could then trade back up into the middle rounds to land another important piece for their rebuild.
