Where are the Oakland Raiders heading? Defensive scheme

What To Expect From The Draft

With all of this information in mind, what can we project for the Raiders and what they are looking at in the draft?. I get questions regarding Sheldon Rankins constantly. Beyond my personal feelings of him as a prospect, I find it hard to see how he fits in this defense. He does not fit the measurables of the defensive ends, he does not fit how the Raiders use their nose tackles.

Could the Raiders based on everything discussed make it work with him as a nose tackle? Yes, but based on their interviews, the team does not seem to be looking in that direction for that type of player. Most likely, if the Raiders take a defensive lineman it will be someone who fits the mold of something they already have. In the first round, A’Shawn Robinson or Jarran Reed make sense. In the second round, Johnathan Bullard from Florida, and in round three maybe Carl Nassib. A mid to late round sleeper could be Anthony Zettel from Penn State.

Looking at the edge rushers is looking at a bleak list at times. My favorite prospect in terms of value in this draft is Maryland edge player Yannick Ngakoue. He would fill that weakside outside linebacker role well. There are no urgencies with this defense, but looking at building solid depth is key and that means addressing safety.

Between Karl Joseph, Darian Thompson, Su’a Cravens, Miles Killebrew, KJ Dillon, Keanu Neal, Vonn Bell, Jeremy Cash, TJ Green, Jalen Mills, Deon Bush, and Jayron Kearse to name a few, the Raiders can find any kind of safety in this draft. I would love to see the Raiders trade down in round one, receive an additional third round pick, select Karl Joseph and either KJ Dillon, Miles Killebrew, or Sean Davis (although it is debatable about projecting Davis as a safety) in round three.

Lastly, the Raiders need another person who can compete at slot cornerback and an inside linebacker. The five prospects the Raiders could get around round five at slot cornerback are Johnathan Jones, Cyrus Jones, Tavon Young, Briean Boddy-Calhoun, and DJ White. The sweet spot for inside linebackers in this draft is rounds three and four. At that point teams are looking at really solid value and a team like the Raiders would not be in a rush to develop that talent. Between Kendell Brothers, Josh Forrest, Blake Martinez, Nick Vigil, Tyler Matekevich, and Antonio Morrison the Raiders could snag a very solid linebacker prospect in that mid round range. Very similarly to how they drafted both Ben Heeney and Neiron Ball late in the draft.

The sweet spot for inside linebackers in this draft is rounds three and four. At that point teams are looking at really solid value and a team like the Raiders would not be in a rush to develop that talent. Between Kendall Brothers, Josh Forrest, Blake Martinez, Nick Vigil, Tyler Matekevich, and Antonio Morrison the Raiders could snag a very solid linebacker prospect in that mid round range. Very similarly to how they drafted both Ben Heeney and Neiron Ball late in the draft.