Tier 3 – Reach at #14 but okay if the Raiders traded down
These are players who are talented football players, but if they end up wearing Silver & Black, ideally it’s in a scenario where the team traded down.
If any of these players were selected at #14, ultimately I’d be good with it, but it’d be a little bit of a reach.
Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana
Similar to what was said in Taylor Decker’s paragraph, offensive tackle should still be considered fairly early in the draft. If Oakland is going to consider this as early as the first-round, Spriggs is the only other realistic option other than Decker who is worthy.
The biggest draw about Spriggs is his athleticism, which is elite for the position. He also has great footwork and is excellent in pass protection. But he does need to add a decent amount of weight and get much stronger.
Noah Spence, Edge, Eastern Kentucky
Similar to Nkemdiche, Spence was former five-star recruit who ran into some off-field trouble. Spence has been clean for two years now, so he seems to be on the right track.
On the field, Spence has a ton of athleticism, great hand usage, and flexibility to bend the edge. But he needs to get stronger at the point of attack and better in run support.
Leonard Floyd, LB, Georgia
Floyd is another big-time athlete, with an explosive first-step and crazy size for his position. He has impressive range, and also is solid in coverage.
However, he can struggle to shed blocks and in run support due to his rail thin build, so he definitely needs to get a lot stronger. Ideally, he can be an off-ball LB that plays in space, while also filling in as a situational pass rusher.
Next: Raiders First Round Options: Tier 5