Oakland Raiders 7-Round Mock Draft

With the NFL Draft less than two weeks away, here is a simulated seven-round mock draft for the Oakland Raiders.

Free agency is just about in the books and the 2017 NFL Draft is around the corner. Projected picks change daily, and for the Oakland Raiders, any number of talented players could be on the board when they go on the clock with the 24th overall pick. This class is the deepest in years, so Reggie McKenzie has another opportunity to improve this team as they prepare to compete for a Super Bowl.

For the mock draft, the popular draft simulation tool by FanSpeak was used — the premium version. The draft board was Dane Brugler of CBS Sports, who was the most well-known analyst with an up to date board.

For the computer GM’s, I opted to have them use random draft boards instead of also using Miller’s board. Every GM’s draft board in real life is different, so I figured this was the best way to make this exercise more realistic. I also opted for “difficult” instead of “classic” for the level of difficulty.

Lastly, I won’t be making any trades in this mock. They are too hard to predict, and most people when asked said they prefer not to see mock drafts with trades.

Before we get started, here’s an overview of my philosophy and general line of thinking.

Despite Oakland’s 12-4 record in 2016, the team is in need of quite a bit of help — particularly on defense. For the most part, I’m a believer in the “best player” available strategy, but with the offense in such great shape and the defense being not so much in great shape, there will be more of an emphasis on the defensive side of the ball.

Also, in the case of the Raiders, if the best player available in the first round is a quarterback, that won’t be the pick. So there are obviously some exceptions to the best player available strategy, but that’s the primary philosophy.

As far as team needs go, the first position on offense I’d consider if there were some value would be offensive tackle. Right tackle remains a question mark and Donald Penn, while still fantastic, isn’t getting any younger.

The eventual Marshawn news could affect my draft strategy as well, depending on how the board shakes out. And wide receiver isn’t a position that is in desperate need of help, but like with running back, if the value is there, I’d certainly have to consider it. Same for tight end, but to a lesser extent. It’s hard to justify carrying an extra tight end due to the Jared Cook signing.

On defense, there really isn’t any position I’d rule out. This team needs help at every level of the defense, so this will definitely be where best player available comes into play the most.

Without further adieu, let’s get started.