Oakland Raiders 7-Round Mock Draft

Round 2 – 56th Overall

Heading into the second round, defense would once again be the focus. But if a talented enough offensive player fell, it certainly would have to be considered.

We’ve got the inside linebacker of the future now on the team, so let’s see if there is another front seven player or perhaps someone in the secondary that falls to the 56th pick.

The pick: Sidney Jones, CB, Washington.

Heading into his Pro Day, Sidney Jones considered by most draft analysts to be the second best cornerback in the draft. Standing at 6’0″, Jones has the size that both Reggie McKenzie and the coaching staff covet in cornerbacks, with a 4.47 second 40-yard dash to boot.

Sidney can jam wideouts with the best of them, and his ability to locate and make a play on the ball is among the best in this class, which is evident by his 9 career interceptions.

He’ll need to add some weight and get stronger, and his hips aren’t as fluid as you would like. He won’t have the necessary quickness to cover the smaller, speedy receivers, but he can mirror wide receivers on the outside step for step.

His role could be limited in year one, but he is a player who could be the long-term replacement to Sean Smith or David Amerson on the outside.

Other players considered: Chris Godwin, Taylor Moton, Larry Ogunjobi, Fabian Moreau, Derek Rivers, Marcus Williams.

Chris Wormley and Caleb Brantley were my top two targets heading into the round, but both were gone. But getting Sidney Jones here, who was widely considered the second best corner in this class before his achilles injury, is a great addition.

There’s a chance he could start the 2017 on the PUP list, which isn’t ideal for a second round pick, but long-term, this is the right decision. The Raiders window to win isn’t only one year long — this team has a chance to be good for many years to come. Sidney is talented enough to become a cornerstone of that.