Oakland Raiders, Week 14: 2018 NFL Mock Draft
By John Buhler
DeAndre Goolsby has the size at 6-foot-4, 244 pounds to be an NFL level tight end. He may have to cut his teeth as a blocking tight end first, but he was a solid receiving option in three years at Florida. In 27 career games, Goolsby had 68 catches for 724 yards and five touchdowns in a terrible passing offense for the Gators.
Though slender, Northwestern Wildcats senior safety Godwin Igwebuike is a cerebral player that could help the Raiders going forward as a sixth round selection. In 49 career games, Igwebuike has 318 total tackles (209 solo, 109 assists), 23 passes defended, 12.5 tackles for a loss of yardage, seven interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Eventually the Raiders are going to have to rebuild this offensive line. It’s an expensive bunch and not exactly young in age. If they are looking for a tackle in the sixth round, maybe Austin Corbett out of Nevada wouldn’t be a bad idea? He is 6-foot-4 and 305 pounds. Corbett could be moved inside to guard if tackle doesn’t work out right away.
Given who his father is, Larry Allen Jr. will get drafted at guard out of Harvard University at some point. Though he didn’t play ball for the Crimson this season, he could be a sixth round pick for the Raiders at No. 219. Allen may very well go back to school in 2018. At 6-foot-4, 285 pounds, you have believe somebody is going to give this kid a shot in the NFL at guard.
There is a good chance that many of these defensive players coming out of Virginia could be good pros. They busted their tails off to get the Cavaliers bowl eligible in 2017. One guy that could be a solid find in the late sixth round could be edge player Andrew Brown. He is 6-foot-4, 285 pounds. Brown had 90 tackles (40 solo, 50 assists), 25.0 for a loss of yardage, 10.0 sacks, four passes defended, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 33 career games for Virginia.
Next: Raiders, 2018 NFL Mock Draft: 5 first-round targets
Seventh Round
It would be advantageous for the Raiders to use a seventh-round pick on a cornerback in the 2018 NFL Draft. One guy that could be there for them is Penn State Nittany Lions cornerback Grant Haley. Though undersized at 5-foot-9, 185 pounds, Haley had great ball skills at Penn State. In 46 career games, Haley had 135 tackles (85 solo, 50 assists), 22 passes defended, 6.5 tackles for a loss of yardage, five interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.