Oakland Raiders 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Wild Card Weekend

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Baker Mayfield No. 6 of the Oklahoma Sooners looks to avoid a sack by linebacker Roquan Smith No. 3 of the Georgia Bulldogs in the second half in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Baker Mayfield No. 6 of the Oklahoma Sooners looks to avoid a sack by linebacker Roquan Smith No. 3 of the Georgia Bulldogs in the second half in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 01: Sony Michel No. 1 of the Georgia Bulldogs scores the winning touchdown in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal Game against the Oklahoma Sooners at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 01: Sony Michel No. 1 of the Georgia Bulldogs scores the winning touchdown in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal Game against the Oklahoma Sooners at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Fourth Round

If the Georgia Bulldogs end up winning their first national championship on Monday night since 1980, it will be in large part because of their running back tandem of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. While neither are first-round talents, Oakland would be getting a potential Pro Bowler if they can nab Michel at No. 112 in the fourth-round. Barring injury, there is no way he busts at the NFL level.

Michel had been the lightning to Chubb’s thunder in Athens for four years. Together, they have been the most productive running back duo in college football history. They recently outperformed Eric Dickerson and Craig James of Pony Express fame with the SMU Mustangs. So why take Michel over Chubb?

Well, Chubb might be off the board before the Raiders can get him in the third round. Frankly, that doesn’t matter because Michel’s game translates to the NFL better. He is shifty as a runner and is an elite pass-catcher out of the backfield. Right away, he will be an impactful third-down running back at the professional level. At 5-foot-11, 215 pounds, Michel has the size and the speed to be a guy you will fight over to put in the flex on your fantasy team.

In four years with Georgia, Michel has amassed 576 carries for 3,515 rushing yards and 33 rushing touchdowns. He has averaged 6.1 yards per carry in 46 career games for the Dawgs. As a receiver, 64 career receptions for 621 yards and six touchdowns. Michel is reminiscent of Mark Ingram Jr., a high-end collegiate running back that will be a productive NFL running back into his early 30s barring injury.

Fifth Round

The Raiders do not own their fifth-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. This is because they traded it to the Seattle Seahawks during the offseason to acquire the rights to formerly retired running back Marshawn Lynch.