Oakland Raiders 2018 NFL Draft: 5 wide receivers to target
By John Buhler
Sometimes, a guy just needs to go pro. That would clearly be the case for Texas A&M Aggies standout junior wide receiver Christian Kirk. While the Aggies passing offense struggled for much of Kevin Sumlin‘s final year in College Station, Kirk has put together enough tape to be a first to third-round pick in the draft.
With most of these receivers entering the draft, it’s really up in the air with regards to where they land. The only two receivers that feel like locks to go in the first round are Alabama Crimson Tide junior Calvin Ridley and SMU Mustangs redshirt junior Courtland Sutton. Do you really think the Raiders are going to go wideout at either No. 9 or No. 10 overall depending on the coin flip with San Francisco with so many other needs to address?
The Raiders need to hope that productive collegiate players like Kirk will drop in some capacity in the draft. Though he is only 5-foot-11, 200 pounds, Kirk could be a total menace in the slot in Gruden’s West Coast attack from day one. Even if he needs some time to adjust to the NFL game as a receive, Kirk can make an impact in the returning game as a rookie for sure.
In three years with the Aggies, Kirk had 234 catches for 2,856 yards and 26 touchdowns. Keep in mind that he never had the same quarterback in all three years in College Station. He still nearly averaged 1,000 receiving yards all three seasons with the Aggies. If he’s available in the third round, don’t think and just take him.