Oakland Raiders 2018 NFL Draft: 5 edge players to target
By John Buhler
The best edge player in this draft will be North Carolina State Wolfpack’s unanimous 2017 All-American edge phenomenon that is Bradley Chubb. He is going top-10 without a blink of an eye. If he is still available at No. 9 or No. 10, you draft him, Raiders and figure it out later.
Chubb might have been overshadowed by his distant cousin Nick Chubb of the Georgia Bulldogs during their overlapping collegiate careers. However, NC State’s Chubb is the only one of these two that will go in round one in 2018. Chubb has to be the best defensive player to play for North Carolina State since Mario Williams over a decade ago, and he went No. 1 overall to the Houston Texans in 2006.
No, Chubb won’t go No. 1 to the Cleveland Browns, or maybe he will? At 6-foot-4, 275 pounds, Chubb should be able to contribute right away in any defensive scheme he lands in. While deemed a second or third-round pick earlier this season, Chubb doesn’t fall past Oakland or the San Francisco 49ers at No. 9 or No. 10.
In his outstanding collegiate career in Raleigh for the Wolfpack, Chubb had 198 total tackles (100 solo, 98 assists), 54.5 for a loss of yardage, 25.0 quarterback sacks, six forced fumbles, four pass breakups, a fumble recovery and an interception. The Raiders might honestly have to move up to get him, which is why he is more likely to play for somebody else. He’d be a still for the Silver and Black at No. 9 or No. 10 though.