Josh Jackson established himself as the best cornerback in the Big Ten last season, as he stepped into the role held by currently Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Desmond King. Jackson led the FBS in interceptions last season, and capped off his college career with a pick in the Pinstripe Bowl inside Yankee Stadium.
At 6-foot-1, 192 pounds, Jackson certainly has the size that Guenther looks for in a cornerback. Many draft experts have him going in the first round in April, but his showing at the NFL Scouting Combine may have dropped him into the second half of round one.
The only way the Raiders should take him is if they move back in the first round, where they would grab him around pick 15 or below. A unanimous All-American last season, Jackson was also named Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year, after grabbing eight interceptions and defending 18 passes.
He is a physical specimen, and teams may be apt to grab him earlier than 15 in April. Jackson really turned himself into a ball hawk this past season, and it certainly showed on his stat line in his final year with the Hawkeyes.
The Raiders need help at the cornerback position, and if they cannot get a guy like Denzel Ward early in round one, they may want to trade back and pick up Jackson, which would be quite the consolation prize.