It is official, the 2019 NFL Draft completed their first round on Thursday night, and the Oakland Raiders came away with quite the haul.
The Oakland Raiders went into the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft with three first round draft picks, and the expectation was they would move at least one of them. Well, not only did they not trade any of them, they actually added quality players with each pick, as they continue to revamp this roster heading into 2019.
Of course, like every Raiders draft, there was the controversy with the selections, as they bypassed Josh Allen at No. 4 in favor of Clelin Ferrell. Many expected Ferrell to be selected later in round one, and Allen to be a top-5 pick, so the selection certainly turned heads when it was announced.
The fact is, Ferrell comes to the Raiders after winning two national titles with the Clemson Tigers, and has a winning attitude. First-year general manager showed he has a nice feel for this roster the rest of the way, adding the best running back, and safety in this draft class, bringing in solid talent, while adding players to position groups that needed reinforcements.
It was a long night, but Mayock and head coach Jon Gruden seemed to have gotten it right.
The selections
- Round 1, Pick No. 4: Clelin Ferrell, Edge, Clemson
- Round 1, Pick No. 24: Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama
- Round 1, Pick No. 27: Johnathan Abram, S, Mississippi State
The later first round picks came via the Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys, and they certainly capitalized on the extra selections. Josh Jacobs is the kind of three-down back that Gruden loves, and Johnathan Abram is a punishing safety from Mississippi State who should slide right in as a starter in 2019.
Round 1 Grade
I actually love this draft haul, and while the selection of Ferrell at No. 4 may have been a reach, they really added some solid talent in the first round. The combination of Mayock and Gruden focused on needs when it came to the current roster, adding not only an edge rusher, but also the best running back, and safety in this draft class.