2020 Raiders 7-round NFL mock draft: Team goes defense early, and often

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 07: Head coach Jon Gruden of the Oakland Raiders looks on from the sidelines during the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at RingCentral Coliseum on November 07, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 07: Head coach Jon Gruden of the Oakland Raiders looks on from the sidelines during the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at RingCentral Coliseum on November 07, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 30: AJ Dillon #2 of the Boston College Eagles reacts after rushing for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Heinz Field on November 30, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 30: AJ Dillon #2 of the Boston College Eagles reacts after rushing for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Heinz Field on November 30, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

Outside of Josh Jacobs, the Raiders running attack has struggled to move the ball. As Gruden continues to watch the workload of Jacobs in his first season as a bell cow runner, drafting a physical running back is definitely in the cards.

A.J. Dillion has produced all three years as Boston College’s No.1 offensive weapon. Dillion’s physical downhill running style is where he’ll make his money. He doesn’t offer much in the passing game, as Dillion has only caught 19 balls over three years. It appears in the NFL that he’ll be asked to pickup short yardage situations and keep the offense above float when other running backs need a breather.

Dillion projects as a quality complimentary piece, but I wouldn’t depend on him to take 20 plus carries a game. In college, Dillion has ran for at least 1,100 yards every season and 1,500 yards in two of his three years at Boston College.

Pros:

  • Punishing runner
  • Vision
  • Yards after contact

Cons:

  • Pass catching
  • Lateral quickness
  • Flexibly

Schedule