Raiders mock draft roundup: Experts undecided on Las Vegas picks, needs

The Draft Network – Trevor Sikkema

Pick 14 – Henry Ruggs III, WR Alabama

Pick 18 – Jalen Hurts, QB Oklahoma

In the Draft Network’s latest mock draft, Trevor Sikkema has linked the Raiders to Alabama’s wide receiver Henry Ruggs and Oklahoma’s quarterback Jalen Hurts.

It’s well documented that the Raiders offense need a difference maker on the outside. Jon Gruden rolled the dice last offseason with Antonio Brown but things went south. In a free agent market where pass catcher are pretty thin, Gruden might have better options looking to bolster the top of his receiving corps in a wide receiver heavy draft class.

Ruggs has ‘world-class’ speed and that’s not an exaggeration. The Raiders have been known over the years to draft speedy wide receivers and this is another case where Ruggs could be one of their top targets in the first round. Aside from his speed, in college he’s established the natural ability of catching passes with his aggressive nature to streak down the field.

With the offensive selection of Ruggs already on hand, Gruden may want to put the cherry on top with a new signal caller like Jalen Hurts. The former Oklahoma quarterback can beat you with his legs or his much improved passing ability. Hurts displays the new look RPO type offense that has flourished exponentially over the recent years. If Gruden falls in love with a quarterback, Hurts could be the one he sets his sights on.

Gruden salivate’s over quarterbacks that take care of the football and complete passes at a high rate. In 13 games this season, Hurts completed 71.8% of his passes and only through seven interceptions.