Las Vegas Raiders Draft: 5 Defensive Winners from the 2020 NFL Combine

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 28: Isaiah Simmons #11 of the Clemson Tigers is congratulated by his teammates after an interception against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the second half during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 28: Isaiah Simmons #11 of the Clemson Tigers is congratulated by his teammates after an interception against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the second half during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
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LUBBOCK, TX – NOVEMBER 03: Jett Duffey #7 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders tries to break the tackle of Kenneth Murray #9 of the Oklahoma Sooners during the game on November 3, 2018 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Oklahoma defeated Texas Tech 51-46. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX – NOVEMBER 03: Jett Duffey #7 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders tries to break the tackle of Kenneth Murray #9 of the Oklahoma Sooners during the game on November 3, 2018 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Oklahoma defeated Texas Tech 51-46. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

Kenneth Murray

After starting and earning Big 12 honors all three years at the University of Oklahoma, it should come as no surprise that Kenneth Murray is a top draft prospect. If that’s not convincing enough, he padded his resume at the combine this weekend.

Unfortunately, a hamstring injury cut Murray’s day short but he thrived in the drills he participated in. The linebacker ran the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds which ranked sixth for the position group, put up 21 reps on the bench press (ranked tied for fifth), had a 38.0-inch vertical (ranked sixth), and leaped 129.0 inches on the broad jump (ranked third). Not a bad day for a guy who tips the scale at 241 pounds.

The former Sooner is another player who has been linked to the Raiders in a handful of mock drafts. Rolando McClain in 2010 was the last time the organization spent a first-round pick on an inside linebacker, and the defense has suffered ever since then as the position has been a revolving door of players over the last decade.

It’s time to finally address the problem early in the draft, so look for Murray to be a potential target at pick 19.