The Las Vegas Raiders have pressing needs heading into the 2020 NFL Draft, and defensive tackle is not one of them.
Heading into the 2020 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders hold two first round picks, the first which lands at No. 12, and a second at No. 19. After a strong 2019 NFL Draft that saw new general manager Mike Mayock bring back quite a haul, the hope is that the team can fill in the remaining voids on their roster.
Since taking over as general manager, Mayock has done an outstanding job building up this Raiders roster, and he has some solid draft capital once again in 2020. Not only does he have two first round picks, but the Raiders hold five of the first 91 selections later this month, giving Mayock more ammunition to turn this team into a contender.
Recently word has been spreading that the Raiders will use a first round pick on defensive tackle, a position they targeted during the 2018 draft. That year, they brought in both P.J. Hall and Maurice Hurst, two players who have become a crucial part of their defensive line.
In addition to Hurst and Hall, the Raiders also have a solid player in Johnathan Hankins, who dominated at times for the team last season. This offseason, the Silver and Black has also gone out and brought in more talent at the position, adding Maliek Collins, most recently from the Dallas Cowboys.
You would think that the Raiders would be set at the position group, at least enough to avoid selecting one in the first round. If I were the one drafting this month, I would avoid this position group until at least the fourth round, as the team has much more pressing needs than the defensive line as a whole.
Looking at the roster, cornerback and wide receiver are the biggest needs right now, and this is a draft class loaded with talent at wideout. When it comes to cornerback, there are a few names that should land in the first round, and the Raiders should be in the market for those prospects.
The bottom line is, unless the Raiders can somehow move into the top-10 and get a Derrick Brown or Javon Kinlaw, they should address other needs. Even so, moving into the top-10 would mean getting rid of precious draft capital, and they are in no place to do that heading into the 2020 NFL Draft.