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2021 NFL Draft: Realistic options at pick No. 17 for the Las Vegas Raiders

By Mario O. Tovar

MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 26: General Manager Mike Mayock of the Oakland Raiders of the North Team on the field before the start of the 2019 Reese's Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 26, 2019 in Mobile, Alabama. The North defeated the South 34 to 24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 26: General Manager Mike Mayock of the Oakland Raiders of the North Team on the field before the start of the 2019 Reese's Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 26, 2019 in Mobile, Alabama. The North defeated the South 34 to 24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
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Raiders’ possible draft target, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.  (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Raiders’ possible draft target, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.  (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Realistic Raiders option at linebacker and DT with pick No. 17

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame

A player that’s appearing on many mock drafts as far as the Raiders are concerned is Notre Dame’s Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. The athletic linebacker would be an interesting addition to the Silver and Black considering they appear to have linebacker depth.

The team still has Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski and could bring back Nicholas Morrow as well.

However, Owusu-Koramoah appears to be a special talent, as he accrued 24.5 sacks the last two seasons in South Bend. Tack on 24.5 tackles for a loss, seven passes defended, and five forced fumbles in that stretch too.

He’ll be a force in getting after opposing quarterbacks and could be molded into a great run stopper under Gus Bradley, similar to how he developed K.J. Wright in Seattle once. Players like Owusu-Koramoah don’t come around too often, the Raiders couldn’t possibly screw this up, right?

Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama

Besides linebacker, the Raiders desperately need to do something about their defensive line’s interior. Maliek Collins was an absolute bust as a free agent acquisition last season though he could still get a second look under Bradley, and with Rod Marinelli still handling the defensive line.

Johnathan Hankins might be gone in free agency so there’ll be a huge hole to fill. Alabama’s Christian Barmore could be the missing piece.

The Silver and Black need a defensive tackle that can stop the run and generate pressure simultaneously in a 4-3 setting. His last season with the Crimson Tide was noteworthy, Barmore accumulated eight sacks and nine and a half tackles for loss. He displayed an ability to get after quarterbacks but also being able to disrupt plays in the backfield defending against the run.

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