Las Vegas Raiders: 7-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft after first free agency wave

The Raiders are picking back to back in the third round for the second year in a row and we will be hoping for better results this time around after they shipped away Lynn Bowden and Bryan Edwards did not contribute much to the offense. With the 79th pick, we have the Raiders selected versatile offensive lineman Trey Smith from the University of Tennessee.

Smith is a four-year starter at Tennessee who played both right guards and left tackle in his first two seasons before missing some time after the team discovered blood clots in his lungs. He returned with a clean bill of health for his junior year and started the remainder of his career at left guard. The massive guard, listed at 6’6″, 335lbs, was named All-SEC Second Team as a true freshman and earned All-SEC First Team honors in 2019 and 2020.

The Raiders currently have Richie Incognito, Denzelle Good, and John Simpson on the roster and two of those three will likely start at the guard position unless the Raiders see Good as the current right tackle. Either way, Good is under contract for two seasons and Incognito is nearly 40 years old with a recent injury history so a contingency plan is needed.

Bringing in Smith would help shore up the offensive line on the cheap but there are concerns about the blood clots becoming a reoccurring issue for him. If the Raiders can clear him medically this would be a safe and solid pick to help keep the offensive line as one of the strengths of the team.