2022 NFL draft: 3 draft targets if the Raiders trade up
Kenyon Green, OL, Texas A&M
It’s time to bring it back to someone I haven’t mentioned in a month – My perfect fit for the Las Vegas Raiders in round one, before the Davante Adams trade. Kenyon Green.
I can’t stress it enough; Green is the perfect fit for the Raiders. Like Elam, it seems Green is becoming a victim of deepness in the draft, being interchangeable with so many players. Ultimately, this means Green’s chances of slipping are high, and if you’re the Raiders, you love that.
This is an excellent blocker who has a surprising burst and can get into the second level with ease. At Texas A&M, there were many times when Green was used as the lead blocker, producing satisfying results often. At 323lbs, Green knows how to use his size for leverage. He’s hard to move and well disciplined.
More impressive than his strength and surprising quickness is his versatility. Last season alone, Green started at four different positions on the line, spending time at both guard and tackle spots.
Green’s experience at both guard and tackle is something to note and means wherever head coach Josh McDaniels wishes to insert the 323lb offensive lineman, he can do so. This is important due to Alex Leatherwood, who played both guard and tackle last season, and has no set future at a position.
Ideally, you want to develop Leatherwood into the tackle he was drafted to be. That said, Las Vegas just gave right tackle Brandon Parker $3.5m, which is starting money. In the end, it wouldn’t matter where you choose to play Leatherwood, because Green can simply fill in at the other right spot.
When we look at the Raiders’ off-season moves regarding offensive linemen, they signed Alex Bars and retained both Jermaine Eluemunor and Brandon Parker. Bars has played snaps at all five positions on the offensive line.
Josh McDaniels answered questions about wanting to keep both Eluemunor and Parker around, stating the biggest thing with the two was their versatility. Eluemunor was unique because he had both guard and tackle experience, while Parker had swing tackle ability. Kenyon Green is both of those combined, sprinkled with Alex Bars’ experience at every position on the line, minus center.
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Overall, Green is truly a match made in heaven with Las Vegas. Not only is he an extremely talented offensive lineman, which is by far the Raiders’ worst unit on the roster, but he has the versatility McDaniels and Ziegler admire. In addition, he’s able to help second-year Alex Leatherwood’s growth. If Green is available later than originally expected, this is the move.