Raiders 2022 Mock Draft: Las Vegas goes on the defensive early
Raiders 2022 Mock Draft: Las Vegas goes on the defensive early
The 7th round is where you either spend a pick on a specialist or take a chance on a developmental prospect and there are few more intriguing than TCU offensive lineman Obinna Eze. With the Raiders still needing answers on the offensive line they could take a chance on the developmental prospect.
Eze is a massive man at 6’6” and 321lbs and has the size to be an elite tackle prospect if he fills out a bit. He started off as a basketball player in high school and has good feet but the knocks on him from the scouts are his relatively slight lower body for his size as well as his technique.
His height could be a positive as he can swallow up defenders but can also cause issues due to a high pad level that defensive lineman could take advantage of.
An NFL level strength and conditioning program could help Eze build up his lower body strength and the right offensive line coach could take his raw ability and body and turn it into a serviceable NFL player. What has folks excited is his physical size but also his incredibly long arms which could be very useful in holding off oncoming pass rushers.
Eze is a typical boom or bust prospect where his ceiling is incredibly high if everything goes right for him but his floor is just as low due to his current limitations.
As we said, the 7th round is the time to gamble on these prospects because more often than not they do not even make the team. The Raiders could luck out and turn Eze in to a slimmer version of Trent Brown, also a 7th rounder, or Eze could join the legions of late round picks that never pan out.