Raiders 2022 NFL Draft: Who are the top players at each position?

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: A video board displays the text "OUR FUTURE IS NOW" for the Oakland Raiders during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: A video board displays the text "OUR FUTURE IS NOW" for the Oakland Raiders during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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ATHENS, GA – OCTOBER 02: Nakobe Dean #17 of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts in the second half against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Sanford Stadium on October 2, 2021, in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GA – OCTOBER 02: Nakobe Dean #17 of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts in the second half against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Sanford Stadium on October 2, 2021, in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /

Raiders 2022 NFL Draft: Who are the top players at each position?

Linebackers

  1. Nakobe Dean (Georgia)
  2. Devin Lloyd (Utah)
  3. Quay Walker (Georgia)
  4. Channing Tindall (Georgia)
  5. Leo Chenal (Wisconsin)
  6. Christian Harris (Alabama)
  7. Chad Muma (Wyoming)
  8. Brandon Smith (Penn State)
  9. Brian Asamoah II (Oklahoma)
  10. Darrian Beavers (Cincinnati)

If you are looking to add to your defense in the 2022 NFL Draft, it would not be a bad idea to just draft as many guys from Georgia as you can. Here, the Bulldogs have produced three of the top five players at the position and all of them have long-term NFL futures. Dean especially is a hammer in the run game while also possessing the athletic ability to drop back in coverage. On a Georgia defense loaded with stars, he popped as much as anyone.

Utah’s Devin Lloyd finished with the same grade for me, however. A quality athlete who played all over the Ute’s defense, he brings value in every facet. He even lined up in a three-point stance to rush the passer at times. He reminds me a bit of Hasson Reddick when he was coming out of Temple but I believe Lloyd is a better off-ball linebacker.

Later in the draft, it is a lot of picking your poison-type players. While players like Harris and Asamoah are great in pass coverage, they leave much to be desired in the run game. Conversely, Beavers is an absolute unit on the field who can clog up the run game but will struggle to stay on the field for all three downs in the NFL.