2023 Raiders 7-round NFL Mock Draft: Best Player over Positional Need

2023 Raiders 7-round NFL Mock Draft: Best Player over Positional Need

Speaking of the best player available, many draft experts have Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter as their number one overall player in this year’s class. Defensive tackle is not the most premium position but we have seen that a defense can be built on the back of a dominant interior defensive lineman.

It was surprising that Carter was available at the 7th pick but this particular mock draft had Will Anderson, Paris Johnson, three quarterbacks, and Kelee Ringo taken before the Raiders were on the clock. It was the easiest decision and would be an incredible get if the Raiders were able to draft Carter as he is perhaps both the best player available and fills a desperate need for the team.

Carter is a dominant interior lineman and has shades of Ndamukong Suh and Chris Jones in his build and play. His ability to command double teams and rush the passer from the interior makes him incredibly valuable and would give the Raiders something they have not had in almost a decade.

They relied on journeymen in 2022 and getting a building block in Carter for the defense would make life much easier for Max Crosby and Chandler Jones.

We can say that it is unlikely that Carter lasts this long but if teams are dead set on the quarterbacks in this class they could trade up to grab them before the Raiders pick comes up. We have also seen some of the classic draft leaks on Carter where anonymous sources claim that a prospect has character issues without any real evidence but that could impact his stock as well.

Carter would be an immediate contributor and his ceiling is nothing short of All-Pro and his floor is a competent starting DT.