2023 Raiders 7-round NFL Mock Draft: Best Player over Positional Need
2023 Raiders 7-round NFL Mock Draft: Best Player over Positional Need
Jalen Cropper. 199. player. 897. . WR. Bulldogs
It seems almost cruel to draft a Fresno State receiver just a few months after moving on from Derek Carr but the other Bulldog on the roster in Davante Adams can set a good example for Jalen Cropper. Cropper is coming off two productive seasons where he caught 168 balls for almost 2,000 yards and 16 touchdowns in his last 27 games.
The former Bulldog has a natural ability to get open and shows great concentration and focus when making tough catches. He has great hands and a talent for tracking balls downfield which he will be doing often with his 4.4 speed. His route running is already excellent and can only improve with some tutelage from a player that we’re sure he looks up to in Adams.
There are some concerns about his size at 6-0 and 180 pounds but his route running and instincts will help him to get open more than his size or speed will. We have seen receivers in the NFL with incredible physical attributes flame out and we feel that cropper has a good combination of technique and physical ability. It may seem overkill to draft two wide receivers but we have seen how quickly that depth at the position can go away and investing in that position makes a ton of sense from a team-building perspective.