An early look at where, who Raiders might draft next year

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announces the teamÕs first pick during the 2021 Las Vegas R ...

To be clear, it’s premature to project where the Raiders might pick and who they might pick.

Even up until draft day, the latter is nearly impossible given the Raiders’ recent track record of selecting players only they believed would go in those spots.

All that said, there are many 2022 mock drafts already out for when the big event will be on the Las Vegas Strip, and most have the Raiders picking in the top 10.

Barring a trade into the top 10, getting one of those picks obviously wouldn’t bode well for this season.

A sampling:

Brent Sobleski

Bleacher Report

6. Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina

Comment: “Derek Carr is a fine quarterback. He doesn’t deserve the organization’s continued dalliances with other available quarterbacks. But the Raiders can move on from Carr next offseason since there’s not a single guaranteed cent left on his deal beyond 2021. North Carolina’s Sam Howell became one of college football’s best quarterbacks the moment he stepped onto the field. … Howell is an ascending talent who will have proved his worth through three years of ACC play.”

North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell (7) passes against Wake Forest in an NCAA college football game in Winston-Salem, N.C., Friday, Sept. 13, 2019. Wake Forest won 24-18. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Ryan Wilson

CBS Sports

9. Kedon Slovis, QB, Southern California

Comment: “The Raiders need a lot of things — and maybe the ‘21 draft class will solve some of those issues — but it’s only a matter of time before Jon Gruden succumbs to the allure of a new QB.”

Southern California quarterback Kedon Slovis (9) throws against Arizona during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Collin Sherwin

DraftKings

6. Kedon Slovis, QB, USC

Comment: “Jon Gruden overrating a quarterback prospect with an accurate arm but athletic deficiencies? Sometimes these things write themselves.”

Jason McIntyre

Fox Sports

5. Spencer Rattler, QB, Oklahoma

Comment: “Lincoln Riley has a decent history of setting up QBs to go first (Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield). Rattler started 11 games last year and threw 28 touchdowns. The biggest question will be if he has the size (6-foot-1, 205 pounds) to go this high.”

Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler (7) reacts after throwing an interception during the second half an NCAA college football game against Iowa State, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, in Ames, Iowa. Iowa State won 37-30. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Joe DiTullio

The Game Haus

6. Kedon Slovis, QB, USC

Comment: “Quarterbacks always rise by the time the draft comes around. If the Raiders are picking in the top 10, it’s time to move on from Derek Carr.”

Derrik Klassen

NBC Sports

6. Justyn Ross, WR, Clemson

Comment: “Henry Ruggs, Bryan Edwards, and Hunter Renfrow are all decent players, but none of them quite offer true No. 1 WR qualities. The major issue with Ross is his neck injury that kept him out of 2020, but he was one of the best WRs in the nation before then and should return to that status in 2021.”

Clemson's Justyn Ross (8) runs for a touchdown against Wake Forest during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Oliver Hodgkinson

Pro Football Network

12. DeMarvin Leal, DL, Texas A&M

Comment: “Getting pressure on the quarterback — in a division that contains Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert — will continue to be the main order of business for the Raiders. Here, they land an athletic beast on the defensive line in Texas A&M’s DeMarvin Leal. Originally recruited as a defensive end, Leal has played both defensive tackle and end for the Aggies. That versatility and athleticism, combined with his college production, should make Leal a valuable asset at the heart of the Raiders defense.”

Texas A&M defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal (8) sacks Mississippi State quarterback K.J. Costello (3) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Vinnie Iyer

Sporting News

6. Derek Stingley, CB, Louisiana State

Comment: “Stingley … has some Jalen Ramsey-like shutdown coverage and big-play potential to boost a pass defense that will still be reeling outside in 2021.”

LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., left, breaks up a pass intended for Texas wide receiver Collin Johnson (9) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Jack Borowsky

Sports Illustrated

10. Tyreke Smith, DE, Ohio State

Comment: “His tape down the stretch in 2020 was some of the best film from a pass rusher in recent memory. He is very advanced for his age and can win in a lot of different ways. Evaluators should expect double-digit sacks for Smith next season.”

Ohio State defensive end Tyreke Smith (11) rushes the quarterback against Penn State during an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. Ohio State defeated Penn State 38-25. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)

Matt Fitzgeral

Sports Naut

8. DeMarvin Leal, DL, Texas A&M

Comment: “DeMarvin Leal feels like a pretty safe pick, because he can align anywhere in the trenches and make an impact. Las Vegas also lacks depth on the interior defensive line. Leal’s impact could have a trickle-down effect that helps the Silver and Black’s perpetually maligned pass rush that must improve in the AFC West division against Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert.”

Charlie Campbell

Walter Football

7. Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame

Comment: “The Raiders have one of the weakest secondaries in the NFL, so they should spend an early draft pick on help in the area. The very physically gifted Kyle Hamilton showed lots of promise in his freshman year.”

Notre Dame defensive back Kyle Hamilton during an NCAA football game on Monday, Sept. 2 , 2019 in Louisville , Ky . (AP Photo/Tony Tribble)

Seth Trachtman

Yardbarker

10. George Pickens, WR, Georgia

Comment: “Pickens is a former elite recruit who has produced well in his first two seasons at Georgia, including 14 scores. He has ample size at 6-foot-3 and would be a nice development piece on the outside for Vegas.”

Georgia wide receiver George Pickens (1) makes a catch for a touchdown as Texas A&M defensive back Debione Renfro (29) defends in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com. Follow @markanderson65 on Twitter

.....We hope you appreciate our content. Subscribe Today to continue reading this story, and all of our stories.
Limited Time Offer!
Our best offer of the year. Unlock unlimited digital access today with this special offer!!
99¢ for six months
Exit mobile version