3 Potential First-Round Picks For Oakland
On Thursday, the Oakland Raiders will be picking 14th in this year's NFL draft.
The last two drafts have been an overall success with picks like Derek Carr, Khalil Mack, and Amari Cooper.
This is the latest first round pick the team has had since 2005. The optimist would say that's good news because it means they had a better season last year. The pessimist would be upset the pick is later in the round.
Oakland's weak spot last season was the team's defense, so it wouldn't be a shock to see the Silver and Black draft a player on the defensive side of the ball.
With that said, here are three potential players the Raiders could draft 14th overall.
1. Reggie Ragland - LB - Alabama
Ragland spent four years playing for the Alabama Crimson Tide, but didn't become one of the nation's best linebackers until his junior year.
The 6-foot-1, 247 pound linebacker was unanimously named an All-American and won the SEC Defensive Player of the year in 2015.
If the Raiders draft Ragland, he would primarily play inside linebacker with Mack and newly-acquired Bruce Irvin getting after the quarterback from the outside spots.
The inside linebacker spot was filled by Curtis Lofton last season, but the team released him in the off-season which leaves the position open for Ragland.
2. Vernon Hargreaves - CB - Florida
Hargreaves was one of Florida's top cornerbacks during the four years he spent in college.
During his four years, he was named to the All-SEC team three times.
He could be one of five corners to go in the first round.
Corner back is one of the positions that struggled immensely last season. The team acquired Sean Smith in free agency which will lock down the number one spot, but Hargreaves could fit nicely as the team's number two corner.
3. Vernon Butler - DT - Louisiana Tech
Butler is a big man who can plug up the running holes. He is 6-foot-4 and 323 pounds.
He was named to the All-Conference USA team in 2015. He's strong enough to clog up the middle as a nose tackle, but he is also quick enough to slide over to the outside and attack the quarterback.
One of the Raiders starting nose tackles from last season, Justin Ellis, is another Louisiana Tech product. If the team selects a defensive tackle with its first round pick, the rookie would likely become the starter.
The defensive tackles they have now are serviceable, but they won't make the type of impact Butler is projected to make in the league.
