With Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden running the Raiders’ draft room, it’s fair to expect the unexpected. We’ve seen them make a few bold trades, but one thing we haven’t seen them do yet is trade up in the first round. However, the 2020 NFL Draft may provide them a great opportunity to do so.
The Raiders have two clear needs on their football team; they need a run-and-chase middle linebacker as well as a No. 1 receiver. The 2020 draft has several wide receiver prospects that might fit that mold, but only one elite linebacker; Isaiah Simmons.
In a recent mock draft by R.J. White of CBS Sports, he has the Raiders moving up from No. 12 to pick No. 7 to grab the Clemson linebacker. The move cost the Raiders just one third-round pick (pick No. 80). Take a look at White mocked Simmons to the Raiders:
Simmons looks like a special talent, and it’s worth it for the Raiders to sacrifice the 80th overall pick to move from No. 12 to 7 to land him. The Clemson product can be used in a variety of ways, but first and foremost he boosts a weak linebacker corps.
If the cost to acquire Simmons is only a third-round pick, it would be shocking if the Raiders didn’t make this move. He would instantly be the most athletic player on the defense and would fill their biggest need.
Then, at pick No. 19, the Raiders could target a wide receiver such as Tee Higgins or Jalen Reagor to fill their No. 1 receiver void. And that’s exactly the scenario that played out in White’s mock as the Raiders grabbed Higgins at pick No. 19.
Keep an eye on where Simmons goes in the first round. If he escapes the top six or seven picks, look for the Raiders to be aggressive in the trade market to acquire the All-American linebacker.
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