The 2020 season is almost over and that means it’s time to look back. We are nearly two years into the careers of the 2019 rookie class and we now have a 30-game sample size of what they can do in the NFL.
Today, we are taking a look at the three picks the Raiders made in that first round and who they should have selected.
No. 4: LB Devin White, LSU
Clelin Ferrell has played pretty well during the 2020 season and this pick suddenly isn’t looking so bad. However, there were better options for the Raiders.
Devin White, the consensus top linebacker in the 2019 NFL Draft, was available to the Raiders and they passed on him. He was a culture changer and a dynamic linebacker that brings playmaking all over the field.
Since the 2019 NFL Draft, the Raiders have signed multiple high-priced free agents, spent a third-round pick on Tanner Muse and traded for veteran Raekwon McMillan. Yet, their linebacker issues haven’t quite been solved.
Passing on White may be a move that haunts them for awhile
No. 24: RB Josh Jacobs, Alabama
Hey, look! The Raiders made the right pick! Since being drafted by the Raiders, Jacobs has totaled over 2,400 yards in 26 games with the team. He’s brought a physical nature and gives the team an offensive identity. Jacobs has dealt with some injuries during his career, but cheap, elite running back production is always nice to have.
No. 27: CB Byron Murphy, Washington
While it’s easy to say the Raiders should have drafted a receiver in the first round, it’s important to remember that they did have Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams already on the roster. Instead, they should have looked to continue to build their defense.
A pre-draft favorite by many, cornerback Byron Murphy from Washington was a name that was often floated around at No. 27. Murphy has quickly developed into one of the better slot cornerbacks in the NFL and his playmaking ability and physicality is just what this defense has lacked for years.
Instead, the Raiders took Johnathan Abram, who currently ranks as the league’s worst safety. While the team is still optimistic he can turn things around, it hasn’t been a great start for the former Mississippi State safety.
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