Pro Football Focus released their first post-combine mock draft this week and there was a familiar face at No. 12. The site gave the Raiders wide receiver Jerry Jeudy as they passed on CeeDee Lamb, who went at pick No. 13 to the Colts.
But the more interesting selection for the Raiders came at pick No. 19 as the Raiders had a choice of several top-tier defenders. However, the pick was LSU linebacker Patrick Queen, who put on a show at the NFL Combine last week.
Take a look at why Pro Football Focus believes Queen could be the pick for the Raiders:
The Raiders can’t throw out Tahir Whitehead and Nicholas Morrow again at linebacker and expect to see a big turnaround defensively in 2020. With a 4.5 40, 35-inch vertical and 10-foot-5 broad jump, Queen proved to be one of the most explosive linebackers in the class.
Both Queen and fellow linebacker Kenneth Murray had monster days at the NFL Combine, but we already knew these two players were highly athletic. But it’s Queen who offers the most long-term upside as he is only 20-years old and played at an All-American level in the second half of the college football season.
Queen may need some time to adjust to the physicality of the NFL, but his athleticism is off the charts. He should be able to make plays with his speed and effort alone and that’s something the Raiders’ defense has sorely lacked over the last decade.
If the Raiders can grab their future No. 1 receiver at pick No. 12, look for Queen to be their target at No. 19. It’s a perfect match of talent and need.
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