According to our mock draft database here at the Raiders Wire, the most common selections for the Raiders in Round 1 are currently linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and defensive end Kwity Paye from Michigan.
It’s not surprising that mock drafts are giving Las Vegas front seven help, but the names often being considered for the Raiders are a bit strange. One player that has yet to be mocked to the team at No. 17 (until today) despite being a sure-fire first-round pick is Georgia’s Azeez Ojulari.
As a redshirt sophomore at Georgia, Ojulari recorded 9.5 sacks in ten games as well as four forced fumbles and two pass deflections. He’s one of the youngest players in this class and is just starting to scratch his ceiling as a pass rusher.
In a recent mock draft by Chris Burke of The Athletic, he gave the Raiders Ojulari at No. 17, citing his explosiveness and burst off the edge:
“Elite edge players are so coveted, it’s hard to grasp the first one coming off the board just past the Round 1 halfway point. It could happen this year, though, because other positions are stronger at the top. Ojulari has enough burst and know-how for his position to make an early impact.”
Given how young, productive and explosive Ojulari has proven to be in the SEC, he would make for a fantastic pick for the Raiders in the first round. Don’t be surprised if Ojulari winds up becoming one of the best pass rushers from this class given his speed and bend around the edge. He’s got all the tools to be a Pro Bowl edge rusher within a few years of being drafted.
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