Tag: Raiders draft needs

Raiders Draft Radar: Top cornerback fits by round

It seems like every year the Raiders head into the draft with a need at the cornerback position. This year is no exception. While they had Nate Hobbs locking down the slot, the boundaries were a revolving door of cornerbacks that is still not …

It seems like every year the Raiders head into the draft with a need at the cornerback position. This year is no exception. While they had Nate Hobbs locking down the slot, the boundaries were a revolving door of cornerbacks that is still not settled.

From the looks of things, Jack Jones is the answer on one side, but the other side is very much in need of an influx of talent. The team flat out ignored the position in free agency, leaving them in the same situation today.

Though it’s hard to really blame them for being skeptical that free agency would solve anything. Last year, they signed two cornerbacks early in free agency (David Long Jr and Duke Shelley) and then Marcus Peters just before camp and none of them were on the team by the end of last season.

They also drafted Jakorian Bennett in the fourth round and he was benched after four starts. So, now they must take another shot at it and you would figure that would happen by the end of day two. Perhaps more than once.

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Raiders Draft Radar: Top guard fits by round

Guard has been and continues to be a major need for the Raiders. And while it may not be a position they address in the first round, they probably shouldn’t wait around for scraps as they need a prospect capable of being a day one starter at right …

Guard has been and continues to be a major need for the Raiders. And while it may not be a position they address in the first round, they probably shouldn’t wait around for scraps as they need a prospect capable of being a day one starter at right guard.

They recently signed former Bears guard Cody Whitehair, and while he adds experience and scheme familiarity, he isn’t considered the answer at the position. At least not to the extent they can call it a day and shift to addressing other positions.

So, let’s take a look at five guards who could be in play for the Raiders and where they might consider drafting them.





Zak Zinter

What Condition the Position is in: Assessing Raiders level of need at WR ahead of the Draft

What Condition Raiders wide receiver Position is in heading into the Draft

With the Draft weeks away, it’s time to check in on the Raiders’ wide receiver position to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.

Starters: Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker
Depth: DJ Turner, Kristian Wilkerson

Davante is Davante. And he’s back in the fold despite plenty of speculation he would want to be traded. He and Meyers on each side is a solid couple starters. Tucker struggled early as a rookie – mainly with his hands – but late in the season the speedster showed improvement He would figure to be the favorite to take over in the slot for the departed Hunter Renfrow if the season started today.

Condition: Unstable

Notes: The reason this is unstable is for two reasons. First off because we don’t know if Tucker can be the answer full time in the slot. That’s a hope. Secondly, they need more depth. Right now they have enough receivers to field an active gameday roster. That’s not gonna cut it. They need competition for those spots and not just from a bunch of undrafted free agents either.

What Condition the Position is in: Assessing Raiders level of need at RB ahead of the Draft

What Condition Raiders RB Position is in heading into the Draft

With the Draft just weeks away, it’s time to check in on the Raiders’ running back position to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.

Starters: Zamir White, Alexander Mattison
Backups: Ameer Abdullah, Brittain Brown, Sincere McCormick, Tyreik McAllister

White played well in the final five games of last season after Josh Jacobs was lost to injury. But new GM Tom Telesco made it clear he didn’t want a workhorse back, but rather a committee in the backfield. Mattison has been a part time player for most of his five-year NFL career. He put up a career-high 700 yards on 180 carries last season along with 30 catches for 192 yards and three touchdowns.

Condition: Stable

Notes: From the looks of it, the Raiders have the duo they like in White and Mattison. Though the depth is suspect. I wouldn’t put it past them to take a running back in this draft, but it would likely be no higher than a day three pick should someone they like happen to be there later than they expected.

What Condition the Position is in: Assessing Raiders level of need at QB ahead of the draft

What condition Raiders quarterback position is in ahead of the draft

With the Draft just weeks away, it’s time to check in on the Raiders’ quarterback position to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.

Starter: Gardner Minshew
Depth: Aidan O’Connell, Anthony Brown Jr

O’Connell started the latter half of last season as a rookie. He did an admirable job, but never showed he was close to being the answer. Minshew has the right attitude to fit in with this team and started a career-high 13 games last season in Indianapolis. He joins his fourth team in six NFL seasons.

Condition: Critical

Notes: While the addition of Minshew helps relieve some pressure for the Raiders in the draft, it doesn’t signal they will shift away from it as their top priority. They simply must be thinking quarterback at the top of the draft and do whatever they have to do in order to get someone they believe can be a day one starter.

Top 5 Best Guard fits for Raiders in 2023 NFL Draft

Top 5 Draft Guard fits for Raiders

While much of the focus by the Raiders in this draft figures to come on the defensive side of the ball, perhaps no position on the offense is in more need of a major talent than that of the guard position.

The Raiders went after guard with their first pick last season — albeit in the third round — but the work is not done. They must consider looking to upgrade the position on day two and perhaps day three as well.

Here are the top fits for what the Raiders need as I see it.

Raiders Top 5 biggest team needs heading into NFL Draft

These five positions will be top priority for the Raiders in this draft.

We are a week away from the start of the 2023 NFL Draft. And since we know (don’t we?) that Best Player Available is a myth, let’s take a look at the positions the Raiders will be working the hardest to upgrade with their top pick at seven overall as well as one of their four picks in the first two days.

What condition the position is in: Assessing Raiders level of need at safety ahead of NFL Draft

Assessing Raiders level of need at safety ahead of the Draft

We take a look at the safety position for the Raiders as the draft approaches to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.

Current projected starters: Tre’von Moehrig, Marcus Epps

Depth: Jaquan Johnson, Roderic Teamer, Isaiah Pola-Mao, Jalen Elliott

This time last year, it was former first round pick Johnathan Abram and second round pick Tre’von Moehrig set to start at the two safety spots.

It would be Abram’s final season due to his rookie deal not being picked up. And he didn’t even make it through that season before being released. The former 27th overall pick was waived on November 8. 

His release moved veteran Duron Harmon into a starting role and after the season the Raiders didn’t re-sign him. Thus leaving the position wide open.

To fill that spot opposite Moehrig, the team signed former Eagles’ starting safety Marcus Epps. They also added depth in Jaquan Johnson and brought back Roderick Teamer. 

Condition: Stable

The above starters and backups along with undrafted Isaiah Pola-Mao – who showed some flashes as a rookie last season – the Raiders can probably get by with what they have at the safety spot, while keeping an eye out for some value additions on day three.

What condition the position is in: Assessing Raiders level of need at CB ahead of NFL Draft

Assessing Raiders level of need at CB ahead of the Draft

We take a look at the cornerback position for the Raiders as the draft approaches to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.

Current projected starters: Nate Hobbs, Brandon Facyson

Depth: Duke Shelley, David Long Jr, Tyler Hall, Amik Robertson, Sam Webb, Ike Brown, Bryce Cosby

Nate Hobbs is coming off a bit of a down season after a stellar rookie year. Mostly that’s because he does his best work in the slot and last season was asked to split time between inside and outside because he was their best option in either position.

This offseason the team added a couple mid-to-lower tier cornerbacks in Duke Shelley and David Long Jr. Both should add some depth to the unit.

Among the rest of the group, Tyler Hall showed the most potential to push for meaningful reps while Amik Robertson and Sam Webb had their moments as well. 

Condition: Critical

They have the depth part down. That was a need going into the offseason. But they are still very much in need of a starting option on the outside, so as to keep Hobbs working the slot. This is a position that needs to be at the top of their mind with their first couple picks in this draft.

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What condition the position is in: Assessing Raiders level of need at LB ahead of NFL Draft

Assessing Raiders level of need at LB ahead of NFL Draft

We take a look at the linebacker position for the Raiders as the draft approaches to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.

Current projected starters: Divine Deablo, Robert Spillane

Depth: Luke Masterson, Darien Butler, Harvey Langi, Curtis Bolton, Kana’i Mauga

One of the team’s first wave free agent signings was former Steelers LB Robert Spillane. The sixth year linebacker has never been a full time starter, though he coming off a career-high 79 combined tackles last season, appearing in 16 games with five starts. Is it his time to play his best football? Who really knows, but the Raiders seem to be banking on it.

Deablo was injured much of the season, but was showing some promise before his injury. Masterson only started due to the injury to Denzel Perryman. Now Perryman is gone.

Condition: Unstable

Deablo has potential. Other than that they have a few middling talents among them and that’s about the best I can say for this crew.

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