Oklahoma receiver CeeDee Lamb is currently considered the consensus best receiver in this draft. But in Todd McShay’s mock draft 2.0, he sees the Raiders going in another direction.
Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
No Raiders wide receiver had 50 catches in 2019, and none had more than 651 yards. Of course, GM Mike Mayock and coach Jon Gruden thought they had their WR1 last summer when they traded for Antonio Brown, but we all know that didn’t go to plan. Enter the top route runner in the draft class in Jeudy. He would immediately giveDerek Carr– or whoever is throwing the passes in Vegas — a legitimate threat outside to pair with breakout tight endDarren Waller. The wide receiver class is deep, but Jeudy is myNo. 1-ranked prospect at the position.
Lamb was on the board and goes to the Broncos at pick 15.
Oddly, McShay has Oregon QB Justin Herbert also still on the board as he has the Chargers not taking a QB, opting for Alabama tackle Jedrick Willis with the 6th pick. Who exactly Willis will be protecting is anyone’s guess. Herbert goes to the Colts at pick 13.
Wide receiver is of course arguably the Raiders’ top need. Also among their need positions is cornerback. One could certainly argue linebacker is a bigger need than corner, but sometimes best player available takes precedence over the bigger need. That’s where McShay has the Raiders go at pick 19. Of course he does so while not realizing the Raiders re-signed Nevin Lawson last month.
CJ Henderson, CB, Florida
With Jeudy taking care of receiving woes, it’s time to look at the defense for the Raiders’ fifth Round 1pick in the past two years. Trayvon Mullen showed some potential in his rookie season, but Nevin Lawson and Daryl Worley are both free agents, so Vegas — man, I’m still getting used to saying that –is going to have to get a playmaker in coverage. Henderson broke up 11 passes for Florida this past season, an ability that will be welcomed by a Raiders defense that managed only nine picks and was bottom 10 in pass defense (256.7 yards per game).
McShay has Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons going to the Giants at 4th overall. Then there is a run on linebackers at the end of the first round with Oklahoma’s Kenneth Murray at 28 to the Ravens.