The Way too early 2016 mock draft

[benchmobbin02]

It's that time again. Alright, if we go by strictly record and strength of schedule then the Raiders would be picking 17th. I would consider this team a middle of the pack team or avg. I lean toward the lower end due to the loss to the Bears but I went by the #'s.
This mock takes into account our draft needs as S T LB CB DL LB RB WR with 8 picks including the trade for Moore. I didn't include the conditional pick for Butler. He has been on the 53 man roster for Dallas for 4 games (6 games and the swap happens) which is good for us BUT he didn't practice at all last week with a bad hamstring. We'll have to watch to see how the Cowboys weight his value if the injury continues. He could be cut at any moment and we'd lose the swap...or not. So I go into this mock with 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 6th and 7th round picks. BTW, I didn't mention it before but we aren't in line to get any compensatory picks this.

1st rd pick - Su'a Cravens USC 6'1" 225 SS
Top shelf athlete, instincts to play in the box or in space, size to cover TE and speed to get to the flat. Ramsey, Jalen Smith and the top flight corners are already taken so he is the best fit for us.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y3sH-Ct0tA[/youtube]

Safety position - With the shuffling and injuries we have had on the back end of our defense it's hard to blame KNJ for not having these guys up to speed. We need elite talent to stabilize this unit. I believe Carrie can be elite when healthy and Woodson may be the best safety in this era to roam the deep end(with Ed Reed making a strong argument). But having a SS to rely on would be huge. Woodson and Asante are UFA after this year. Allen and T. McDonald are signed thru 2018 or 19. Allen should be the next FS for us behind CWood banking that he fully recovers from the knee injury( Damnit Ray Ray!).


2nd rd pick -Vadal Alexander LSU 6'5" 326 OT/OG
Looks to be one of the main beneficiaries of the LSU offense ground game success this year. The senior has started games at LT, RT, LG and RG during his career and has the big body and athleticism Reggie looks for upfront. Has shown improvement in his discipline losing 25 lbs and adjusts to front 7 stunts and twist well. This season he has stood up well at RT vs the pass rush.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C79Mp5XjeIM[/youtube]

OFF Line position- Penn resigning is still on the agenda for Reggie thou I'd would like to avoid a mistake we can't get out of due to a fall off in production. Hopefully the deal is structured in a way that we can still be flexible. If we have Penn at LT, Jackson at LG and Hudson at C set we are in good shape. Then we have Howard (not looking great at T again this season) Watson (coming off a nasty Achilles injury) and Feliciano to man the right side. All these player are under contract for next year besides Penn obviously. Webb (UFA)and McCants (RFA) could be brought back of Feliciano looks shaky in the move to RG. Adding a high draft pick at T lets us stop the shuffling at the RT and provide insurance in Penn can't be resigned. Oline would be looking more stable after years of moving pieces.


3rd rd pick - Kyler Fackrell Utah State 6'5" 245 ILB\OLB
An extremely athletic, fast, long-levered linebacker that can play both the pass and run. A physical player that is a tenacious pass rusher. Has great instincts on the football field. Thru 6 games he has 37 TCK, 10 TFL, 3 SKS, 10 QBH, 4 FR, 2 FF.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nblZogkbjdA[/youtube]

LB position - The state of our LB position is not as rosy as we thought going into the season. Mack is still a potential generational player. Malcom Smith has been solid at Will and KNJ hopes he can be the answer long term. Aldon Smith is impressive on the field and we all hope he stays there for us past this year. Still a ? Ray Ray Armstrong is athletic but undisciplined and reckless. Ball is stepping up but needs more seasoning from KNJ and JDR. MLB is still a work in progress with Lofton and Heeney missing strong interior lineman play. Max Valles looked like a pass rush specialist in the making but is on the pratice squad for now. FA options Nick Perry GB (Reggie connection), Bruce Irvin + Michael Morgan SEA(KNJ connection), Shea McClellin Chi, Vincent Rey and Emmanuel Lamur Cin and Kyle Wilber DAL are all available in 16.


4th rd pick - Eddie Jackson Alabama 6'0" 190 CB
Jackson was a top prospect and showed great promise in his freshman year. He tore his ACL in spring practice coming into his soph year but returned later and only missed 6 games showing he still had it. Has moved to FS in this his junior year recording 9 tackles 1 int 1ff and 1 fum rec. Just had a huge game vs Tex A&M. 2 picks with a TD. He has 5 picks total now for the year. He is big and physical has the ball skills and experience to play in our system.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSenGD_hqTw[/youtube]

Cornerback position - Hayden has had ups and downs early he but has performed well of late. Amerson is adjusting well to our system as I predicted. Thorpe has taken over the 3rd spot with 2nd yr man McGill and rookie McDonald. The real note for the position is getting Carrie healthy and back to CB. Imagine later in the season, Carrie and Amerson starting on the outside with Hayden playing in the slot and Allen and CWood back at safety. I see Reggie continuing to grab corners mid to late til he is secure in the group.


5th rd pick - Kentrell Brothers Missouri 6'1" 235 LB
Polished SEC LB that is always around the ball. Smart and explosive at the point of attack and doesn't miss tackles or assignments. Can play inside as he did in college or outside in KNJ system. Tackle machine.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNBYlVjuS7w[/youtube]

LB position - See above


6TH rd pick - DeMarcus Walker Florida State 6'3" 277 DE34
Walker’s best attribute is his versatility. He has lined up on both edges and along the interior of the line and had success in each role. The 6-foot-3, 281-pound junior has even played a bit of fullback this season. Walker has registered 3.5 sacks in his last two games. Walker is relentless in his pursuit of the quarterback and is rarely outworked on the practice field.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfnTz58PQlo[/youtube]

Defensive Line position - With Tuck going to IR we now are looking at a start 3-4 alignment on the DLine of Mario Edwards JR, Dan Williams and possibly Denico Autry. CJ Wilson, Stacy McGee and Benson Mayowa will all play rolls as well. It's a solid group that add Aldon Smith and Mack as Rush End in 4-3 or nickel sets. Justin Ellis is still missing practice with an ankle and his progress is slow and concerning. Tuck, Tuck Wilson and Autry are all UFA and Mayowa is a RFA after the season. We'll need depth behind Edwards. JPP (Tuck connection), Muhammad Wilkerson, Cedric Thornton (Reggie assigned him a 2nd rd tender last year), Malik Jackson and Derek Wolfe (JDL connection), Akeim Hicks and Jacquies Smith are just some of the top young Dlinemen on the market next year. Look for us to spend some money on one of these guys IMO.


6th rd pick - Storm Woods Oregon St 6'0" 205 RB
Woods is a good back on a not so good team. Has vision, size and speed to compete at the next level. Suffered a concussion in Sept but came back and had his best game of the year vs SD St. with 17att 151yds 8.9avg and 1td.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mminfHTIS98[/youtube]

RB position - Murray Helu and Jones are all signed next yr. Murray looks like he will capitalize on promise shown last year but there are many games left. Helu and Jones don't have significant money guaranteed after this year. We could very well revamp the RB position if it doesn't produce this year. Not much in FA. Matt Forte CHI, Doug Martin TB, Alfred Morris WAS, Lamar Miller MIA and Kendall Hunter SF all out there.


7th rd pick - Caleb Jones ARZ WR - 6'3 215
Tall and fast with a large catch range and solid production. Can challenge for a roster spot with his attributes alone. Kinda of a clone of Butler who we got an extra pick for this year.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ptlJPGRsgA[/youtube]

WR position - Cooper is our anchor at Wr for years to come but we're gonna need more hands to catch balls from Carr. Crab, Streater, Holmes and Roberts are all FAs next yr. Will any of them produce and be resigned? I can see all but Streater returning. Butler was traded. DeBose is on IR and hopefully he can rehab and recover the burst he had but that is far from certain. We just signed Walt Powell to be our primary return man. Look for us to target Wr in FA as well. Brian Quick STL, Jarrett Boykin GB, Mohamed Sanu + Marvin Jones Cin, Rueben Randle NYG, Travis Benjamin CLE, Keshawn Martin HOU and Rishard Matthews Mia are all guys looking to have nice years to capitalize on FA in 2016 and be a #2-3 WR. Any could be targeted.

[Neddy]

oh man, this is really way too early... instead of the 17th, we may as well be the #1 or #32. we don't know yet.

having said that, I love the fact that you are already doing your due diligence.

[benchmobbin02]

oh man, this is really way too early... instead of the 17th, we may as well be the #1 or #32. we don't know yet.

having said that, I love the fact that you are already doing your due diligence.

Of course, we don't know yet haha, that's why I titled it like I did.

It's a way to stay aware while watching college games and highlights and to stay somewhat knowledgeable when talking about prospects. Also gives me a benchmark to look back at during the real draft. It's fun to put together the team needs as the weeks go by and see how they might change and where our draft position ends up.

[Neddy]

hey, no disrespect, glad to see you around here and looking forward to your insight during upcoming off season. but for now, lets go kick some charger's ass!!!

[benchmobbin02]

hey, no disrespect, glad to see you around here and looking forward to your insight during upcoming off season. but for now, lets go kick some charger's ass!!!

I'm thinking about smashing the Dolts AND the future of the team and how current Raiders fit for next year and how we can improve in the offseason.

[FNQ]

Jalen Ramsey from FSU quickly becoming my favorite future Raider. Only question is if we can get him where we draft.. seen him mocked as high as 8th

[benchmobbin02]

Kentrell Brothers has really flown up some boards and he looks like maybe the best MLB in the class. I'm putting together a overall offseason plan along with the next mock and would be my pick for our need at the position so far.