NFL Draft Day Two: Raiders Could Benefit From Wild First Round

As the NFL Draft moves along, Day Two should feature several players that the Las Vegas Raiders would jump at the chance to draft.

With the first round in the books, the Las Vegas Raiders sit at a position where they could draft elite talent. In a first round filled with surprises, that pushes second-round talent down a few spots. As a result, this sets off a domino effect, with teams looking forward to selecting players that they wouldn’t normally see fall to them. The NFL Draft remains an exact science.

Nakobe Dean (LB, Georgia)

Granted, Dean should hear his name called early in the second round. Yet, if the Raiders entertained jumping up for him, no one should complain. With crisp instincts and coverage skills, Dean easily starts into a starting role, giving the Raiders another young building block.

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Darian Kinnard (OL, Kentucky)

if the Raiders look to slide Alex Leatherwood back outside to tackle, a hole at guard opens us. Kinnard, a road-grating mauler loves the trenches physicality. Although he can spot start at tackle, Kinnard would benefit from playing on the interior, clearing lanes for both the run and pass.

Leo Chenal (LB, Wisconsin)

By now, defensive coordinator Patrick Graham’s preference for versatile defenders goes without saying. In Chenal, the Raiders could line him up as an inside/middle linebacker that would thrive between the tackles. Similarly, in coverage or as a blitzer, he would acquit himself well with his blend of power and explosion.

Nick Cross (S, Maryland)

In declining the fifth-year option of Johnathan Abram, the Raiders look to move forward at safety. Looking into Day Three, Cross brings speed, ball skills, and the ability to jar the ball loose. Plus, the Raiders would not have to reach for the former Terrapin.

Overview

By the nature of the NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders should benefit from what others could be conceived as blown first-round picks. Under those circumstances, the new regime can either sit back and draft wiser than the predecessors. With that, the Las Vegas Raiders actually benefit from not possessing a first-round selection.