With The First Pick
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Oakland Raiders 2017 In-season Mock Draft: Week 7

By Carl Cockerham

Oct 23, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; The Oakland Raiders emerge from the tunnel led byOakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) before a football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; The Oakland Raiders emerge from the tunnel led byOakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) before a football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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October 8, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver Deontay Burnett (80) runs the ball against Colorado Buffaloes defensive tackle Josh Tupou (58) and linebacker Kenneth Olugbode (31) during the first half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
October 8, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver Deontay Burnett (80) runs the ball against Colorado Buffaloes defensive tackle Josh Tupou (58) and linebacker Kenneth Olugbode (31) during the first half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

player. 28. The Raiders didn’t start the season out too well against the run in part because of nose tackle Dan Williams. He reported to training camp overweight and out of shape so his snaps were down. And Justin “Jelly” Ellis is far from the answer, getting moved off the ball at will. <p>So it’s time to bring someone in to compete and make Williams report to camp in shape and on weight. At 6’1″, 330 pounds, Josh Tapou has the leverage and power to get under centers and move them. His leverage also helps him anchor against the double-teams he’ll face.</p> <p>If Williams behaves from here on out, the Raiders can develop Tapou under him for a year or two. The Raiders need a cheaper contract at nose tackle because they can’t keep paying Williams $6.25 million. Mack and Carr while be up for new deals before too long and those are must-re-signs.</p> <p>So developing this natural-leveraged, thick-bodied nose tackle would be good for the run defense. Tapou is also a pocket pusher and gets more of a rush than you would think he could get. If the Raiders develop him right, opposing teams will not run up the middle on them.</p>. NT. Colorado. Josh Tapou. 7

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