With The First Pick
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2017 Oakland Raiders Mock Draft: Need For Speed

By Carl Cockerham

Nov 26, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans defensive back Adoree Jackson (2) celebrates during a NCAA football game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans defensive back Adoree Jackson (2) celebrates during a NCAA football game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 4, 2016; East Hartford, CT, USA; Connecticut Huskies safety Obi Melifonwu (20) intercepts a pass intended for Temple Owls wide receiver Ventell Bryant (1) in the second quarter at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 4, 2016; East Hartford, CT, USA; Connecticut Huskies safety Obi Melifonwu (20) intercepts a pass intended for Temple Owls wide receiver Ventell Bryant (1) in the second quarter at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

28. Every year, there are size/speed freaks who rise up draft boards, and Obi Melifonwu is one of them. At 6’3″, 220 pounds, Melifonwu has great size and strength but he’s also a fast strong safety. His coaches expect him to run his 40 in somewhere under 4.5 seconds. <p>He also has excellent movement skills for a man his size as he has covered the slot at UConn. But the Raiders would not need him to cover the slot, they could use him to cover opposing tight ends. So Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, won’t be as big a headache for the Raiders in 2017.</p> <p>There are some that have Melifonwu graded in the middle rounds so the Raiders should jump on him in Round 3. As soon as he runs is 40 at the combine and his pro day, his grade may go up. Karl Joseph is a little short to cover Kelce and Reggie Nelson needs to go sit down somewhere.</p> <p>Melifonwu is coming off 118 tackles with three passes broken up and four interceptions in 2016 so he is productive. This is a great athlete at a position of need and DB coach Marcus Robertson will teach him well. Then Chiefs TEs would no longer have their way with the Raiders like they are now.</p>. SS. Connecticut. Obi Melifonwu. 3. player

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