With The First Pick
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2017 NFL Mock Draft: Deep in Defensive Players

By Carl Cockerham

Oct 8, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Myles Garrett (15) and defensive lineman Reggie Chevis (13) celebrate a defensive stop against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second quarter at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Myles Garrett (15) and defensive lineman Reggie Chevis (13) celebrate a defensive stop against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second quarter at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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November 5, 2016; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) runs with the football against the Oregon State Beavers during the first quarter at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 5, 2016; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) runs with the football against the Oregon State Beavers during the first quarter at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

28. Don’t look now but the Oakland Raiders have drastically improved on the defensive side of the ball. That’s because once Perry Riley Jr. joined the team, personnel wasn’t the problem. DC Ken Norton is in over his head and HC Jack Del Rio is fixing things. <p>Mario Edwards Jr.’s presence will bless the Raiders defense and Aldon Smith’s will too next year. With Menelik Watson now in the lineup, the already great offensive line will be even better. And of course, we will have the return of elite QB Derek Carr.</p><div class=. RB. Stanford. Christian McCaffrey. 30. player

WRs Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree are on of the best WR duos in the NFL. But after catching a few game-winners, slot-receiver Seth Roberts is no longer reliable. Then the RBs show up against inferior run defenses and disappear when defenses tighten up.

So the Raiders get better in both areas by selecting RB/WR Christian McCaffrey from Stanford. McCaffrey would give the Raiders a 2,000 total yards combined threat. Players like that make offenses unstoppable no matter what defense they play against.

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30

Christian McCaffrey

RB, Stanford

Las Vegas Raiders
Las Vegas Raiders /

Don’t look now but the Oakland Raiders have drastically improved on the defensive side of the ball. That’s because once Perry Riley Jr. joined the team, personnel wasn’t the problem. DC Ken Norton is in over his head and HC Jack Del Rio is fixing things.

Mario Edwards Jr.’s presence will bless the Raiders defense and Aldon Smith’s will too next year. With Menelik Watson now in the lineup, the already great offensive line will be even better. And of course, we will have the return of elite QB Derek Carr.

WRs Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree are on of the best WR duos in the NFL. But after catching a few game-winners, slot-receiver Seth Roberts is no longer reliable. Then the RBs show up against inferior run defenses and disappear when defenses tighten up.

So the Raiders get better in both areas by selecting RB/WR Christian McCaffrey from Stanford. McCaffrey would give the Raiders a 2,000 total yards combined threat. Players like that make offenses unstoppable no matter what defense they play against.

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