Raiders can rebuild defense in 1st round of 2019 NFL draft
By Bryan Perez
The Oakland Raiders will enter the 2019 NFL draft with three first-round picks, and they have to hit on all of them in order to get the franchise back on track.
Jon Gruden and the Oakland Raiders are in the midst of a critically important offseason, one that’s already seen all-world wide receiver Antonio Brown, left tackle Trent Brown, safety Lamarcus Joyner, and linebacker Vontaze Burfict (among several others) added to the roster.
But for the Raiders to truly take a step forward in 2019, Gruden and GM Mike Mayock have to take full advantage of this year’s NFL draft. Oakland has three first-round picks and has to add three key starters for the rebuild to stand a chance at producing wins anytime soon.
As it currently stands, the Raiders own the fourth, 24th and 27th picks overall. They could choose to package their selections to move up for Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray (if they identify him as the cure for the franchise), or they can use the No. 4 pick as leverage against a team looking to trade up for Ohio State QB Dwayne Haskins.
One could argue the Raiders are the key to the entire first round.
Here’s a look at what a realistic first-round draft haul can be for Oakland, and how they can rebuild their defense in just three picks.
Round 1, Pick 4: Quinnen Williams | DL | Alabama
Do the Raiders need Williams? No. They already have strong interior defensive linemen in Jonathan Hankins and Maurice Hurst. But the first four or five picks of the NFL draft are reserved — at least, they should be — for blue-chip prospects who have the kind of ceiling that can change the fate of a franchise. That’s Williams. And no matter how solid Hurst and Hankins are, they don’t come anywhere near the potential player that Williams can be.
By adding the Alabama standout here, the Raiders will have one of the fiercest interior defensive lines in the AFC that can stop the run and collapse the pocket against the pass. And while a sexier pick would be an edge rusher like Josh Allen, Williams will offer the same kind of pass-rushing impact that Allen would; it’s just coming from the inside instead of the outside.
Raiders fans probably won’t like this pick if it’s made in April, but good teams build from the inside out. Williams is a no-brainer.