With The First Pick
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Raiders: 3 Maurice Hurst replacements in 2021 NFL Draft

By Cory Kinnan

Sep 30, 2018; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Maurice Hurst (73) reacts after forcing a fumble against the Cleveland Browns in the third quarter at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2018; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Maurice Hurst (73) reacts after forcing a fumble against the Cleveland Browns in the third quarter at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Raiders target Daviyon Nixon. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /

Day-two option: Daviyon Nixon, Iowa

Instead of taking a defensive tackle on the first day of the draft, the Raiders could look to wait and grab a depth piece with high upside on the second day of the draft. Iowa defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon could fit the bill in Las Vegas when they come on the clock with the 48th pick in the draft, or even as far back as the 79th and 80th pick in the draft.

While he has some daunting off-the-field issues that teams will have to work through and clear, Nixon is an explosive weapon who burst onto the scene for the Hawkeyes in 2020. In eight games this season, Nixon racked up 13.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, five and a half sacks, a pick-six, and a forced fumble. Nixon then went on to test quite well at his pro day, running a 4.9 40-yard dash, finishing with a Relative Athletic Score of 8.38.

Nixon fits the mold of a pass-rush specialist who also has three-down potential. He has all of the makings of a day-two pick at this point if teams are willing to take a massive risk on his character concerns. Could Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden be the ones to take that risk?

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