Oakland Raiders targeting a lineman in first round of 2018 NFL Draft?
The Oakland Raiders could be targeting an offensive or defensive lineman with their top pick in the 2018 NFL Draft on Thursday…
The Oakland Raiders, like many teams in the 2018 NFL Draft, remain a mystery with just days remaining until the first round begins.
But reading some of the tea leaves this offseason, it would not be a surprise if the Raiders used the first of their bounty of picks to select an offensive or defensive lineman.
Why is that the case?
Just look at where the Raiders have invested their major assets this offseason.
They have done a ton of work to the secondary, signing cornerbacks Shareece Wright, Rashaan Melvin, Leon Hall, Senquez Golson, and recently Daryl Worley.
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They also brought back safety Reggie Nelson, signed Marcus Gilchrist, and they still believe in their young safety duo of Karl Joseph and Obi Melifonwu.
Last year’s first round pick, Gareon Conley, will be back from injury.
You get the point.
The Raiders have been working hard to address their secondary in free agency so they didn’t have to do so early in the draft, because there are potentially other positions they would like to address.
Because of the frenzy of activity at the quarterback position expected in the top 10, and the way the board could fall this year, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Raiders get a player at pick number 10 who might otherwise go higher in another draft class.
Specifically, the offensive or defensive line come to mind, where the Raiders could possibly take the top offensive tackle off the board, or the top interior defensive lineman.
Players that could be surprise options in round one for Oakland, which has basically had a linebacker or cornerback penciled in all offseason, include Notre Dame offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey, UCLA tackle Kolton Miller, Washington defensive tackle Vita Vea, or Alabama defensive tackle Da’Ron Payne.