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Las Vegas Raiders 2020 mock draft: Rolling the dice on a new QB?

By Sayre Bedinger

HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 27: Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders walks off the field after the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on October 27, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 27: Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders walks off the field after the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on October 27, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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DALLAS, TEXAS – OCTOBER 12: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners wears the Golden Hat trophy after defeating the Texas Longhorns 34-27 during the 2019 AT&T Red River Showdown at Cotton Bowl on October 12, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TEXAS – OCTOBER 12: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners wears the Golden Hat trophy after defeating the Texas Longhorns 34-27 during the 2019 AT&T Red River Showdown at Cotton Bowl on October 12, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

First round

Would this be a shocking selection? Maybe as of right now, on the cusp of November, yes.

I think in the months ahead, we’re going to learn a lot about Jalen Hurts as an NFL prospect and I think he’s going to continue to show incredible growth.

Mine is not the first mock draft that has Hurts going in the first round. That idea’s already been floating out there. But what about the Raiders as a destination?

I picture Gruden in his QB Camp series with ESPN, sitting in his chair wearing the FFCA visor, inviting Jalen Hurts in for a visit and a film/throwing session.

What do we know about Hurts? Well, first and foremost, we know that he’s pretty much beloved by Nick Saban and all of his former teammates at Alabama. We know that he’s an incredibly hard worker and a great teammate who willingly took a back seat to Tua Tagovailoa for a full year.

All the while, it’s abundantly clear Hurts had been working on himself as a passer, and all that hard work is paying off with Hurts enjoying a Heisman-caliber season with Lincoln Riley and the Oklahoma Sooners.

I imagine the old school Gruden and Mike Mayock being absolutely smitten by Hurts not only as a player, but as a person.

Hurts has a big arm and big-time athleticism, and he’d be able to re-join his former teammate Josh Jacobs in the Raiders’ backfield.

This could actually be a really fun pick if it happens.

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