2020 NFL Draft: Raiders mock draft with big trade up for QB
The Oakland Raiders have not drafted a QB since Jon Gruden was hired as head coach. The 2020 NFL Draft could change that dramatically.
Jon Gruden is approaching the end of year two of his 10-year contract with the Oakland Raiders. In two draft classes, Gruden and GM Mike Mayock have yet to draft a quarterback. The 2020 NFL Draft could change that in a big way.
We all know how much Gruden loves the quarterback position. He likes developing quarterbacks, and he has always taken pride in being able to get the best out of guys at that position. He’s the designer of the Raiders’ offense and along with Mayock, the architect of the team.
It’s at least a little bit surprising that, in two draft classes involving 18 draft selections, Gruden has yet to select a young quarterback.
The Raiders obviously have Derek Carr in place, and Carr has proven himself to be, at times, a very capable quarterback in the NFL who can help his team win. At other times, Carr looks like the kind of quarterback who can give you stable play, but not take your team over the top.
Even though Carr has two years with Gruden at this point, there had been rumblings even before the 2019 NFL Draft that the Raiders were strongly considering quarterbacks with one of their three first-round picks, but it never happened.
The Raiders bought into Carr for another year, but will no playoffs in 2019 be the end of the line for Carr as the signal caller with the Raiders?
It’s possible.
We’ve been talking about the Raiders and 2020 NFL Draft quarterbacks for a while. Namely, I think Gruden and Mayock are going to love Jalen Hurts, but what if they decide to go with a quarterback earlier?
Like, way earlier?
What if the Raiders make a move to get to the top of the 2020 NFL Draft, or at least close to the top?
Let’s explore that idea in a 2020 Raiders mock draft where Gruden and Mayock trade up to secure a possible QB of the future. We will look at three rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft in this exercise.