2020 NFL Draft: Raiders mock draft with big trade up for QB

The Trade

Raiders receive: 3rd overall pick

Redskins receive: 13th overall pick, 18th overall pick, 3rd round pick

Wait just a minute.

Isn’t Tua Tagovailoa’s draft stock supposed to have plummeted with his latest injury? Isn’t he far too big of a risk to take this high in the draft?

Those are valid questions, but with reports that he will be ready to resume athletic activity and throwing by the Spring, I don’t think Tua’s draft stock is going to fall all that far, if at all.

He’s still going to be a high pick, and with good reason.

When Tagovailoa is healthy, he’s a game-changing type of quarterback who can win with his arm and legs, but most importantly, his mental preparation and ability to see, read, and attack coverage.

This is a smart player from a great program, and a team-first player everyone else rallies around. The Raiders’ brass will love him for that, and if he’s physically able to go, this is a special prospect at the most important position in football. The Raiders have the draft capital now to make this type of move happen. The traditional cost to move up has been roughly two first-round picks and a third-round pick, and the Raiders can offer that right now.

But if there is some kind of bidding war, the Raiders also have a couple extra third-rounders and they could offer future picks as well.

If Gruden/Mayock fall in love with Tua — and I think they most certainly would — they had better hope the Redskins land the third pick instead of the Dolphins.