Over the course of the next nine weeks, we are going to look at nearly 100 mock drafts to see where the Raiders might go in Round 1 of the 2022 NFL Draft. As we sit in here in early February, it seems pretty clear the direction the Raiders will go.
The Raiders have a big need at wide receiver and specifically, outside receiver. They need someone who can stretch the field and can win in one-on-one situations. To get that player, they will need to use their first-round pick on a receiver. But which receiver might be available at pick No. 22?
In a recent mock draft by ESPN’s Jordan Reid, he had the Raiders selecting USC wide receiver Drake London. Here is what Reid had to say about the possible selection in his mock draft:
“The Raiders have a great slot receiver in Hunter Renfrow, but they don’t have an outside receiver like the 6-foot-5 London, who could be a great target for quarterback Derek Carr. London had 88 catches for 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns in eight games last season before a broken ankle ended his season.
He towers over defensive backs and can make contested catches. The Raiders are moving in a different direction under new coach Josh McDaniels, and London’s yards-after-catch ability could make him tough to stop in McDaniels’ offense.”
London doesn’t have great speed, but his size and ball skills make him nearly impossible to stop down the field. His best current NFL comparison might be Tee Higgins of the Cincinnati Bengals. And if he can perform anything like Higgins in the NFL, he will surely be worth the No. 22 pick in this year’s draft.
Would London fit well with Derek Carr? That remains to be seen as Carr has typically liked smaller and more precise route runners in his career. But London’s talent and upside are undeniable. Don’t be surprised if he ends up being the first wide receiver drafted come April.
