At this point in the offseason, it seems almost too obvious that the Raiders are going to use their first-round pick on a receiver. While there might not be a Ja’Marr Chase level prospect in this class, there are a number of players that could be productive right away in the right scheme.
But which receiver would make sense for the Raiders? And could they fall to the back half of Round 1?
In a recent mock draft by Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, he has the Raiders addressing their wide receiver need at pick No. 22 by selecting Garrett Wilson from Ohio State. Here is what Zierlein had to say about the possible pick:
“High-character prospect who can stretch the field and make acrobatic catches. He has work to do with his route-running, but he’s competitive and plays with good strength.”
Wilson is one of the highest-ranked receivers by most draft outlets right now. Some places, such as Pro Football Focus, ESPN and NFL.com all have Wilson ranked inside their top-10. Getting him at pick No. 22 would be a massive value selection for the Raiders.
Wilson is projected to run in the low 4.4s at the NFL combine, but he can win in several other ways besides just speed. He has incredible body control and is dangerous after the catch. Wilson doesn’t have elite size, but that hasn’t mattered to the Raiders in the past. He just gets open and makes plays.
If Wilson does make it to the No. 22 pick, this would be a home-run selection for the Raiders. He would be a perfect fit with Derek Carr and would be a great pairing with Hunter Renfrow in the slot. Of all the receivers in this class, Wilson might be the best possible pick for the Raiders in Round 1.
During his final year at Ohio State, Wilson totaled over 1,110 yards from scrimmage and scored 13 touchdowns in 11 games for the Buckeyes.
