If the NFL season ended today, the Las Vegas Raiders would have the No. 2 pick. That would be quite the fall for a team that had Super Bowl aspirations going into the year.
However, that feels pretty unlikely as the Raiders will get to the easier part of their schedule after their Week 6 bye. However, there is a good chance the Raiders could wind up with a top-ten pick if they can’t figure out how to close games late.
In a recent mock draft by CBS Sports, they had the Raiders picking at No. 11. In their mock, they had the Raiders selecting Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson. Here are their thoughts on the player and his fit with the Raiders:
“Las Vegas has as much talent as anyone on the edge with Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones, but it needs more consistency up the middle. Simpson is a versatile talent who can shoot gaps and drop into coverage while making plays sideline to sideline.”
The Raiders don’t really need linebackers, but they do need Denzel Perryman to stay healthy. While you can’t rule out an off-the-ball linebacker for the Raiders, they have other positions of need that are far greater.
If the Raiders do wind up with a top-12 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, look for them to address either their offensive line or the defensive tackle position. New GM Dave Ziegler has already shown how much he values those positions, but it’s time for the team to use some premium assets to build the trenches.
