My 2020 Las Vegas Raiders Dream Draft

My 2020 Draft Dream

We’re quiet and watching. We all wonder if the Raiders will move up. Number one on my draft card is Isaih Simmons the LB of Clemson. The first two picks are in, the QB, the DE, and then Okudah the CB who was #2 on my list. Certainly the Giants will take Simmons but instead they take the top OT off the table. Chargers and Dolphins both take their franchise QB’s all three of the top QB’s now gone and ideal for us to get what we want. Now #7 will the Raiders trade up? They shock, pull a Ferrell of 2019 and take Epenesa at DE. Wow that was a shocker then another OT and the Jaguars could trade with us but don’t like the offer of just a third to move from 12 to 9 and take CJ Henderson the CB. What fools. M. Becton the OT goes next and then the Jets think they steal from us by taking CeCe Lamb the WR. My #1 on the board is there:

With the first pick in the 2020 draft the first ever pick of Las Vegas is Isiah Simmons the LB of Clemson. What a pick. Lining him up between Littleton and Kwiatowski gives the Raiders the best LB group in decades. A total remodel with Lee and others offering able depth but the starters would be all new!

We could have had Brown the DT, Jeudy the WR, but now both are gone by 19. The remainder of picks are not even on my list except for a surprise selection of K. Fulton the CB LSU who was quite a ways down my list. Could we trade? We’re on the clock and the two players are my list available are Ruggs a badly need speedy WR and Kinlaw a shock to fall to #19 DT. The phone rings off the hook and the call taken is from Philadelphia. They hae #21 and offer up #53 in the 2nd round for just 2 spots. I got 2 players on my list that I’d be elated - could they go #19 and #20? It's worth finding out - the Raiders trade #19 to the Eagles for #21 and #53 in the 2nd round.

Philly wanted and got Ruggs and we lost out on the fastest WR in the draft. Jacksonville at #20 takes X. McKinney the FS/SS and leaves Kinlaw on our board.

With the 21st pick in the NFL draft the Raiders select Javon Kinlaw of South Carolina, a new anchor in the middle of the defensive line. The man who will line up for the majority of defensive line snaps to rotate out minimally with Collins, Hurst and the best of Hankins or Hall (probably not both).

Now will Mike move up for another player? We’re still in desperate need of a starting Cornerback, a starting true #1 WR and there are some guys on the board that fit that role. Will they last: The players late on my board in the late 1st round or early second fall? Diggs at CB, Shenault at WR, even Dantzler at CB all go ahead of #53. The best player available at #53 in the draft is shockingly RB Jonathan Taylor, and pundits on TV think he’ll take Washington’s role as the lead back up in the backfield. That’s not the name called. A shockingly good fall to #53 is:

With the 53rd pick in the NFL draft, our only 2nd round selection, the Las Vegas Raiders select Jaylon Johnson CB from Utah. Panned a little by the pundits for passing Taylor (grade 6.41 in the NFL chart for Johnson (grade 6.37 on the NFL chart) the Raiders now have a possible starting CB opposite Mullens from 2019. A need filled with a nearly best player available option.

Just ahead of pick #80 some players on my board go away. They include LB Gay, RB Moss, and plenty of the OL like Trey Adams and Muti. Mike Mayock only has 5 picks left; three in the third, one fourth and a fifth; would that be enough? We have no #1 WR on the roster. We’re in the 3rd round:

The pick is traded to the Los Angeles Rams; #80 in the 3rd round is traded for #84 and a 4th round selection #126. We’re back off and watching while the Rams take Cam Akers at #80 and we’re back on at #81.

With the 81st pick in the NFL Draft the Las Vegas Raiders select Michael Pittman from USC WR. Is this the future #1 WR for the Raiders? He ran a 4.52, stands 6’4” tall and is a good match up to play opposite Williams as a starting WR. But are either truly #1 material - we know Williams struggled to be - but there wasn’t a Pittman opposite of him. Let us hope.

There were only two picks ahead of us, #82 see’s one my prospects fall, Winfield a FS/SS and another at #83 in WR Duverney - I seriously thought both would be there for us at #84. We’re on the clock. The primary needs have found selections in LB, CB and WR, but the later two are not top picks. They are prospects not assured of working out. We still have needs for depth or challenges at Safety, on the offensive line, and in later spots on the roster for WR and CB still. What can we select?

With the 84th pick in the NFL Draft the Raiders select Jeremy Chinn from Southern Illinoins a 6’3” safety. With Abrams, Joyner and Randall in the house Chinn will need to fight for a job with Erik Harris also under contract. If he plays as advertised with a 6.23 NFL grade he could get Randall moved to corner even Joyner back to the slot where he struggled last year.

Matt Hennesy my targeted Guard and future center falls at #87 and we’re on the clock with the #91st pick in the draft:

With the 91st pick in the NFL Draft the Raiders select Robert Hunt OG/OT from Louisiana, the big guy is compared to Cody Ford and has a high 6.34 NFL grade. He will challenge Good for the starting role at OG and Sharpe for the back up role at OT. He’s played both and his sized enables both so it's a great addition to the line tandem.

Now on to the 4th round with two picks. The Raiders still have no real depth at WR and only one secondary pick at CB to start in the NFL. Those are struggles for the fans know they are the weak link. At this stage in the draft top CB prospects are gone, but WR’s remain.

With #121 in the Draft in the middle of the 4th round the Raiders select WR KJ Hill of Ohio State. Hill will find himself in a battle for a spot on the roster and push the likes of Atemen, Gallup and the others. There is no way to be sure who wins, but the best for our team.

With #126 in trade from the Rams the Raiders shock and gain a surprise fall in Antonio Gandy-Golden a higher rated WR then Hill and like a lot like Pittman in size and speed. We now have 3 rookie WR’s to compete for a only 3 spots on the roster.

Moving on to the last pick in the draft for the Las Vegas Raiders, #13 in the 5th round the Raiders are surprised to find 6.13 grade large RB AJ Dillon on board and ready to replace Washington as the #2 RB on the committee. 6-0 and 247 lbs he should shine as a short down yard gain and thumper when the time calls for it.

Your Picks:

Round 1 Pick 12: Isaiah Simmons, OLB/ILB, Clemson (A+)

Round 1 Pick 21 (PHI): Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina (A+)

Round 2 Pick 21 (PHI): Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah (A)

Round 3 Pick 17: Michael Pittman Jr., WR, USC (A+)

Round 3 Pick 20 (LAR): Jeremy Chinn, FS/SS, S. Illinois (A+)

Round 3 Pick 27: Robert Hunt, OT/OG, Louisiana (A+)

Round 4 Pick 15: K.J. Hill, WR, Ohio St. (A+)

Round 4 Pick 20 (LAR): Antonio Gandy-Golden, WR, Liberty (A+)

Round 5 Pick 13: AJ Dillon, RB, Boston College (A+)