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With three picks in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Oakland Raiders have options, especially at the quarterback position.
The Oakland Raiders have been anything but predictable. Since the return of Jon Gruden, the Silver and Black have been a riddle for fans and the NFL media at large. So don’t think the 2019 NFL Draft will be any different.
Entering the opening stanza in Nashville, the Raiders have three selections. They will select fourth overall, then at 24 and at again 27. For any team, that’s significant draft capital, especially for one who may or may not be in love with their starting quarterback.
If you’re Derek Carr, it’s a curious time indeed. While the Raiders have said all the right thing, they have also been open-ended with their thoughts on the position.
“I’ve said before … Derek Carr is a franchise quarterback, and we believe that” Mayock would say to Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle. “Beyond that, just like at any other position, we’re going to do our due diligence. If we found somebody we liked better, or thought had a bigger upside, you’ve got to do the right thing for the organization.”
That’s a commitment with an asterisk.
Leading up to the 2019 NFL Draft, it looks to be anyone’s guess whether Oakland turns the tables on Carr. Selecting a quarterback who interests Gruden is not out of the question, regardless of the blog or publication you read.
Here are three names Gruden and the Raiders could surprise fans and the NFL media with on opening night.
Kyler Murray-Oklahoma
Kyler Murray, the one-year phenom who won a Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma, is the likely first overall draft pick. Whether it's the Arizona Cardinals or any number of suitors, Murray is a good bet to go early if not first.
Maybe even by the Oakland Raiders.
The 2019 NFL Draft brings intrigue when teams try to deploy the usual smoke screens. Anyone who follows Raiders football knows Carr at quarterback doesn't inspire a lot in Jon Gruden.
This is where Murray may fit in.
With the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Jets set at the QB position, Oakland may be in position to make the pick of the draft with Murray. That happening is another matter, especially with the Cardinals in the driver's seat and a quarterback of their own who is a question mark.
Arizona is the ultimate wild card in this NFL Draft. With QB Josh Rosen available for the right deal, Murray falling to the fourth spot seems a long shot. That said, the Cardinals aren't a Kyler Murray away from the playoffs or a Super Bowl. The jury is still out on Rosen, but remember most NFL watchers saw Rosen as the most pro-ready of anyone in the 2018 NFL Draft.
If the Raiders are looking for the ultimate fresh start, then trading up isn't out of the question. In an ideal scenario, Arizona would draft anyone but Murray, making him a possibility with the fourth pick.
Daniel Jones-Duke
For fans with a short memory, Daniel Jones was the MVP of the Reese’s Senior Bowl. He was also on the North squad which was coached by the Raiders and Gruden. Perhaps that may mean something come draft night.
If Oakland doesn’t select a quarterback with the fourth pick, they may look at that position again at the 24th or the 27th. For a player like Jones to still be available would mean teams like the New York Giants with the sixth and 17th selection and the Washington Redskins at 15 would have to go a different direction.
That's not an impossibility, especially with Dwayne Haskins and Drew Lock predicted to go before Jones.
The Raiders picking at 24 sets up an interesting situation for such a selection. It also allows Oakland to keep Carr and give Gruden some options.
Jones is no slouch for a first-round gamble. He's a two time MVP at Duke as well as a three time Academic All Atlantic Coast Conference selection. He finished his career in Durham with 8,201 passing yards, 52 touchdowns and 29 interceptions.
Also of note is his time spent with David Cutcliffe at Duke.
Daniel Jones is an interesting prospect who has a lot of upside as well as a live arm. Best of all for Gruden and the Raiders, it’s the potential for a challenge to Carr, and that's never a bad thing.
Dwayne Haskins-Ohio State
Dwayne Haskins is hard to figure. He's rumored to be slipping down draft boards, but an ounce of truth pre-draft from teams is a rare commodity. Haskins is a big arm who can move the football. He's also from a quality conference in the Big 10 and lit up a good Michigan team.
It's not illogical that this is a guy the Raiders pick early. When remembering Gruden’s Quarterback Camp on ESPN, you could imagine Gruden falling in love with the film and that performance against the Wolverines. In that game, Haskins was a monster, going 19 of 30, throwing for 318 yards and five touchdowns.
If Murray is the guy who does go first to Arizona, how does Oakland pass if he's the most talented quarterback still on the big board, which he very well could be. Further, if the Raiders are truly lukewarm on Carr, and one year away from the move to Las Vegas, why not go all in?
It's hard to imagine Gruden not thinking long and hard on drafting a quarterback, especially early and definitely in the first round. Three picks in the 2019 NFL Draft gives the Raiders remarkable options that might not come their way again in 2020. Reading between the lines doesn't show that there is a lot of love for Carr. If that's the bottom line truth, look for the Silver and Black to make a pick that makes Carr expendable.
