Draft options numerous at this stage
Raiders currently have fourth pick in fluid situation
The Raiders would be selecting fourth in the first round if the NFL draft were held today.
It’s not.
A slew of teams are bunched together near the bottom of the standings. The order of the first round will shuffle constantly based on results each week the rest of the season.
Sunday’s victory over the Broncos, for example, dropped the Raiders two spots from second to fourth in the order.
Where they end up could go a long way in determining who the Raiders could select in the first round. But offensive and defensive line, along with linebackers, secondary and possibly a big, physical wide receiver are on the list of needs.
A quarterback is also a possibility considering the team’s struggles and Derek Carr’s contract structure.
Each week, we will monitor how some of the players projected to go near where the Raiders pick are performing in college.
Top prospects
C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State, and Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
We’ll keep these two packaged as the No. 1 and 1A prospects in this class. Other great players are in this draft, but premier quarterbacks are always going to be worthy of consideration as the top pick. Picking fourth might take the Raiders out of the conversation for either player because they could be off the board.
Young is coming off an efficient 18-for-24 game against Austin Peay in which he threw for 221 yards and two scores in a 34-0 win. Stroud went 18-for-30 for 241 yards and a score in a shootout win over Maryland.
Both players are putting distance between themselves and Kentucky QB Will Levis, who hasn’t taken a step forward and continues to be plagued by turnovers.
Will Anderson, Edge, Alabama
The best non-quarterback in the class, Anderson saw his streak of consecutive games with a sack snapped at three. He did, however, help the Crimson Tide defense to a shutout win in which it held Austin Peay to 206 yards. He had four tackles and a pass defensed. Anderson has eight sacks on the season.
Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
The Raiders have struggled to generate a pass rush up the middle, and Carter could fix that issue. He’s getting up to full speed after an injury that cost him several weeks, but Carter is a game-changing force in the middle of the defense for the nation’s best team. Carter had five tackles against Kentucky last week. Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson Another athletic freak in the middle who is more skilled at getting in the gaps and creating havoc in the backfield than he is a traditional line clogger on the line of scrimmage. Bresee missed last week’s win over Miami with strep throat but is expected back for Saturday’s rivalry game against South Carolina.
Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern
The best pass-blocking tackle in the draft has allowed one sack and five hurries all season and has a best-in-the-nation pass-blocking grade of 92.6 by Pro Football Focus. Skoronski didn’t allow a pressure against Purdue on Saturday, his second straight clean sheet.
Myles Murphy, Edge, Clemson Murphy is a long athlete who is capable of getting to the quarterback and also shines as a run-stopper. He could form a nice bookend to Maxx Crosby and is coming off a two-tackle game against Miami.
Quentin Johnston, WR, Texas Christian
Johnston, who had scored a touchdown in five straight games before Baylor kept him out of the end zone Saturday, could fit well with Davante Adams and Hunter Renfrow. He has a big body and tremendous skills as a runner after the catch when the ball is in his hands. He had four catches for 48 yards Saturday.