Saturday Blitz
Fansided

2019 NFL Mock Draft: Projected first round before NFL Combine

By Darrelle Thompson

MORGANTOWN, WV - NOVEMBER 23: Kyler Murray #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners passes in the first half against the West Virginia Mountaineers on November 23, 2018 at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
MORGANTOWN, WV - NOVEMBER 23: Kyler Murray #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners passes in the first half against the West Virginia Mountaineers on November 23, 2018 at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 33
Next
(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Josh Allen. 4. player. 28. . OLB. Oakland Raiders

The Raiders trade of Khalil Mack before the start of the season will be scrutinized by fans of the team for years to come. Mack was a Defensive Player of the Year candidate this past season and he helped the defense lead the resurgent Bears back to the playoffs.

While Mack was out making plays for the Bears defense, the Raiders clearly needed a pass rusher in the tough AFC West. The Raiders had the oldest roster in the league last year and will need an infusion of youth on both sides of the ball.

They could be moving on from Derek Carr and if so Dwayne Haskins would be the top candidate to be his successor. However, at this point, no move has been made and Jon Gruden (with the help of Mike Mayock) will go with the best player available.

Josh Allen is a great option to replace Mack and he may never reach the potential of Mack, he could still be a perennial Pro-Bowler. The Kentucky Wildcats finished the season in the top 25.

He finished the year with 88 tackles and 17 sacks. Offensive coordinators will need to scheme around him to keep him from getting to the quarterback, and he may have a hard time adjusting to the speed of the game for the first few weeks of the season.

Home/NFL Draft