Oakland Raiders: 7-Round 2018 mock draft in mid-March

If the Raiders end up re-signing Navorro Bowman, linebacker is unlikely to be near the top of their priority list. Adding Tahir Whitehead to the mix already helps a ton and Bowman would provide some much-needed stability to the position. However, as things stand now, Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith would make a ton of sense for this team if he is available when they go on the clock with the 10th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Smith is an elite athlete for the linebacker position, showing ridiculous speed and quickness on the defensive side of the ball. He is a former wide receiver who will fit modern NFL defenses extremely well.

His elite range and playmaking skills at the linebacker position immediately stand out on tape. Smith has the ability to defend from sideline-to-sideline, consistently making plays against the run and in pass coverage.

He is a stout run defender who can make plays behind the line of scrimmage using his impressive speed and natural instincts. Smith also shows an incredible natural skill set in pass coverage. Whether in man-to-man or zone coverage, Smith will be able to hold his own at the next level. His athleticism alone could make Smith a real weapon in coverage against difficult to defend tight ends.

Simply put, Smith is a big-time weapon who has massive upside at the next level. Placing him at the inside linebacker position would give the Raiders a player on the defensive side of the ball who they could immediately build their defense around. If they sign Bowman, drafting Smith may not be the best use of resources, but he is still an impressive playmaker who will make a big-time impact.