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Oakland Raiders: 7-Round 2019 mock draft lands stud prospects

By Cody Williams

HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 04: Ed Oliver #10 of the Houston Cougars celebrates after a tackle in the first half against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at TDECU Stadium on October 4, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 04: Ed Oliver #10 of the Houston Cougars celebrates after a tackle in the first half against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at TDECU Stadium on October 4, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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NFL Mock Draft
KNOXVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 22: Jachai Polite #99 of the Florida Gators puts a hit on Quarterback Jarrett Guarantano #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers as he loses the ball during the first quarter of the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /

Round 1, Pick 24 (via Bears): Jachai Polite, EDGE, Florida

As stated when leading into the Oliver pick, the Raiders need to add a presence off the edge on their defensive front. It’s still mind-blowing that this franchise elected to trade Khalil Mack, one of the 10 best players in the NFL, prior to the start of the 2018 season and then allowed Gruden to go out and talk about needing edge rushers in Oakland. Despite that fact, however, it’s not a position they can ignore with their three first-round picks.

The argument could be made that the Raiders should use the fourth-overall pick to take an edge rusher, but that honestly depends on how things shake out. If the draft order stays where it’s at with no teams trading up for quarterbacks, the Raiders would find themselves reaching if they were to take an edge rusher, as we’ve already discussed.

Waiting ultimately pays off for them in this mock draft, though, as they get one of the biggest risers in the 2019 NFL Draft class with the pick owed to them in the Khalil Mack trade from the Bears, Jachai Polite out of Florida.

A theme with prospects in this class out of Florida, the now former Gator exploded on film with the coaching change from Jim McElwain to Dan Mullen in Gainesville. Polite showed tremendous speed and explosiveness off the edge and displayed a variety of moves that make him a versatile threat to get after opposing quarterbacks.

Questions about a slight frame are sure to arise about Polite, but he has a frame to add a bit of muscle to help him when he gets to the NFL. Even if that doesn’t happen, though, I believe in his ability in regards to his quickness and explosiveness to be an effective pass rusher at the next level and a player that the Raiders could deploy immediately.

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