Oakland Raiders: 7-Round 2019 NFL mock draft to start April
Despite the concerns about Josh Allen’s fit on the defensive line, he’s the best selection at No. 4 with Nick Bosa and Quinnen Williams off the board.
The Kentucky product’s floor drops a little because he would have to play with his hand in the dirt more than he did on the collegiate level. However, Allen is an explosive athlete who could flourish on the weak side of the formation, which would move Arden Key to a designated pass-rusher.
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Gruden said he wants to see more from Key, but the LSU product may have the best impact in selective situations, especially if he’s not able to add significant offseason weight. At 238 pounds, the 2018 third-rounder cannot battle offensive tackles on an every-down basis.
At 6-5, 262 pounds, Allen compares to Carl Lawson‘s size (6-2, 261 pounds) when he broke into the league.
At Auburn, Lawson lined up on a four-man front, but defensive coordinator Paul Guenther utilized him as a hybrid linebacker-pass rusher on the edge in Cincinnati. He recorded 8.5 sacks in 2017.
Clearly, the Raiders play-caller knows how to optimize player strengths. Allen would give the defense a boost in the pass rush, and he’s more than capable of using his length in coverage. His height should translate to more batted passes at the line of scrimmage.
Some fans expect a direct replacement for Khalil Mack on the strong side of the defensive line in this spot, but Oakland takes a versatile pass-rusher who provides a little extra against the short passing game. Allen recorded 31 sacks over the last three seasons, but he also broke up seven passes and logged an interception within the previous two terms.