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Oakland Raiders: 7-Round 2019 NFL mock draft to start April

By Maurice Moton

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: Deandre Baker #18 of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates a play during the second quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: Deandre Baker #18 of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates a play during the second quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 01: Ezekiel Elliott #15 of the Ohio State Buckeye helmet is seen on the sidelines prior to the start of the game during the All State Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 01: Ezekiel Elliott #15 of the Ohio State Buckeye helmet is seen on the sidelines prior to the start of the game during the All State Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

According to The Athletic’s Vic Tafur, the Raiders have yet to approach Gabe Jackson about a move back to his natural spot at left guard. He isn’t sure if that’s in the works for the upcoming season. “That, I do not know,” Jackson said. “And that’s the honest truth. I haven’t talked to them about it. Nobody’s reached out to me yet and I haven’t asked anyone.”

Oakland re-signed Denzelle Good, who logged three starts at right guard in place of Jackson, who landed on injured reserve with an elbow injury in December. In the spirit of competition, team brass should consider an interior offensive lineman on Day 3 of the draft—someone to push a veteran at the vacant position on the interior.

Michael Jordan played left guard for two seasons before a move to center during his junior term. As a rookie, he would likely take tips from Jackson and Rodney Hudson on the practice field for most of the year. Nonetheless, the interior lineman can drive defenders on their heels, which may help him earn an early spot in the starting lineup.

The Ohio State product measured at 6-6, 312 pounds at the combine. He’s a taller offensive lineman, who isn’t stiff, but projects best at guard because of his physicality and average lateral quickness.

The Raiders wouldn’t have to rush Jordan into a starting role, but he’s an intriguing option if offensive line coach Tom Cable uses more man-to-man blocking schemes. The former Buckeye’s experience at the pivot also gives the team a solid backup or a future replacement for Hudson, pending his free-agency bid in 2020, per Spotrac.

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