2021 NFL Mock Draft, 3 Rounds: Chiefs bolster O-line after Super Bowl loss

Since Jon Gruden has taken over as the head coach, and Mike Mayock as the general manager, the Las Vegas Raiders have made one thing clear — they like to draft players from Alabama and Clemson. Both Gruden and Mayock have made no apologies for this, saying they basically like to draft winners, and those teams are always full of them.

Gruden and Mayock joined the Raiders in 2018 while they were still in Oakland and while they took Kolton Miller out of UCLA that season, the trend has been different since then. In 2019 when they had three first-round picks (thanks to a flurry of trades in 2018), the Raiders took Clelen Ferrell from Clemson and Josh Jacobs from Alabama. They rounded things out with Johnathan Abram from Mississippi State, but not before taking a couple of players from ‘Bama and Clemson.

Then in 2020, they again had two picks on Day 1 and while they landed Damon Arnette from Ohio State at 19, they started their draft out with Henry Ruggs from Alabama at No. 12.

In this draft, they could again return to the well and fill a major need, which is what is predicted here. Las Vegas lands Alabama defensive tackle Christian Barmore at No. 17 and this is a player who is climbing up the boards right now.

Barmore was considered a possible Day 2 pick until he hit the NCAA College Playoffs. With all eyes on the Crimson Tide, he was a star, getting into the opposing team’s backfield at ease. His play in those games likely cemented his status as a first-round pick and he gives the Raiders a great interior since he can line up next to Maurice Hurst.