The 2020 NFL Draft is less than a week away, which means it's time to talk about fit. No, not if you'll still be able to squeeze into your jeans when the shelter-in-place is over, but which prospects will mesh the best with the Raiders' culture, scheme and roster construction.
We know the Silver and Black will be looking for elite talent with their two first-round draft picks. They are expected to fill their two most glaring needs first, wide receiver and cornerback. By now, you know all about CeeDee Lamb's ability to make people miss, Jerry Jeudy's route-running, Henry Ruggs' athleticism and CJ Henderson's elite coverage ability.
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But now we turn our attention to Day 2, where the Raiders currently own three third-round picks and nothing in the second. We've discussed the Day 2 options at receiver, cornerback and defensive tackles, as well as late-round sleepers with a singular elite skill.
Day 2 will be crucial for the Raiders. General manager Mike Mayock knows he should find three NFL starters in the third round if the Raiders keep those picks. There's a high probability the Raiders will try and pick up a second-round pick in some way. So, for the sake of this exercise, we are going to assume the Raiders will have found a second-round pick and still have at least two of their third-round selections.
Let's look at the best Day 2 fits for the Raiders.
Antoine Winfield, S, Minnesota
Winfield is a ballhawk, plain and simple.
The Minnesota product has great coverage instincts, versatility and tenacity. He's rising up draft boards, so he'll likely be out of the Raiders' range. But if they can find a way into the second round, they could find a good safety to pair with Johnathan Abram.
Chase Claypool, WR, Notre Dame
Let's get this one out of the way. My love of Chase Claypool is as well known as my affinity for chicken wings and an ice-cold IPA. (And we've got Raiders Insider Scott Bair on the train as well.)
Claypool is an athletic freak. A 6-foot-4, 238-pound robot who blistered a 4.42 40-yard dash at the combine.
He can be split out wide as a vertical threat or moved inside as a possession receiver in the slot. Versatility is the name of the game and coach Jon Gruden would love what he could draw up for Claypool.
Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah
If Jaylon Johnson had to guess, he thinks the Raiders will draft him.
NFL
The 6-foot corner would be a great fit a Raiders' secondary that's in desperate need of another shutdown corner opposite Trayvon Mullen. Johnson is a good athlete with the mirroring skills and physicality to be a lockdown corner if he develops the right way.
The Raiders could go corner in Round 1, but if they trade back and address other needs first, Johnson would be a great fit.
Mock drafts have Johnson projected anywhere from No. 21 overall to the third round, so he could be gone by the time the Raiders pick but he's one to keep an eye on.
K'Von Wallace, S/CB, Clemson
Wallace played deep safety at Clemson but could routinely play the slot in the NFL.
Mayock and Jon Gruden's affinity for Clemson products is well known and Wallace would give the Raiders versatility in the secondary. He could play behind both Damarious Randall and Lamarcus Joyner in Year 1 and then transition into a starting role if either or both don't return.
His lack of length could hurt his draft value, but he fits what the Raiders want.
Raekwon Davis, DT, Alabama
The Raiders need to get stronger up the middle, and they have a player once thought to be a first-round talent fall into their lap.
Davis, 6-foot-7, 312 pounds, is an absolute load in the middle. He has the length, height and power to be a great run defender in the NFL. Davis burst onto the scene during his sophomore year at Alabama, but the production stagnated. He needs to work on his pass-rush plan and ability to create leverage, but all the tools are there.
[RELATED: Why Raiders could continue mining from elite college programs]
Bryan Edwards, WR, South Carolina
If the Raiders miss out on Claypool and Michael Pittman (likely) they could turn to another talented, 6-foot-3 beast in Bryan Edwards.
The South Carolina product's contested-catch ability is off the charts and he would give Derek Carr a jump-ball threat in the red-zone. He struggled to gain separation against outside press coverage in college, but thrived while being a "big-body slot."
He could wear many hats for the Raiders and would be a solid consolation prize to pair with a likely first-round receiver. This is, of course, if they miss out on Claypool.
I mean ... what is this sorcery.
Fine, I've talked myself into Edwards.