When examining the Raiders roster, there are five positions that jump out as their biggest needs. The Raiders have four picks in the first three rounds The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner was sure to address the top four needs on the Raiders roster in his three-round mock draft.
With the sixth overall pick, he has the Raiders taking Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders.
My bet is that Ward’s proven history of gradual improvement will continue in the NFL and he’ll eventually outpace Sanders on the field. However, it would not be a surprise, at all, if Sanders has the better rookie season. His game is reminiscent of a more athletic version of Bo Nix.
A mobile pocket battler with terrific accuracy and toughness, Sanders always will need more help from the roster around him than your average top-10 QB — but he can be a terrific point guard for a long time.
With the next two picks the Raider address their next two biggest needs, taking North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton in round two (pick 37) and Oregon WR Tez Johnson at the top of round three (pick 68).
These picks add much needed talent to the Raiders struggling offense. Quarterback is the most critical need and getting him some help in the backfield as well as at receiver will help as well.
With their final pick in the third round (pick 73) that they got from the Jets in the Davante Adams trade, they have the Raiders addressing their need at cornerback with the selection of Kansas State’s Jacob Parrish.