Well this is interesting. According to our friends over at Pro Football Talk, there is some indication that the Oakland Raiders and general manager Reggie McKenzie may prefer Texas A&M wide receiver Mike Evans over the consensus No. 1 wide receiver in the draft, Sammy Watkins out of Clemson.
A source close to the situation indicated this to Mike Florio over at PFT…
As one league source who is as connected on matters of the draft as anyone explained it to PFT, the Raiders are believed to prefer Evans to Watkins.
Florio then begs the question whether Oakland is really interested in a receiver at No. 5 in the first place. It has been linked to pass rusher Khalil Mack and offensive tackle Taylor Lewan over the past couple weeks. Interestingly enough, Watkins had been considered a top option for the Raiders leading up to the draft tonight.
Watkins and Evans are not similar receivers. The Clemson product is more of your elusive down-field threat that can make plays after he catches the ball. On the other hand, Evans is in the mold of the bigger receivers in the NFL such as Calvin Johnson and Anquan Boldin. He’s strictly a possession guy that will come down with tough third-down receptions.
It’s all about who the Raiders prefer as it relates to their system and who they have on the roster.
Oakland has also been mentioned as prime trade-down candidates with the Detroit Lions making the most buzz. Depending on how the top four plays out, Oakland could trade its original pick to the Lions for the No. 10 overall pick and still bring in Evans, picking up another selection in the process.
Photo: Thomas Campbell, USA Today