Round 3, Pick 80: EDGE Bradlee Anae, Utah
This pick doesn’t change from the first mock draft because Bradlee Anae solidified his spot as a top prospect in this class. He may not be available at 80, but he continues to slip in mocks.
Apparently, Anae is a nightmare for tight ends off the edge. Dane Brugler of The Athletic figured that out at the combine:
At 6’3″, 257 pounds, Anae has strength, putting up 25 reps on the 225-pound bench press. He’s also light on his feet. The Utah product aced the four-bag drill, which tests footwork, lateral movement and a little bit of change of direction:
Anae’s motor will remind you of Maxx Crosby’s on-field tenacity. We saw the former’s relentless pursuit of quarterbacks (13 sacks) throughout the 2019 season. He continued the hunt during Senior Bowl week.
Some scouts view Anae as a 3-4 outside linebacker, but he possesses enough strength to line up at the defensive end on an even-man front. If he tacks on a few extra pounds, the former Ute could see the field early in his career and wreak havoc on offensive lines as a situational pass-rusher.
Round 3, Pick 81: DT Justin Madubuike, Texas A&M
Don’t expect Justin Madubuike to stay on the board midway through the third round, but for the sake of this simulation, the Raiders would likely take him in this spot.
Madubuike is an interior disruptor. Although undersized at 6’2″, 293 pounds, he compares closely in stature and workout performance to Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Geno Atkins:
If the Raiders see a little bit of Atkins in Madubuike, Guenther would be the person to speak on it, having spent eight years in Cincinnati with the two-time All-Pro. The Texas A&M product recorded 5.5 sacks in consecutive terms before declaring for the draft. On the next level, he’s going to shoot gaps and win battles in the trenches.
For those skeptical about a high-potential talent lingering around late on Day 2, remember, Atkins went the Bengals as a fourth-rounder in 2010. At 81, Madubuike feels like a draft steal.
Round 3, Pick 91: WR Chase Claypool, Notre Dame
According to Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller, Chase Claypool’s weigh-in sparked discussion about a position change:
Claypool went on to crush the combine workouts, which may encourage teams to use him in a variety of ways.
Even if we dismiss Claypool’s eye-popping combine numbers, his production as a collegiate senior gives a clue on how to use him on the pro level.
Gruden can line Claypool up on the perimeter and allow him to move the chains as a possession receiver. The Raiders lead skipper can use the Notre Dame product’s combination of speed and size to overwhelm safeties and linebackers in the middle of the field as well. The big-bodied pass-catcher isn’t shy about battling for contested targets.
Tight end Foster Moreau may be on the road to a long recovery. He tore his ACL during Week 14. In his place, the Raiders can use Claypool alongside Darren Waller for a dangerous 12 personnel look. The 6’4″, 238-pounder can also seal off defenders with textbook blocks on the edge.
Round 4, Pick 111: DB Terrell Burgess, Utah
Since Guenther’s arrival, he’s used one defensive back as a secondary chess piece. In 2018, Michael Gilchrist filled that role. This past season, Daryl Worley moved around, playing outside cornerback, in the slot and safety—more so within the box, per Pro Football Focus.
The Raiders may allow Worley to test the free-agent market. If he stays, the 25-year-old should play cornerback where the defense lacks experience barring a free-agent addition.
Meanwhile, I like Terrell Burgess in this Raiders mock draft because he can take reps at safety and in the slot to find out where he fits best. The Utah product has the versatility to line up all over the field because of his skill set, which was briefly highlighted during Senior Bowl week. At practice, he stuck with the receiver, closed the cushion, located the football and picked it off:
Burgess put his coverage skills on display during the game as well. This time, he tracked the receiver in the back of the end zone and used his length to break up the pass. Watch him turn his head and make a play on the football:
Burgess doesn’t have a lot of starting experience and only logged five pass breakups and an interception in his best collegiate year. Those modest numbers coupled with his 5’11”, 202-pound stature could cause him to slip as teams figure out if he’s a slot cornerback or a safety.
The Raiders should allow him to develop where he’s most comfortable, but if he’s solid in the slot, Lamarcus Joyner could shift to the safety spot.