2020-04-05 15:55:20

-by Daniel Mogollon, Staff Writer; Image: Raiders running back Josh Jacobs. (Image Source: Kevin Abele/Getty Images)

With the 2020 NFL Draft less than three weeks away, we put the Las Vegas Raiders on the clock:

2019 Record: 7-9; Finished: 2^nd in the AFC West

General Manager: Mike Mayock (2^nd Year), Head Coach: Jon Gruden (3^rd Year), Offensive Coordinator: Greg Olson (3^rd Year), Defensive Coordinator: Paul Guenther (3^rd Year)

Offense Rankings: No. 11 Overall, No. 24 Scoring, No. 9 Passing, No. 13 Rushing

In year two of the Jon Gruden era, the Raiders offense was much improved as they jumped nine spots in passing offense and 13 in rushing offense, thanks in large part to rookie running back Josh Jacobs and a breakout season by Hard Knocks star Darren Waller. However, there was a disconnect when it came to putting points on the board. The offense might be closer than you think.

Defense Rankings: No. 19 Overall, No. 24 Scoring, No. 19 Passing, No. 8 Rushing

The defense was also better but that’s because it was so bad in 2018 when the Silver & Black finished last in scoring defense that there was nowhere to go but up. The rushing defense was among the most improved in the NFL last season, but the pass defense regressed and needs work. The D still needs to continue to progress if Gruden is going to make a playoff push in 2020.

2020 NFL Draft: Cowboys OTC | Giants OTC | Jets OTC |

The Five-Year Plan – Record: 36-44; Last Playoff Appearance: 2016; Last Playoff Victory: 2002 Season (41-24 over the Tennessee Titans in AFC Championship Game)

2019 Draft: (1-4) DE Clelin Ferrell, (1-24) RB Josh Jacobs, (1-27) S Johnathan Abram, (2-40) CB Trayvon Mullen, (4-106) Maxx Crosby, (4-129) CB Isaiah Johnson, (4-137) TE Foster Moreau, (5-149) WR Hunter Renfrow, (7-230) DE Quinton Bell

Top Picks Last Five Years:

2019 – (1-4) DE Clelin Ferrell, Clemson

2018 – (1-18) OT Kolton Miller, UCLA

2017 – (1-24) CB Gareon Conley, Ohio State

2016 – (1-14) S Karl Joseph, West Virginia

2015 – (1-4) WR Amari Cooper, Alabama

Booms:

WR Amari Cooper (Rd. 1—2015)

RB Josh Jacobs (Rd. 1—2019)

DE Maxx Crosby (Rd. 4—2019)

Busts:

DT Mario Edwards (Rd. 2—2015)

TE Clive Walford (Rd. 3—2015)

DE Jihad Ward (Rd. 2—2016)

DE Shilique Calhoun (Rd. 3—2016)

QB Connor Cook (Rd. 4—2016)

S Obi Melifonwu (Rd. 2—2017)

DT Eddie Vanderdoes (Rd. 3—2017)

OT David Sharpe (Rd. 4—2017)

P Johnny Townsend (Rd. 5—2018)

Additions:

QB Marcus Mariota (UFA/Signed)

WR Nelson Agholor (UFA/Signed)

TE Nick O’Leary (UFA/Signed)

TE Jason Witten (UFA/Signed)

OG Eric Kush (UFA/Signed)

DE Carl Nassib (UFA/Signed)

DE Kendal Vickers (UFA/Signed)

DT Maliek Collins (UFA/Signed)

DT Daniel Ross (UFA/Signed)

LB Nick Kwiatkoski (UFA/Signed)

LB Cory Littleton (UFA/Signed)

LB Quentin Poling (UFA/Signed)

LB Derrick Moncrief (UFA/Signed)

S Jeff Heath (UFA/Signed)

S Damarious Randall (UFA/Signed)

Keepers:

RB Jalen Richard (Re-Signed)

RB Rob Smith (Re-Signed)

WR Keelan Doss (Re-Signed)

OG Jordan Devey (Re-Signed)

LB Kyler Wilber (Re-Signed)

CB D.J. Killings (Re-Signed)

S Dallin Leavitt (Re-Signed)

Subtractions:

TE Eric Tomlinson (UFA/Giants)

DE Benson Mayowa (UFA/Seahawks)

LB Tahir Whitehead (Released/Panthers)

S Karl Joseph (UFA/Browns)

2020 Picks: The Las Vegas Raiders have the allotted seven picks every team starts with, however only four are their original selections, as they’ve traded away their second, sixth, and seventh-round choices while adding a first, as well as two extra third rounders to give them five picks on the first two days of the draft. As part of their trade of Khalil Mack, which netted not just a first and third in 2020, but also a first and sixth in 2019, Las Vegas sent back second-and seventh-round choices to Chicago. A trade of former first-round pick Gareon Conley to Houston is how the Raiders acquired Seattle’s third-round choice in this year’s draft. Las Vegas traded their sixth-round pick to Green Bay for Trevor Davis.

Round 1, Selection 12

Round 1, Selection 19 (from Bears)

Round 3, Selection 80

Round 3, Selection 81 (from Bears)

Round 3, Selection 91 (from Seattle)

Round 4, Selection 121

Round 5, Selection 159

Daniel Mogollon is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America. He is also a voter for the Thorpe and the Rotary Lombardi Award, as well as the Latino Sports MVP Awards. You can reach him via email: danmogollon@gmail.com.