The Oakland Raiders are the team to watch in the 2019 NFL Draft. They have three picks in the first round and have the potential to trade for the top pick in the draft. The Raiders have their quarterback in Derek Carr but they are big fans of Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins, according to CBS Sports Jason La Canfora.
New GM Mike Mayock has stated that Carr is his guy but the Raiders are impressed with Haskins’ game. The Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year led the nation with 50 touchdowns in 2018 and finished third in the Heisman voting. In his final three collegiate games, Haskins threw 14 touchdowns and only one interception.
Carr has been a solid quarterback for the Raiders but the team could be looking to get out of his massive contract. He still has three years left on his $125 million deal and the team just spent big money in free agency on receiver Antonio Brown and tackle Trent Brown. Gruden has had success at developing quarterbacks and could want more time with Carr.
He had career highs in completion percentage and yards but had a career-low 19 touchdown passes. While the drop in touchdowns is a little concerning, Carr did not have a great supporting cast around him. The Raiders traded their top receiver in Amari Cooper to the Cowboys in the middle of the season, which left Jared Cook as the team’s only viable red zone target.
Carr had Cooper and Michael Crabtree to throw to when he had his best seasons in 2016-17. Brown’s arrival in Oakland gives Carr a dynamic playmaker on the perimeter. The three-time Pro Bowler should be given the opportunity to throw to Brown in the 2019 season.
The Raiders have said that they will not draft a quarterback in the first round but they have given Haskins a lot of attention in the pre-draft process. Their interest could be a rouse for a team to trade up for him or they coud have genuine interest in taking the Ohio State quarterback. All these questions will be answered when the 2019 NFL Draft starts on April 25 at 8 p.m.
NFL Draft Rumors: Oakland Raiders Love Dwayne Haskins
