Two weeks from tomorrow, the 2017 NFL Draft will commence in Philadelphia.
As the event draws closer, NFL analysts continue to speculate and predict where they think certain players will land. The number of talented cornerbacks in this draft is exceedingly high, and there won't be a shortage of defensive playmakers to go around.
In this week's version of the Mock Draft Tracker, let's take a gander at who the experts have the Oakland Raiders selecting with the 24th overall pick.
Bleacher Report
Expert | Brad Gagnon
Previous Selection: N/A
Breakdown: The Oakland Raiders have two premier outside rushers in Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin, but the rest of their front seven is a tad soft. They're also down two linebackers—Malcolm Smith, who left in free agency; and Perry Riley, who remains unsigned—who played a combined 1,558 snaps last season, according to PFF.
They need a rangy tackle machine who can help a top-heavy defense that allowed five 100-yard rushers and 4.5 yards per carry in 2016.
They need Cunningham, a two-time first-team All-SEC linebacker who had 36 tackles for loss during his three seasons at Vanderbilt. Cunningham needs to work on his tackling and won't overpower opponents, but he's a three-down linebacker with sideline-to-sideline range who has plenty of room to get better. And he can also contribute in coverage, which is the kind of versatility general manager Reggie McKenzie desires.
The Raiders would probably be cool with a linebacker like Temple's Haason Reddick or a cornerback like Tre'Davious White, Kevin King, Jackson or Tabor in this spot, but Cunningham makes the most sense.
CBS Sports
Expert | Will Brinson
Previous Selection: Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
Breakdown: The Raiders haven't developed a tight end yet, and if they can maximize the potential from this guy, it will only make an already filthy offense even more dangerous. Yes, Oakland signed Jared Cook, but that could ultimately just be a single-year Band-Aid, and it gives them time to bring on Njoku.
Expert | Dane Brugler
Previous Selection: Zach Cunningham, OLB, Vanderbilt
Breakdown: Running back isn't the No. 1 need on the roster, but if Oakland is one of the several teams who have Cook rated as the top back, the value would make sense. No offense to DeAndre Washington or Jalen Richard, but unless Marshawn Lynch comes out of retirement, Cook would be the best back on the roster immediately.
Expert | Pete Prisco
Previous Selection: Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama
Breakdown: Their corner play needs upgrading, so landing Humphrey makes sense.
Expert | Rob Rang
Previous Selection: Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State
Breakdown: The Raiders' rise to the playoffs is directly attributable to its explosive offense but if the club is to take the next step -- and remain a consistent postseason threat -- help must be on the way for a defense that surrendered an average of 375 yards per game, 26th in the NFL. In his postseason wrap-up, Jack Del Rio stressed the need to create more of disruption on the interior, which is exactly what the 6-5, 285 pound McDowell does best.
ESPN
Expert | Mel Kiper, Jr.
Previous Selection: Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU
Breakdown: In a great class of cornerbacks, King stands out for his size (6-3, 200), and the 4.43 40 at the combine moved him up my board (No. 4 corner). After taking safety Karl Joseph on Day 1 last year, the Raiders are still trying to improve their secondary. Corner is a gaping hole headed into the draft.
Expert | Todd McShay
Previous Selection: Kevin King, CB, Washington
Breakdown: Linebacker is another gaping hole in Oakland. The Raiders need better athletes in the second level. Davis is a Kwon Alexander-type, an explosive linebacker with sideline-to-sideline range in the running game and a relentless motor.
FOX Sports
Expert | Dieter Kurtenbach
Previous Selection: Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan
Breakdown: There aren't many offenses in the NFL that don't ask their running backs to be pass catchers. The Raiders are one of those teams. Who's ready for Beast Mode 2.0?
MMQB
Expert | Emily Kaplan
Previous Selection: Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida
Breakdown: The Temple product was the talk of the Senior Bowl and followed that up with a dominant combine. In Mobile, Reddick switched seamlessly from outside linebacker to inside linebacker in drills.
NFL.com
Expert | Bucky Brooks
Previous Selection: Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama
Breakdown: Reddick is an active linebacker with a non-stop motor and a versatile game.
Expert | Charley Casserly
Previous Selection: Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State
Breakdown: Cunningham is an instinctive, athletic linebacker who can play all three downs.
Expert | Daniel Jeremiah
Previous Selection: John Ross, WR, Washington
Breakdown: Davis is one of the cleaner players in the draft. He has an ideal blend of size, speed, and instincts.
Expert | Lance Zierlein
Previous Selection: Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU
Breakdown: Another size-speed cornerback for the Raiders, but he's also an exceptionally aggressive run supporter who sets the tone like a safety.
Pro Football Focus
Expert | Steve Palazzolo
Previous Selection: Zach Cunningham, OLB, Vanderbilt
Breakdown: Perhaps a surprising drop for Fournette, but given the questions about his ability to affect the game on passing downs, this may be a better representation of his value. He goes to a perfect situation in Oakland where he fits into their downhill run game behind one of the league's best offensive lines, and if he can regain his 2015 form when he led the nation with 83 forced missed tackles, this becomes one of the steals of the draft.
The Ringer
Expert | Danny Kelly
Previous Selection: Kevin King, CB, Washington
Breakdown: The Raiders may end up coaxing Marshawn Lynch out of retirement, but their interest in the former Seahawk illustrates a clear desire to add a physical identity to their running attack. Even if Lynch unretires and joins the team as a short-term bonus, drafting Fournette here gives Oakland a long-term solution. Running behind the Raiders' fearsome offensive line, Fournette would batter defenses, wear down opponents, and, with breakaway speed, he'd make second-level defenders pay if they take a bad angle. Fournette also takes pressure off of Derek Carr to carry the offense, giving the Raiders something their high-flying offense lacked in 2016: the ability to grind out games on the ground and protect leads in the fourth quarter.
SB Nation
Expert | Dan Kadar
Previous Selection: Jarrad Davis, MLB, Florida
Breakdown: Having a top-level third cornerback is more important than ever, and Conley would give the Raiders another good cover guy.
Sporting News
Expert | Eric Galko
Previous Selection: Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State
Breakdown: Dalvin Cook fits the Raiders' offense and would thrive behind their offensive line, but we've been told they will not take Cook if he's available. Instead, expect the Raiders to add to their defense again. Barnett should be in the mix for most teams picking in the 20s.
WalterFootball.com
Expert | Charlie Campbell
Previous Selection: Haason Reddick, LB, Temple
Breakdown: The Raiders could use an upgrade at middle linebacker. Here's a riser who would appeal to Reggie McKenzie. Davis is an instant plug-and-play contributor who has great leadership traits that fit with other McKenzie selections like Khalil Mack and Derek Carr.
Davis collected 60 tackles, two sacks and four passes broken up in 2016. Davis was a strong inside presence who made a ton of clutch tackles for Florida in 2015. He was an unsung hero of one of the best defenses in the nation and was a beast who season in the SEC Championship along with the other late-season games against elite competition. In 2015, Davis totaled 98 tackles with 11 tackles for a loss, four passes broken up, an interception and 3.5 sacks.
The 6-foot-1, 238-pounder is fast, physical and instinctive. He has sideline-to-sideline speed with the athleticism to be a three-down defender. Davis could be a Mike (middle) or a Will (weakside) linebacker in a 4-3. He also could function on the inside of a 3-4.
