We're 24 hours away from the 2018 NFL Draft.
Let's take a closer look at who the draft experts have the Silver and Black selecting:
Bleacher Report
Expert | Matt Miller
Breakdown: Even after selecting cornerback Gareon Conley in the first round last season, the Oakland Raiders are in need of help at the position. The prospect of pairing Conley, who missed most of the 2017 season with a shin injury, and Josh Jackson looks like an instant fix for a secondary that was torched often last year.
Jackson has ideal size (6'1", 192 lbs) and grabbed eight interceptions in his junior year before entering the NFL draft. He doesn't have blinding speed (4.56 seconds in the 40) but is quick and physical at the line of scrimmage. His press and bail technique are the best of the top-tier corners I've studied.
The Raiders could look to get younger on the offensive line with this selection, but new coach Jon Gruden should resist the urge to draft offensive players and instead focus on fixing his defense.
CBS Sports
Expert | Chris Trapasso
Breakdown: While Smith would've been the target had he had dropped to this spot, the Raiders are happy to get a versatile physical freak in Edmunds to play next to Tahir Whitehead.
Expert | R.J. White
Breakdown: The Raiders have a ton of picks to give Jon Gruden the players he wants, and taking the draft's premier linebacker at No. 10 would give a huge boost to the defense. Smith gives defensive coordinator Paul Guenther his Vontaze Burfict, minus the character issues.
ESPN
Expert | Mel Kiper Jr.
Breakdown: This pick has been the same since Mock Draft 1.0 because Smith just makes sense as the new face of Jon Gruden's defense (with Khalil Mack, of course). Oakland's linebacker play was abysmal in 2017, and Smith is the type of sideline-to-sideline player that every defensive coordinator covets. Smith can play all three downs, and he also could pitch in and rush the passer.
Expert | Todd McShay
Breakdown: That coin flip looms large, but James is a good consolation prize. He's one of the most versatile prospects I've evaluated, and Oakland needs playmakers on D.
NFL.com
Expert | Lance Zierlein
Breakdown: The Raiders want to get bigger and better up the middle. Vea's ability to stuff the run with his massive frame and underrated quickness makes him a great fit.
Expert | Bucky Brooks
Breakdown: Explosive sideline-to-sideline player would quickly become Khalil Mack's tag-team partner as a destructive force on the second level.
Expert | Daniel Jeremiah
Breakdown: Oakland is desperate for playmakers in the back end. Fitzpatrick has an ideal combination of versatility, ball skills and intelligence.
Expert | Charley Casserly
Breakdown: The Raiders bolster their defense by adding the best linebacker in the draft.
Expert | Charles Davis
Breakdown: Hard to pass up this instinctive tackling matching who also will be the leader of their defense.
Expert | Chad Reuter
Breakdown: Edmunds fits in the Raiders' defense because he can play off the ball and rush the passer.
Expert | Peter Schrager
Breakdown: PICK ACQUIRED IN PROJECTED TRADE WITH CARDINALS. An ankle injury hampered Landry and he underwhelmed in 2017. But those 2015 and 2016 seasons were outstanding. Oakland trades back, collects an extra second-round pick, and still lands one of the draft's top pass rushers. That'd be a win for an Oakland defense that is desperate for talent at all three levels.
USA Today
Expert | Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz
Breakdown: Aiding former defensive player of the year Khalil Mack is a priority for Jon Gruden, and Edmunds is the kind of player who can help redirect attention from opposing offenses. His supersized frame (6-5, 253) and remarkable athleticism should make him an asset both as a run stuffer and edge rusher.
Pro Football Focus
Expert | Steve Palazzolo
Breakdown: N/A
WalterFootball.com
Expert | Walter Cherepinsky
Breakdown: Donald Penn, 35 by the end of the month, is coming off a Lisfranc injury and reportedly won't be ready to return for a couple of months. This is obviously a big concern. Meanwhile, Oakland has a huge hole at right tackle. Offensive tackle is a position absolutely must be addressed early in the draft.
Mike McGlinchey is the top tackle in this class, and there's speculation that he'll be a top-10 pick. This is the most logical destination for him in that range.
SB Nation
Expert | Dan Kadar
Breakdown: There's a lot of talk about Vita Vea being the choice for the Raiders. But Ward fits arguably a bigger need and is frankly a higher-rated player. He and Gareon Conley can give the Raiders a shut-down pair of cornerbacks, and would give the defense some flexibility.
MMQB
Expert | Albert Breer
Breakdown: The hope of Smith falling seems to be slowly dying. And Oakland has quietly done its work on this freakish athlete.
